Posted by Suzanne McMinn on May 23, 2008 @ 5:05 am
Tags: sweet potatoes
Pies & Pastries, The Farmhouse Table
A church in Charleston handed out over 40,000 pounds of sweet potatoes they got from a farm in South Carolina where they were going to be plowed under if someone didn’t haul them off. They shipped them back to West Virginia and gave them away free to anyone who’d take them. We took off to the big city and picked up about 10,000 pounds in our “they’re free!” mania. Okay, maybe just a couple hundred pounds, but it seemed like more. We gave most of them, bags and bags and BAGS of them, to Georgia. She said, “Oh my, that’s a lot of sweet potatoes.” She’s on a mission to pass them out to her church ladies and friends and shut-ins. And, well, any hapless soul who crosses her path. See the happy children unloading sweet potatoes at Georgia’s house-straight into her car trunk for easy delivery everywhere she goes.
I just made up that part about happy children. They don’t like to do work of any kind.
That evening, we were planning to head out to a visitation for my first-cousin-once-removed who passed away at 91. After we unloaded our loot, Georgia said, “Do you think we can bring sweet potatoes to the visitation?”
I said, “I think we’re supposed to bring flowers.” Georgia said, “We don’t have flowers. We have sweet potatoes.” And sure enough, when we pulled in to pick her up (Georgia would never miss a visitation outing!), there she was with a bag of sweet potatoes in each hand. Princess, who insisted on coming along (she would never miss a social event!), ran around asking everyone at the visitation if they wanted sweet potatoes while Georgia handed them out at the door like funeral wake party favors. Princess wore her darkest blue t-shirt in honor of the somber occasion and put it on inside out because she didn’t think it was appropriate to have any decoration on her shirt at a funeral visitation. I said, “But it is appropriate to ask everyone if they would like a sweet potato?!”
Luckily, we were not thrown out. Unluckily, my kids don’t like sweet potatoes, but luckily again, their easily diverted little minds have not yet made the connection between those mountains of sweet potatoes in our possession and our kitchen. I made sweet potato fries the other night and when Princess said, “Why do these french fries look orange?” I said, “Oh, it’s just some special seasoning I put on there.” She said (suspiciously), “What kind of seasoning?” I said, “Orange-colored seasoning! Here, you want some ketchup?” She ate them right up. And so when I made sweet potato pie, I told everyone it was pumpkin pie. And they ate that right up, too. Ha. Sweet potato pie does taste very much like pumpkin pie, and this recipe is my favorite.
How to make Sweet Potato Pie:
3 large sweet potatoes (about 1 pound)
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 single-crust Foolproof Pie Crust shell
Boil sweet potatoes in skins until very tender. Drain then slit the skins with a knife and they’ll peel off very easily.
Mash sweet potatoes with butter then use an electric mixer to blend well. Add sugar, milk, eggs, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla. Use mixer to blend again.
Pour sweet potato filling into unbaked pie shell. I like to sprinkle a little more nutmeg on top. It looks pretty, and I love nutmeg.
Bake at 350-degrees (mostly on the lowest oven rack) for one hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool and top slices with whipped cream. Then call your kids and ask them if they want some pumpkin pie.
And, by the way, if a little old lady in a $200 Aries K stops in front of your house and opens her trunk, well…. I hope you like sweet potatoes.
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6:17
am
So THAT’S where the sweet potatoes came from!!! They were begging students to help with them. How cool is that?
Sweet potatoes are awesome. If Princess liked sweet potato pie, she might like them baked and topped with brown sugar and cinnamon! And butter, of course. Gotta have butter!
6:58
am
That’s funny, Suzanne. I have done the same thing to my kids. What they don’t know won’t hurt them, is my motto.
Georgia and YOU are such giving people. We need more people like you guys in the world!
7:08
am
What a great opportunity. wow if those potatoes could only talk about their journey. I am a minister and have done tons of funerals but never saw any sweet potatoes but sign me up for a bag. love sweet potato pie and fries too. they are also very good for you. what about sweet potato butter??? I have been meaning to try that. the pumpkin butter was fantastic. it is so green and wonderful where you are.
7:10
am
I wish I lived closer…I don’t think Georgia will make it to Montana…but I LOVE sweet potatoes!
7:12
am
I love sweet potatoes too! And sweet potato pie, pumpkin pie…any kind of squash, in any form. Sweet potato fries are great! (Baked, of course, with a bit of olive oil and lots of seasoning.)
But sweet potatoes for a visitation? That’s a new one for me!
-Kim
7:15
am
Do you think Georgia would travel the country delivering Sweet Potatoes? If so, I’ll take a bag here in Florida!
:J
7:18
am
I wish Georgia would stop at my home! I would love a bagfull! Suzanne, looking forward to more pie recipies!!
6:34
pm
We love sweet potatoes! We either bake them, or mash them, turn them into soup or turn them into french fries. My kids have always found them sweet enough not to need extra sugar.
6:44
pm
I really like sweet potatoes, but my yankee housband doesn’t like them. Now maybe sweetpotato pie might …just might work!!!!
6:50
pm
Now I’m wondering if my sister, who lives in Largent, knew about this sweet potato giveaway. She sure could use some of those for her family. She works at the little General Store at Stoney Creek and doesn’t make a lot of money.
The pie looks gorgeous Suzanne. I think I’ll be making this soon. Thanks for the recipe. xxoo
7:19
pm
We love sweet potato pie around here, too! One day, would you please share your recipe for the fries? I can just not get them right. I think it is wonderful that you all are sharing the bounty!
7:22
pm
I too love sweet potato pie and the fries and baked of course. My mother actually puts them in stew which I never thought of doing. I think that’s wonderful that they gave them away instead of destroying them.
7:25
pm
How funny about Princess eating the sweet potatoes that way.
My kids were the same about them. I love sweet potato pie and it’s my mother’s favorite.
7:34
pm
Hi Suzanne,
I have a Uncle who needs a wife. Is Georgia married? I would like her for a Auntie.
Josie
PS
I just read “Just Desserts” and noticed the advertisement to the right of your blog of another book of the same title, different author. Is it considered bad luck in the literary world to use a book title already used?
8:55
pm
You could make sweet potato biscuits. That is an all time favorite of everyone here.
8:00
am
I am excited to try this recipe. My daughter loves sweet potatos and this would be something different to try. Not to mention old fashion and a keeper!
http://lifeislikechampagne.blogspot.com/
3:29
pm
I love sweet potatoes. My family was raised with them! My husband will take a bite or two and is not THAT fond of them, yet the last ones I prepared, he ate MOST of them. His family does not eat them (New Yorkers).
My mother took me to a sweet potato farm once, to pick up a box, for my family and my mother LOVED sweet potato pie!There is a town in North Texas known for sweet potatoes - like “the capital of sweet potatoes” but I can’t remember the name now.
I think your recipe looks LUSCIOUS and I am going to copy that, to make one around Fall. I could dig right into that pie. You are so gifted at baking and making everything look so pretty AND taste so good.
I was laughing at Princess’ expression above, like “thanks alot mom..you are on my LIST now”…and Georgia looks so sweet. LOL
11:39
am
My mother liked Sweet Potato pie and I like it…it looks WONDERFUL. My family loves sweet potatoes - my husband doesnt’ care for them alot, yet, each time I make them, he eats MOST of them. I have heard of Sweet Potato fries and hear that everyone loves them. I love Sweet Potatoes at Thanksgiving with all the marshmallows on top…and of course the NEW way, with the praline topping instead…they are VERY healthy for you too. I remember my mother taking me to a sweet potato farm to get a big box of them one year.
That Princess..what a character - she has the look of “you’re on my list, mom!”. LOL She cracks me up.
I love your Pear tree pic and the cat in the trash. I love Bartlett pears. I would be in heaven with a veggie garden and fruit trees! Fresh eggs, ect.
4:38
pm
I love sweet potatoes too! My favorite though would have to be fried. My mother-in-law makes the best. She peels them, then slices them and then fries them in a cast iron skillet in a little oil or butter. Yummy! I also love them baked. One of our good friends use to make the best Sweet potato pie. She passed away from cancer, but whenever I think about Sweet potato pie, I think about Sissy. You knew she loved you, if you were given one of her sweet potato pies.
10:44
pm
Am enjoying ” Haven…A Hero’s Redemption” Am about half way through it. When will the next Haven be out?
Fern