Thanksgiving Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients:

4 medium sweet potatoes

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup unsalted butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (or a little cloves, ginger and more nutmeg to taste)

1 teaspoon salt

1 bag mini marshmallows

candied pecans

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. Place sweet potatoes in a large pot of water (enough water to cover sweet potatoes), and bring to a boil.

3. When sweet potatoes are easily pierced with a fork (about 15 minutes), drain and let cool or rinse under cold water. When cool enough to handle, the skins should easily fall off the sweet potatoes.

3. Place sweet potatoes in a large bowl with cream, butter, sugar, spices, and salt and blend with an immersion blender. 

4. Spread sweet potatoes into a square pan (8 x 8, 9 x 9), cover with marshmallows and pecans, and place in the oven until marshmallows are melted and browned. 

Note: 

This recipe can easily be prepared a day before. Once sweet potatoes have been blended, store in the refrigerator. Before serving, warm sweet potato mixture in the microwave, then spread in pan and top with marshmallows and pecans, Place in oven to melt and brown the marshmallows.

Funeral Potatoes

Ingredients:

32 oz hash browns (freshly shredded or thawed)
1 can Cream of Chicken soup
2 cups (1 pint) sour cream
2 cups shredded Monterrey and Cheddar cheese
1/2 of a medium onion, diced
1/2 - 1 Tablespoon diced garlic
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
3/4 cup unsalted butter, divided
1 cup panko bread crumbs
1/2 Tablespoon paprika

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350º.
2. Melt 1/4 cup of butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.
3. Combine onions and garlic with hash browns, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, cheese, salt and pepper and combine well.
4. Spread the mixture into a 9 x 13 inch dish.
5. Mix the panko bread crumbs with 1/2 cup of melted butter and the paprika and top the mixture.
6. Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 5 minutes. If bread crumbs are not golden, broil for a couple of minutes.