Happy Thanksgiving from Crystal

In honor of the holidays I’m going to share with you a sweet treat that’s been a tradition in my family since I was grown and married and making the decisions for myself : )


My mother always made a sweet potato mash at Thanksgiving and... I always hated it.

When I got older and was doing the cooking for myself, I looked for ways to make this very healthy tuber into a more appetizing dish. I originally saw Tyler Florence make this on Food Network channel, and yes, the fact that he’s hunky delicious influenced my desire to try it. I have to admit, that gorgeous man knows his way around the kitchen. Is he the perfect guy or what?

Cinnamon Streusel Sweet Potatoes

   * 12 large sweet potatoes
   * 3/4 cup (11/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
   * 3/4 cup light brown sugar
   * 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
   * 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
   * 1/4 teaspoon salt
   * 1 cup toasted pecan pieces
   * 1 cup miniature marshmallows

 Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Wash the sweet potatoes, scrubbing them well to remove any dirt. With a fork, prick the sweet potatoes in a couple of spots and place them on a sheet pan. Bake for about 45 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center goes in easily.

In a large bowl, mix the butter, brown sugar, and flour together until it's crumbly-looking. Add the cinnamon, salt, pecans, and marshmallows; fold the streusel topping together to combine.

Slice the sweet potatoes lengthwise down the center and push the ends towards the middle so it opens up. Stuff the sweet potatoes generously with the streusel topping and return to the oven. Bake for another 20 minutes, or until the topping is bubbly and brown.