Sunday, November 29, 2009

On Why You Should Not Give Up On Sweet Potatoes

When we were growing up on the farm our mother would periodically place sweet potatoes on the table and expect us to enjoy them. Instead we tended to "gag" as we tried to choke down this dish. The brother who was the most adamant about refusing to acknowledge the culinary delight of a sweet potato still refuses to eat them. In fact, if you offer some up to him he's apt to get a most astounded and disgusted look on his face before he calmly states, "No." And then he turns away as if you have mightily insulted him.

But he's the loser for all that. This recipe given me by a friend several years ago bears no resemblance to chunky sweet potatoes. This dish is creamy, sweet, and crunchy. I even like it as a leftover, cold. Now, that's saying something. So here goes.

Sweet Potato Dish

Mix together:
4 cups hot mashed sweet potatoes (I use canned, drained, heated, mashed)
1/3 cup butter
2 T sugar

Beat in:
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup milk

Place the potatoes in a 1-1/2 to 2 quart casserole. I use a bowl, and not a flat dish, but I suppose flat would be fine.

Crumble and sprinkle on top:
1/3 cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 T flour
2 T melted butter

Bake at 325 for 1 hour.

This year I made a bit extra topping....it added a nice crunchy layer on top. Yummy!

.

7 comments:

Bill said...

My son Jacob loves to cook, so I will show him this recipe and see if he will give it a try.

As for me, I hated yams growing up and could not understand why my mom insisted on diminishing the otherwise superb Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts that she cooked up.

But now, I like yams - baked and plain, with nothing at all on them. I can't eat a lot, but a slice or two is good.

Kelly said...

Thanks for posting this... it sounds great!!

I'll print it out to try sometime during the holidays.

Debby said...

How funny. This is the same recipe I use!

WhiteStone said...

Debby, do you use a flat casserole or a round bowl-type?

Linda Lee said...

Sounds delicious--I will have to try it. My mom always bakes fresh sweet potatoes with brown sugar and marshmallows on the top! My sons have always loved them.

supplies overflowing! said...

I have been sitting here- catching up with you now. I am so happy that you are feeling so well-
I love the energy that I felt from you when you wrote about cleaning your garage, laundry/utility areas. I need to work on my garage, since my Christmas guests will be going out there to help themselves to the overflow of food and drink from the fridge out there. Right now I would like to rub shoulders with you for your energy. I guess I will just have to keep your words in my head!
Thanks for the recipe- I LOVE sweet potatoes casseroles! I usually use a square Corningware dish, or at least a 9x13 pan.
It was good to hear from you, by the way! Two computers would be nice, so maybe if hubby comtinues to do his work from home, he will get his own!
Take care!

Debby said...

Interestingly enough, I normally use a cake pan, but this year, I did use a bowl (trying to make extra space in the oven). I actually think it works better in the cake pan. The bowl needed to bake longer, and the consistency was not the same, even with that. So it was the learning year. Next year back to the cake pan!