Thanksgiving Leftovers: Sweet Potatoes

by Jyl Johnson Pattee on December 1st, 2013 | No Comments »

Raise your hand if you had dishes at your Thanksgiving dinner growing up that most people in your family were afraid to try? For me, sweet potatoes topped my list. I would pile my plate so high full of other food that no one noticed that it never had even a spoonful of sweet potatoes on it. In other words, I got away without trying my moms' sweet potatoes my entire life. I thought I was so smart!

Fast forward about 20 years when my sister showed up to Thanksgiving with a different variety of sweet potatoes. These ones didn't have marshmallows on top or come out of a can. And when people ate them (surprisingly, everyone but me had a decent sized dollop on their plate), they ooohed and aaahed with delight. Apparently, her dish was "to die for" so much so that people actually asked to take the extras home for Thanksgiving leftovers.

A few years ago, I finally decided to take the plunge. I tried the "best sweet potato recipe ever." Move over mashed potatoes. And make room, turkey. There's a new dish in town. Sweet potatoes, because they are just that—sweet—are, in my opinion, better than pie and make the perfect addition to any Thanksgiving dinner. It's amazing what can happen when you try new things, right?

Sweet Potatoes Recipe

As it turns out, my sister was modifying a recipe for a dish she tried at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. Their sweet potatoes, called Sweet Potato Casserole, got rave reviews by customers, one of whom suggested she try it. After doing so, she knew our Thanksgiving would be changed for the better by bringing this dish and she was right.

Here's my sister's modified version of Ruth's Chris' original recipe. Whether you're taking it to Thanksgiving dinner, making it for leftovers, or using it throughout the year, it doesn't disappoint.

Ingredients for the Crust

1 Cup Brown Sugar
1/3 Cup Flour
1 Cup Chopped Pecans
1/2 Cup Butter Melted

Ingredients for the Sweet Potato Mixture

4 Cups Mashed Sweet Potatoes (This is modified from the 3 cups the recipe calls for. My sister found the original recipe to be sweeter than she'd like, so she added more sweet potatoes to cut back on the sweetness and this variety is preferred by all in our family, even our sugar-loving children.)
1 Cup Sugar
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
2 Eggs (well beaten)
1/4 Cup Butter (melted)

Directions

Combine brown sugar, flour, nuts and butter in mixing bowl to create the Crust Mixture. Set aside.
Combine sweet potatoes, sugar, salt, vanilla, eggs and butter in a mixing bowl. Set aside.
Pour Sweet Potato Mixture into a greased baking dish and bake for 25 minutes at 375 degrees.
Remove from oven and sprinkle the Crust Mixture evenly on the Sweet Potato Mixture.
Bake an additional 10 minutes.
Set 30 minutes before serving.

What are your favorite Thanksgiving Leftover recipes?

Bio
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Jyl Johnson Pattee

An active part of the Mom It Forward team, Jyl primarily writes about parenting, social good, and all things travel related. In a past life, Jyl was an award-winning copywriter and designer of corporate training programs for Fortune 100 companies. Offline, Jyl is married to @TroyPattee; a mom to two teen boys and a beagle named #Hashtag; loves large amounts of cheese, dancing, and traveling; and lives in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Topping her bucket list is the goal to visit 50 countries by the time she's 50.