Thanksgiving Side Dish: Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole

One of the main side dishes of Thanksgiving, the sweet potato, mashed, chopped, or cooked into a casserole or pie, it is a side dish staple at the Thanksgiving table. Next to green beans and green bean casserole, the vegetable is a must have on Thanksgiving Day. As a casserole it becomes a sweet side dish, topped with crushed pecans or walnuts and mini marshmallows, mixed with brown sugar and spices, this will become the official holiday side dish.

Thanksgiving Buffet

Ingredients:

• 3-4 pounds sweet potatoes, washed, skinned and mashed
• 12 oz. chopped walnuts or pecans
• 2-3 cups mini marshmallows
• 1/2 stick butter
• 3/4-1 cup brown sugar
• 1 Tablespoon cinnamon
• 1/2 Teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon cloves
• Pinch of salt

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Place washed and dried, sweet potatoes on tin foil lining a cookie sheet. Pork holes into the potatoes with a fork. Place in the oven about an hour, cut in half, and cook another half hour to 1 hour, till soft (this can be done the night before to save oven space for the big bird).
2. Scoop the flesh out of the skin and place it in a medium bowl. Add butter and mash with a potato masher.
3. Add 1/2 cup brown sugar, the cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, salt, and mash to mix.
4. Stir in 1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans.
5. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with baking spray and spoon the mashed potato mix into the dish.
6. Sprinkle 1/4 cup brown sugar on top of the mashed potato mix.
7. Cover the top with the marshmallows and chopped nuts, spread evenly. Bake 35-45 minutes.
8. Let cool for 5-10 minutes and serve.

If desired, add some cranberries along the top and 2-4 Tablespoons orange juice to the mashed sweet potatoes. Most of all, enjoy this awesome holiday treat for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Enjoy!!!

Sweet Potato Casserole in white dish with cranberries-better picture to come