A perfect Sweet Potato Casserole

If you feel overwhelmed this week, you are not alone. My husband and I scrambled to the grocery store to get the Thanksgiving groceries and upon returning home, I realized that I only got half of what I needed. This shouldn’t be a surprise, I do it every time! The store was so packed, even though we went early morning that I can only imagine if u wait til the day before. How did my Mom pull everything off without a single miss? Growing up, everything was perfect and seemed to flow without any drama.

We eat mid day 4ish so you can eat and get in a nap before slipping off to black Friday shop, however, when it’s time to eat, we are starved and ready. No grazing boards needed, we are ready to eat our weight in deviled eggs and get some of that wonderful turkey. Last year, one of my cousins unable to travel to enjoy dinner with her siblings came to have dinner with us. She quickly inquired where was the hor d’oeuvre or hot tea or some punch. For Thanksgiving, we aren’t really fancy, just a buffet of good food served in foil pans, mismatched bowls, and eaten off a Styrofoam compartment trays. Drinks are pop in a can or coffee from the pot, no charcuterie or elegant cocktails here, we are too busy eating the good stuff. I gotta say, her insistence on having a snack area got me to thinking, maybe I should? Honestly, we do normally have a basic cheeseball on the dessert table so you have some savory with all the sweets. I get into making sure that I have everyone’s favorite side dish or that so many desserts are made, that I often forget to do the hosting extras. Let’s be honest, many are just lucky to get food on the table.

While I search the corners of my mind for the perfect punch to serve this holiday season, my cousin Teresa A. Mills, sent me her signature sweet potato casserole. Prior to this, my Mom and I had been sending recipes back and forth trying to find the right casserole that suited our taste. Teresa’s recipe is a dupe of the Ruth Chris Steakhouse recipe, which is phenomenal. If you are like me, and going with the basics and a big dinner, you gotta try this recipe. If you have a favorite holiday recipe that you would like to share, email kdcole1120@gmail.com. I hope that you have a Happy Thanksgiving and I am thankful for all my beloved readers of this column!

Sweet Potato Casserole

Ingredients 

■ 3 c. cooked sweet potatoes, mashed
■ 1 c. sugar
■ 1/2 c. butter or margarine
■ 2 eggs, well beaten
■ 1 tsp good vanilla
■ 1/2 c. evaporated milk

Directions

Mix all ingredients well, spread into a 2 quart casserole dish.

Topping Ingredients

■ 1 c. packed, brown sugar
■ 1/2 c. All-purpose flour
■ 5 tbsp melted butter
■ 1 c. pecans, chopped

Mix ingredients and sprinkle topping on top of potato mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Half way thru baking, place foil over top casserole dish to prevent edges from burning.