I'm big on tradition. I like doing the same things year in and year out and when it comes to Thanksgiving feast traditions, I don't like to mess around. But this year, a wrench was thrown right in the middle of our traditions...and the mister threw it! He wanted to go see some basketball tournament - again. For the last several years he has talked me into going to these tournaments and flying home the day before Thanksgiving - leaving me very little time to shop, dice, chop, stir, blend, bake, sleep, etc., etc., for every little thing that goes into hosting a feast for 20 people. This year I told him I was not leaving. We were going to stay in town, have a wonderful feast with friends and family and that was that! Then the mister's best friend Jack showed up and before I could say pass the pumpkin pie, the mister gleefully told me they purchased tickets and we are going to Orlando, but not to worry, we are going the week BEFORE Thanksgiving!
Me: Oh really Expedia-man?? The week before? Thanksgiving is the on the 22nd this year so we're going to be gone on the 15th?
Mister: No, we'll be gone on the 22nd, and Thanksgiving is on the 29th, the last Thursday of the month, just like always.
Me: Were you using your Stonehenge calendar again? You're a week off!!
Mister: Well before you freak out, what if I tell you can can go to Harry Potter World and Disney World and I'll go watch basketball by myself?
Me: That won't be the only thing you'll be doing by yourself! Godfrey! No turkey, no cranberries, no pie...(and as I slink out of the room I say to myself, no cooking, no cleaning, no setting up and taking down...hmmmmm this might not be so bad after all!)
There are 5 weeks in November this year so that means we can still have our own Thanksgiving - a week later on the last Thursday of the month just like the mister had planned all along! By then our friends might be ready to stuff themselves again! I've convinced myself it will all work out just fine, the boy will be here to watch the house and the dog, he will have Thanksgiving dinner with friends and he loves the idea of TWO feasts and I'll get to drink Butter-beer with Harry and have turkey with Mickey...'tis the season to be thankful so I'm trying to look on the bright side!
Forget everything you know about T-Day sweet potatoes...the overly-sweetened-mashed-to-baby-food-consistency-dish that can often double as dessert...this sweet potato recipe is not that. Oh sure, there's the mashed sweet potato part, but you don't have to mash them into oblivion. But the topping? Well it's genius. Crunchy pretzels drizzled with store-bought caramel and sprinkled with sea salt flakes...crunchy and salty...there's a game changer right there!
I made two batches, one for us and one for my "barometers" down the street...Linda and Allan are always willing and ready to sample/taste/critique whatever I show up with at their door...and they LOVED this as much as we did. Even the mister liked this and he doesn't even like sweet potatoes! Your T-Day menu needs this - it will be the perfect accompaniment to your turkey...crunchy, salty, sweet and not overly spiced...I'm telling you straight, this one is 5 dangs worth! It's dang, dang, dang, dang, dang delicious!
Sweet Potato Casserole with Salted Caramel and Pretzels - Adapted from Decatur McPherson, 12 Tomatoes
6 to 7 large sweet potatoes, peeled and boiled until fork tender
1 cup milk
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
Topping:
3/4 cup caramel sauce (I used Smuckers Caramel, found in the ice cream aisle)
3/4 cup pretzels (broken/crushed into small pieces, I used Butter Snaps, love the buttery taste they add, but any pretzel will do)
1/4 cup brown sugar
4 tablespoons butter
sea salt, to taste
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter. Once potatoes are boiled and are fork tender, drain and return to the pan. To the pan add milk, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and allspice. Mash together until potatoes are the consistency you like...if you want to leave them in chunks, do it! If you want them smooth with no lumps, mash away! Transfer everything to the baking dish and set aside.
Make the topping: Melt butter in a medium sauce pan over medium heat and stir in brown sugar, whisking until sugar is dissolved. Stir in broken pretzels, then spoon this mixture over the sweet potatoes. Top with an even drizzle of caramel sauce, then sprinkle with sea salt. Place baking dish in oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until heated through. Remove and serve hot, serves 8.
