The Roses of Prose: sweet potatoes

Monday, November 12, 2012

PECAN SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE by Vonnie Davis

This is my family's favorite dish at Thanksgiving. We usually have both turkey and ham, and this sweet potato dish goes well with either.

3 C. sweet potatoes             1/2 C. milk
2 eggs                                   dash of salt
1 tsp. vanilla                         1/2 stick of butter
1 C. of white or brown sugar * (I usually use 1/2 C. of each)

Topping:
1 C. brown sugar *                     1/2 stick of butter (softened)
1 C. chopped pecans               3/4 C. coconut
1/2 C. flour

Cook, drain and mash sweet potatoes. Add other ingredients listed in the top section of recipe and blend with mixer. Pour into baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.

Mix topping ingredients and crumble on top of potato mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes until topping is golden brown.

* A reminder. When recipes call for brown sugar, it is usually a packed measurement, meaning you pack the sugar in the measuring cup with your fist.

~ ~ ~ ~
As we roll into the Thanksgiving holiday season, I wish you all a special time with your families. Our families love us, mold us and often define us. Take my heroine in MONA LISA'S ROOM, for example. She's very close to her younger sister and dad. That's why her email to her sister made the perfect backcover blurb for this romantic suspense:

Gwen,

You won't believe this email. I'm sitting in a French safe house, eating caviar and drinking champagne with a handsome government agent, Niko Reynard. He's wearing nothing but silk pajama bottoms and mega doses of sex appeal. I'm in big trouble, little sister. He's kissed me several times and given me a foot massage that nearly caused spontaneous combustion. I'm feeling strangely virginal compared to the sexual prowess this thirty-year-old man exudes.

When I came to Paris for a bit of adventure, I never imagined I'd foil a bombing attempt, karate-kick two men, and run from terrorists while wearing a new pair of stilettos. I've met a German musician, a gay poet from Australia, and the most delightful older French woman.

Don't worry. I'm safe--the jury's still out on yummy Niko, though. The more champagne I drink, the less reserved I feel. What an unforgettable fortieth birthday!

Alyson