My French Canadian daughter-in-law, Ellie, once told me that she thought it was amazing that Americans across the country take one day every year to sit down with family to the same traditional meal. We may put our own twist on the menu, or add a cultural dish such as pasta or egg rolls, but most of us enjoy turkey, dressing, and sweet potatoes with pumpkin pie for dessert on Thanksgiving Day. The only other holiday that is this close in tradition is Independence Day when hot dogs and hamburgers are the main meal of choice.

On Thanksgiving we also take a moment to acknowledge our many blessings. No matter how difficult your life is right now, most likely you also have much for which to be thankful.  My own list is very long this year.

May your Thanksgiving be fun and peaceful surrounded by people you love and a hearty, tasty dinner.

The following is my recipe for mashed sweet potatoes. I don’t measure the ingredients so it is best to add sugar and spices in small amounts, tasting often.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

2-3 large sweet potatoes
¼ to ½ cup softened margarine or butter
½ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
Dash of cloves
Mini marshmallows

Wash potatoes. Cook in microwave until tender. Cool.

Scoop the potato out of their skins and into a mixing bowl. With an electric mixer, beat until smooth. Add margarine/butter, brown sugar, and spices.

Place potato mixture into a greased baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees until heated through, about 30 minutes. Add mini marshmallows and put the baking dish back in the oven until the marshmallows are brown. Allow to cool a few minutes.

Caution: The marshmallows become very hot.

©2012, Mary K. Doyle

(Top photo by Ellie (Aurelie Cannella)