Holiday Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes during the holidays are probably my favorite dish at the table no matter how they are prepared. But I want to share my favorite sweet potato recipe my talented grandmother made for my family and I. My grandmother always had a way of preparing delicious food that seemed to simple to make.

When your at the store think about how many people will be eating and purchase about one sweet potato per 1-2 people depending on the size of the potato. This recipe is so simple, but it takes a little time to put everything together. At the store you will also want to purchase pineapple rings, maraschino cherries, brown sugar and milk or cream to give the potatoes a thick and creamy texture.

In the kitchen you will want to boil the potatoes (you can do this a few days before you actually eat them). After the potatoes are soft remove the skin. In a large bowl put all off the soft sweet potatoes in and begin mashing them. I would add about a half cup of brown sugar and a half cup of cream or milk to start. Once this is mixed together taste the potatoes to see if you need to add more.

My family is full of amazing cooks, but many of our recipes simply go by taste of the food. Once the potatoes are sweet and the consistency is creamy but still thick you can either refrigerate until you are ready to use or take out a cookie sheet and place pineapple rings on the cookie sheet. Take about and ice cream scoop size of potatoes and place on the pineapple ring. Once the rings have potatoes, add a maraschino cherry and drizzle maraschino sauce over the top of each (sometimes when I'm feeling daring I add maraschino sauce to the original mixture which adds a nice sweetness). Place your sweet potato cookie sheets in the oven for 20-30 minutes, or until the potatoes are hot and serve.

You will have hot and delicious sweet potatoes at your dinner table and everyone will love them. Sweet potatoes are great at the holiday table because they will balance out the salty meats and stuffing. I hope you enjoy this recipe just as much as I do. After all how would your holiday meal be complete without sweet potatoes? You may also use yams if you prefer instead of sweet potatoes.