My Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Recipe

Just about the only time of the year I get away with fixing sweet potatoes is for Thanksgiving; and if I'm really lucky, Christmas too. For some reason, people will eat sweet potatoes or yams at Thanksgiving and Christmas, when they won't at any other time of the year.

My grandmother, who happened to be of French-Indian decent, had amazing ways of fixing food; and her sweet potato recipes were to die for. All of her grandkids would wait most impatiently for the holidays when she would fix her Stuffed Sweet Potatoes, Caramelized Sweet Potatoes, and better yet; her Sweet Potato Pie.

Granny's Sweet Potato Pie

Prepare a 10" pie crust unbaked, and set aside.

Cook and mash 1 ½ cups of sweet potatoes or yams

Scald 1 ½ cups of whole milk

Use a wire whisk, and whisk the milk and sweet potatoes together

Add 2 tablespoons butter or margarine and whisk into sweet potato mixture

Add

¼ cup of sugar

¼ cup of brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon ginger

¼ allspice

¼ teaspoon salt

Whisk all of this mixture together, well

Add 2 beaten eggs.

If you prefer, you can use a mixer on low speed. It is important that everything be mixed together, well.

Pour mixture into prepared pie shell.

It's not necessary but I like to sprinkle ¼ to ½ cup of chopped walnuts on top of pie, and then bake at 450° F for 10 minutes, then turn temperature down on the oven to 350° F for about ½ hour.

To test for doneness, my granny would insert a knife halfway between the center and edge of pie. If it came out clean, the pie was done. I prefer to use a toothpick. That way there is no slit in the pie.

When ready to serve, top with whipped crème, with a little cinnamon.

You can use either sweet potatoes or yams with this recipe with no difference in taste. The only difference will be a slight difference in color. Sweet potatoes are yellow where yams are orange, making it look more like a pumpkin pie when baked.

Sweet potatoes or yams are very high in nutrition, which makes a sweet potato pie good for you. Try making one for your family without telling them it is sweet potato pie. Chances are they'll think it's pumpkin. I know you'll love this pie. It is even better than pumpkin pie.