Every year, I keep my family’s tradition going by making my Grandmother’s sweet potato recipe. I’m not quite sure how she ever made them taste so good, because as a child, I remembered the sweet, savory flavor would just be a little bite of heaven on a fork. Over the years, I have tried to make them taste the same, and while I’ve come close, somehow they are missing that special “Grandmother’s touch”.
The candied yams include butter, brown sugar sprinkled over the top, and of course miniature marshmallows, these are then browned together to perfection in the oven, and when removed are a bubbling, gooey, scrumptious combination that no one can resist. I know they aren’t low-calorie, but it is still a good way of getting fiber in, sans the topping if one is nutrient conscious.
This is a little bit of love and brings back memories of a time when laughter would fill the living room. While there may be leftovers from our holiday meal, these always get gobbled up quickly.
Another seasonal favorite at my house every year is glazed baby carrots, my mother made them with a sweet orange sauce that was a mixture of fresh squeezed orange juice, brown sugar, butter, and a dash of salt. While these are very simple ingredients, somehow “mom magic” took over and these too were gone in about five minutes. I add honey, ginger, and a dash of black pepper to mine to change up the flavor, but that is my own preference.
I also excel at making desserts, and truly that is the joy of the holiday season for any home chef, my personal favorites are my grandmother’s holiday cookies, I also like to make cheese bread from scratch and cranberry orange bread, as well as the old pumpkin pecan pie.
As you can tell, holidays at my family home are warm and traditional and filled with lots of homemade love.
Here’s wishing you and yours a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving season. We all really do have a lot to be thankful for this year, and I am grateful to be able to share wisdom and grace with you all throughout the months.