Sweet Potato Puree with Streusel

This recipe, found on epicurious.com, is the sweet potato dish I have been making with my Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for the past couple of years. It is delicious and very sweet, if you add marshmallows on top of the streusel. Look out sugar rush.

Ingredients:

  • 5 pounds orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, such as Louisiana, jewel, or garnet yams
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup plus 1/3 cup (packed) light brown sugar
  • 14 tablespoons (1 3/4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

Directions:

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 400°F. Butter 9- by 13-inch baking dish or 2-quart casserole. Line rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.

Pierce each potato with fork and transfer to baking sheet. Bake until tender, about 50 minutes. Cool until easy to handle.

Meanwhile, make streusel: In medium bowl, combine flour, 3/4 cup brown sugar, and 1 stick butter. Rub mixture between fingertips until blended and crumbly. Set aside.

Halve potatoes lengthwise and scoop out flesh into large bowl. Add remaining 1/3 cup brown sugar and 3/4 stick butter and mash with potato masher or, for a smoother purée, handheld electric mixer. Spread mixture in prepared dish and cool completely. (Streusel and purée can be made up to 2 days ahead and refrigerated, separately, covered.)

Sprinkle streusel over potatoes. Bake until golden brown, about 40 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. (Completed dish can be prepared up to 1 day ahead and refrigerated, covered. Remove from refrigerator 1 hour before reheating and let come to room temperature. Bake, loosely covered with foil, until heated through, about 25 minutes.)

Variation:
Sweet potato purée with marshmallows: Omit streusel. Spread purée in baking dish, cover with foil, and bake until heated through, about 30 minutes. Sprinkle top with 3 cups miniature marshmallows and broil until marshmallows are lightly browned, about 1 minute. Serve immediately.

Mom’s Turkey Stuffing

This stuffing is simple, yet delicious. My mom started using toasted bread to include my brother and me in the process of cooking Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. We were delighted to help with the toasting and tearing. I no longer stuff the bird but cook it separately as recommended for safety due to the possibility of stuffing inside the turkey harboring bacteria.

Ingredients:

  • 2 loafs white bread
  • 1 pound margarine
  • 3 tsp poultry seasoning or season to taste
  • 1 yellow onion chopped
  • 5-6 stalks celery chopped
  • Turkey stock

Directions:

Toast white bread and tear into bite size pieces. Slowly melt margarine in large sauté pan. Add poultry seasoning to taste. Add chopped celery and onions. Sauté vegetables until tender, around 5-10 minutes. Mix with bread bites. Add a bit of turkey giblet stock to taste. Add more poultry season if needed. Bake separately at 400 degrees for around 10 minutes or until heated through.