Sunday, October 19, 2008

Sweet Potato Casserole with Praline Topping

Arnold Palmer's Restaurant in La Quinta places Macaroni & Cheese under the heading of vegetable. Now, I am no nutrition or food science major, but that is pushing it a little. Classifying this dish as anything else but a dessert is pushing it a little too. There are, indeed, vegetables in it. But by the time you add all the goodies, well lets just say that children would never have issues with vegetables if we could find a way to make all of them taste like this one. The original recipe called for only 2 1/2 lbs. of sweet potatoes. I upped it to 4 so I could feel a little better about calling it a vegetable.This is also a favorite at Thanksgiving or Christmas. I start craving it as soon as I see a fall leaf decoration in a store. I am like Pavlov's dog. I become inexplicably drawn to the sweet potatoes. So I try to sneak an extra serving of this in October as well. Usually at a Caress Family dinner.

There is still the praline topping versus marshmallow topping debate. I find that marshmallows are a non-issue after one bite of this. I wonder how marshmallows would spruce up cauliflower?

1 cup flour
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1/2 stick of love (butter for those who are not fluent in Paula Deen)
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Combine in a small bowl, stirring to form a streusel. Set aside.

About 4 pounds sweet potatoes (canned or fresh. If fresh, boil them until soft before starting.)
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1/2 cup evaporated milk

Mash potatoes in a large bowl. Stir in other ingredients. Stir in 1 cup ONLY of the streusel. Mix well. Pour into a 2 quart casserole coated with cooking spray. Top with remaining streusel. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Serve warm.

3 comments:

Kyle said...

Mmmmmmm..... this sounds so good. I'm going to have to try making it for Thanksgiving.

Rachelle@atticgals.blogspot.com said...

I make this same recipe every year and it is always a hit. It is cheating really, because it is like eating dessert with your dinner, then you can still have pie or something for dessert after dinner, if you have enough self-control to save room for dessert, that is.

The Queen said...

Great. I was doing fine today, actually over the worst of my cravings for carbs. All of this yummy food has made it start all over again!! This is what I get for staying up so late past my bedtime!