A Cherished Family Recipe That Creates Tradition...And Connection.

Ann, one of VoiceQuilt’s amazing partners, asked me to share the following:

Yesterday, I got a request from my sister-in-law for the recipe for a sweet potato casserole that I prepared last Thanksgiving while visiting relatives in Massachusetts. This delicious concoction is one of my favorite Holiday treats and I’ve been making it for years.

I flipped through my recipe book and remembered that I originally got this recipe from my sister – when she lived in Indiana. She got the recipe from her mother-in-law who lived in Atlanta.

This recipe has traveled from state to state, thanks to the women in my family. In some ways, it has become a cherished family tradition that brings us together – even if we aren’t sitting around the same dining table on Christmas day.

Isn't it amazing how far some recipes can travel – simply by word of mouth? And isn't it amazing how the act of making a simple dish can create a communal experience? Just wanted to share the story of this recipe -- as well as the recipe itself:

Sweet Potato Casserole
- 3 cups Mashed sweet potatoes (I cut them into chunks then boil them… much easier to peel after they have been cooked)
- 1 cup Sugar (or splenda)
- 2 eggs
- ½ stick butter

Combine these ingredients and put into a 9X 12 Pan.

For a crunchy topping :
- 1/3 Cup Butter
- 1 Cup Brown Sugar
- 1/3 Cup Flour
- 1 Cup Chopped Nuts (pecans or walnuts - optional)

Combine brown sugar and flour. Mix in butter (I use a knife to cut it in) and nuts. Sprinkle over top of sweet potato mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

All of us here at VoiceQuilt wish you a joyful and memorable holiday -- overflowing with good food and meaningful connections with friends and family.

One more thing: Eating together is one of the most important ways that families connect and create meaning. Be sure to check out more treasured family recipes -- and the stories behind them here.

Enjoy!