Holiday food traditions. I think most families have them. Some are based on heritage and others are simply favorites. Although my heritage is German, my family usually celebrates Christmas with American dishes. Ham or turkey is served with all the fixings typical of a Thanksgiving meal. We have creamed corn, green beans, cranberry salad, sweet potato casserole, stuffed celery, and more.
Our meal is quite Southern. Corn and sweet potatoes are very popular in the South. They are also something my mom discovered when she came to America to marry my dad. Back then corn was considered pig food in Germany. It was only grown to feed the pigs. They also didn’t grow sweet potatoes. It took her a while before she would try either of them. I’m glad she did and also got the recipe for the casserole.
The recipe is from a dear family friend. Evelyn gave it to my mom a long, long time ago. I adapted it only slightly, using butter instead of margarine. I also noted to cook the potatoes by baking them. Both Evelyn and my mom use a pressure cooker. I don’t have one of those yet and so I had to bake them. I do not recommend boiling the potatoes because they will lose flavor and color.
Today’s Sunday Supper is about holiday food traditions. The group is sharing recipes either from their heritage or their family favorites. They are bringing so many delicious things to our virtual table:
Breakfast
- Eggs Benedict by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Holiday Cream Cheese Tea Ring by That Skinny Chick can Bake
- Orange Refrigerator Rolls by The Wimpy Vegetarian
- Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake by Small Wallet Big Appetite
Appetizers & Snacks
- Chicken Liver Pate by Tora’s Real Food
- Bindaetteok {Mung Bean Pancakes} by Kimchi Mom
- Crab and Asparagus Soup by The Urban Mrs.
Sides
- Potato Salad {Schwaebischer Kartoffelsalat} by Galactopdx
- Italian Orange Salad by Shockingly Delicious
- Sweet Potato Casserole by Magnolia Days
- Carrots au gratin by Juanitas Cocina
Main Dishes
- Char Siu Bao – Chinese Roast Pork Buns by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
- Savory Crepe Cake by Vintage Kitchen
- West Indian Curried Goat by The ROXX Box
- Pot Cheese and Potato Cheese Pierogies by Cupcakes and Kale Chips
- Seafood Gumbo and Grilled Oysters: A Louisiana Christmas Tradition by the Catholic Foodie
- Mom’s Paella by What Smells So Good?
- Portuguese inspired Chorizo Crown Pork Roast by Family Foodie
- Dorie’s Chicken in a Pot by Gotta Get Baked
- New Year’s Eve Buckwheat Noodles with Mochi by The Ninja Baker
- Mile High Lasagna by Cravings of a Lunatic
- Crab Cakes for Christmas Eve by Daddy Knows Less
Desserts
- Pizzelles {Italian Wafer Cookies} by Chocolate Moosey
- Fudge by Dinner Dishes and Desserts
- Crescent Cookies by Cookistry
- Christmas Stollen by Hezzi D’s Books and Cooks
- Pfeffernussen by The Foodie Army Wife
- Creme De Menthe Cake by I Run for Wine
- Panettone Bread Pudding by the Country Girl in the Village
- Spiced Gingerbread Gooey Butter Cake | A twist on a St. Louis Favorite by Daily Dish Recipes
- Chocolate Gingerbread Cake with Eggnog Cream Cheese Frosting by Crispy Bits and Burnt Ends
- Jamaican Christmas Pudding by Lovely Pantry
- White Chocolate Cranberry Santa Cookies by Mooshu Jenne
- Christmas Tree Cookies by Damn Delicious
- Old Fashioned Lady Fingers {Creamhorns} by The Meltaways
- Rose Milk Almond Falooda {Indian Dessert Drink} by Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
Drinks
- Wine Pairings by ENOFYLZ Wine Blog
- Cinnamon Infused Hot Chocolate with Southern Comfort Whipped Cream by Mama Mommy Mom
The posts are more than recipes. They are also wonderful stories of holidays and traditions. Please take the time to visit and read each heartwarming one.
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Sweet Potato Casserole
Ingredients
For the sweet potato mixture:
- 3 to 4 cups cooked sweet potatoes without skin
- 1/4 cup canned evaporated milk plus more if needed
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter melted
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
For the topping:
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup self-rising flour
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter melted
Instructions
For the sweet potato mixture:
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Place all ingredients into a large bowl. Beat using an electric mixer until smooth. Add more milk if needed. The mixture should have a moist consistency. Spread mixture evenly into a 2-quart baking or casserole dish.
For the topping:
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In a medium bowl, add the brown sugar, flour, and pecans. Stir to combine. Add the melted butter and stir to combine. The mixture will be somewhat crumbly. Spread the topping evenly over the sweet potato mixture.
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Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 minutes. Serve and enjoy.
Recipe Notes
About 6 medium-sized sweet potatoes will yield the amount needed for this recipe. Scrub the potatoes clean, poke a few holes in them and place on a baking sheet. Bake in a 400 degree Fahrenheit oven for about an hour until soft when tested by piercing the potato with a fork. For safe handling, let potatoes cool before removing the skins.
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Beate says
One of my favorite all American items is Sweet Potato Casserole. This recipe sounds delicious! Happy Holidays!
Martin D. Redmond says
Yummy! The pecans make this dish for me. Looks wonderful! Thanks for sharing!
The Ninja Baker says
Thank you for sharing the tale of your mother’s first reaction to corn. So funny and fascinating how our different upbringings color our perspectives and palates.
Given the scrumptiousness of the sweet potato, and the nutritional value (it is a vegetable!) combined with the ingredients recommended to your mother, I am confident this is going to be a winner on my family table!
Thank you for this great post, Renee.
Pam @ The Meltaways says
This looks delicious! I love a good casserole, and there is nothing like a recipe with history behind it!
Family Foodie says
ooohhh I may have to add this to my Christmas Menu! It looks absolutely amazing. I can’t tell you enough what a pleasure it has been getting to know you, meeting you and sharing #sundaysupper with you this past year. Merry Christmas to you and Mark!
Liz says
This looks marvelous, Renee! Love the topping…makes it so festive! Happy Sunday Supper!
PS…we love pig food on our holiday table, too!
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen says
This can easily double as a dessert. I love this kind of sweet dishes, especially with turkey. We have similar food at my house, it comes down from our ancestors, but it´s a bit much for hot weather! Have a great Christmas Renée!
Dorothy at ShockinglyDelicious says
Wonderful dish! Thank you for sharing it and your story!
Jen @ Juanita's Cocina says
I adore sweet potatoes! And I’d adore this! Merry Christmas!
Hezzi-D says
This looks delicious with the pecans and brown sugar on top.
Susan says
Renee, I love the topping! I have a weakness for pecans and brown sugar!
Lane @ Supper for a Steal says
This looks so delicious. Mmm those pecans. Seriously I want some for breakfast.
Amy Kim (@kimchi_mom) says
This looks and sounds amazing. I also love the story behind this dish! Thank you so much for sharing and I hope you and your family have a merry Christmas!
Tora Estep says
Thanks for sharing your holiday traditions! I maintain largely Swedish and Finnish traditions, but my husband’s family is from the South so I am definitely familiar with corn and sweet potatoes at the holiday table!
Sarah says
Woohoo! No marshmallows! LOL looks good
Kristi Rimkus says
I love this supper. The topping sounds incredible! Have a wonderful Christmas!
[email protected] says
Oh gosh, that sounds amazing! Especially with that topping… love it!
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
I love sweet potato casseroles!! This is a completely southern dish in all its deliciousness.
Lyn @LovelyPantry says
This looks wonderful and very southern indeed! You already know how I feel about corn and sweet potatoes…totally necessary! Merry Christmas, Renee!! *hugs*
Renee says
Thanks Lyn! And a very Happy Holidays to you too! xoxo
Roxanne says
I love sweet potato casserole. Thanks for sharing.
Tiffany says
Looks delicious! Love all the linkups. Char Siu Bao is a yummy treat that my Chinese MIL makes for us when we have get togethers!
Conni Smith says
Sweet Potato Casserole is such a wonderful dish to serve at the holidays. It is sweet and flavorful and …. HOME!
Carolsue says
Eggnog Brownies or Blueberry Coffee Cake
Laura says
This is normally the dish I would avoid at dinner but this recipe doesn’t include marshmallows so even I would ask for it to be passed to me.
Renee says
I’m not a fan of the marshmallow covered ones either.
Megan @ I Run for Wine says
I love this recipe!! My family makes a similar one. We also use frosted flakes for topping along with the pecans 🙂 I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas!
Renee says
Frosted flakes…interesting. I might just have to experiment with that.
Cindys Recipes says
You can’t lose with sweet potatoes! Sounds yummy, Renee!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
Mmm, I always love seeing a sweet potato recipe that isn’t covered in gobs of marshmallows!
Nancy @ gottagetbaked says
Renee, this dish looks fabulous! I love sweet potatoes and this is one of my absolute favourite side dishes (heck, I could easily make this my main course!). I hope you had a very merry Christmas with your loved ones and I can’t wait to share more Sunday suppers with you in 2013.
Sarah says
I really have no idea why I have never made sweet potato casserole before. I must correct this immediately! Looks soooo goood. Hope you enjoyed your Holidays wishing you a very Happy New Year!
Renee says
A very Happy Holidays to you too Sarah!
Donna says
I made something similar to this with squash, and my FIL, you usually doesn’t like squash, gobbled it up and went back for seconds and thirds. I’ll have to try this version one of these days.
Renee says
I’d love to see that squash recipe Donna. I do love squash in so many ways.