Believe it or not, it’s Christmastime again!

And just as “The Country Kitchen” has done for the past seven holiday seasons, it’s giving you some wonderful recipes that are guaranteed to make your holiday feasts and gatherings the most memorable ever.

This collection of delicious recipes comes your way from a variety of sources… The two sweet potato recipes, both of which would be perfect additions to your holiday menu, are from a couple of Baldwin County school students who were among the winners in a recent county school system-wide Sweet Potato Cooking Contest.

The scrumptious cream cheese-filled Sweet Potato Swirl earned Amber Mitchem of Robertsdale High School the blue ribbon in the contest’s high school division, while Something Special Sweet Potatoes, a delightfully different side dish for your holiday meal, helped Daphne Middle School’s Colin Dowd claim second-place honors in the middle-school division.

The contest’s sponsors included the Alabama Sweet Potato Association and the Baldwin County Farmers Federation.

The recipe for Sherry Christmas Cakes, meanwhile, is from Diane Allison of Winston County.

Diane, a 19-year veteran teacher of the course formerly known as home ec, says that, for her, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without these goodies. She made her first batch when she was in the fourth grade, and she’s made them every single Christmas since.

Diane’s recipe originally ran in the May 1997 “Country Kitchen,” but it bears repeating this holiday season.

Also highly deserving of a reprint is Anna Mae Myrick’s unusual Christmas Pluckin’ Bread recipe.

This fun holiday recipe never ran in a “Country Kitchen” column, but back in 1996, when The Country Kitchen cookbook was being compiled, Ms. Myrick sent it in from her home in Escambia County to be included in the cookbook. It’s there, on Page 82 in the Breads section. Lest you’ve overlooked it, though, we’re putting it right here at your fingertips. If it’s a heavenly holiday punch recipe you’re looking for, look no more. Mocha Punch is it.

The recipe for this incredibly rich concoction is from Mary Etta Robison of Decatur, via her daughter, Vicki McCullough.

Vicki, an ace Alfa Realty/Better Homes & Gardens agent in Autauga County, says the only bad thing about Mocha Punch is that, once you start drinking it, you can’t stop.

Finally, if you’re thinking of venturing from the traditional turkey or ham as your main course this Christmas Day, consider Peachy Pork Roast. The recipe, which last month won a National Pork Producers Council-sponsored recipe contest, was submitted by an Illinois woman who says it’s her family’s entree of choice on Christmas Day.

Hope you enjoy this varied collection.

Thanks for another wonderful year of “The Country Kitchen.” Have a very merry Christmas.