A Thanksgiving staple in our home growing up was sweet potatoes with toasted marshmallow topping.  The sweet potatoes were actually yams..from a can.  My mother doctored them with extra brown sugar and butter.  Then, she adorned them with mounds of marshmallows and carefully toasted them under the broiler.  It was a family favorite.

I have graduated to a more homemade sweet potato side dish albeit one that is just as sweet as my mom’s old standby.  I believe you need a little sweet on your plate at Thanksgiving–but don’t eat too much–save room for the pie!

Sweet Potato Crunch

• 8 large sweet potatoes
• 1/2 stick of butter
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1 tsp. ground ginger
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• pinch of salt

Topping:

• 1 cup chopped raw pecans
• 1/2 cup brown sugar

1. Peel the sweet potatoes and cut into cubes.  Place in a stockpot of water and bring to a boil.  Boil for 15-20 minutes or until the sweet potatoes are fork tender.  Drain and place in a food processor.
2. Process the sweet potatoes until smooth.  Pour into a bowl and add the butter, spices, salt, and maple syrup.
3. Spread the mixture into a 12″ cast iron skillet or 9×9 baking dish.
4. Mix the pecans, brown sugar.  Sprinkle over the sweet potato mixture.
5. Bake in a 350 F oven for 25-30 minutes or until sweet potatoes are bubbly and pecans are toasted.

Thanksgiving is all about family, friends and delicious food. Luckily, the food blogging community is all about these things as well. To celebrate the holiday, Meghan from Cake ‘n’ Knife and Susannah from Feast + West are hosting Blogsgiving Dinner. There are 20 awesome blogs sharing 52 recipes

The idea is based on the old-fashioned progressive dinner party, in which you’d eat each course at a different guest’s home. Each blogger is bringing one or more dishes to the party on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of this week, so be sure to stop by each one and get some ideas for your own Thanksgiving meal.  Be sure to check out today’s recipes for entrees, salads and side dishes.

We’ll be posting to social media with the hashtag #blogsgivingdinner. Hope you can join us!

Blogsgiving Progressive Dinner Menu

 Wednesday, Nov. 12

Salads

Pomegranate & Goat Cheese Salad from Feast + West

Persimmon & Pear Salad from Wit Wisdom and Food

Roasted Butternut Squash & Gorgonzola Salad from Hello Little Home

Entrees

The Perfect Thanksgiving Turkey from My Cooking Spot

Roasted Turducken from The Speckled Palate

Herb Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Orange-Cranberry Reduction from Home at Six

Beer Brined Turkey with Bacon Gravy from Cake ‘n’ Knife

Smoked Mushroom Steaks with Herbed Bread Crumbs (Vegan) from Betty Becca

Side Dish

Turkey, Apple & Sweet Potato Pot Pies from Love & Flour

Creamy Pumpkin Apple Pasta Bake from My Cooking Spot

Mushroom Spinach Farro from Think Fruitful

Bacon and Cornbread Stuffing from Chez CateyLou

Sweet Potato Crunch from I Cook. I Eat. It’s Life.

Blue Cheese & Bacon Mashed Potatoes from A Savory Feast

Sausage Stuffing from the Wetherills Say I Do

Butternut Squash Grits from Homespun Seasonal Living

Wine

Thanksgiving Wine Pairings from Twin Stripe