Thanksgiving Early
THE TABLE !!
It always amazes me how many people are now in our small little family. Growing up my brother, sister, & I were the only children at any immediate family function. My father's brother died as a teenager and my mother's sister never had children, so we were surrounded by adults. And we always had the children's table, just the three of us, up until we were in our mid-teenage years., then we got to sit at the BIG table
After we married and started families of our own we still had the children's table. But the children are now all young adults, and usually have a plus one with them. We still have the 2 tables, but now they are all filled adults, and barely enough room when the WHOLE family is there, even with all 6 leaves in the tables. When it is nice out we spill outside to the patio table but when cooler we just kind fill in where we can. Soon we may have to bring the patio table inside to get us all around it.
Photo provided by ArtstBee on Pixabay.
THE NEW NORMAL !!
Usually we are always three short of being full as my brother, sister-in-law, & niece travel from Georgia. This year they were home for Thanksgiving, but two of my sisters boys were not. It is the new normal not to have us all together at once,
This is something I never really thought would happen. Our lives are intertwined yet separate from our families all the time, but this time of year it is hard when not everyone iis Home for the Holidays. I see the look on the faces as we gather to say Grace, we are happy and sad at the same time. It has become our new normal. Photo provided by Pixabay
FAMILY & FOOD !!
One thing that has not changed is the dishes, platters, casseroles, plates and bowls of FOOD!! We had our Thanksgiving on Sunday, so that my brother's family can have Thanksgiving with his wife's side on Thursday and then head back to Georgia from there. Photo provided by Pixabay
Dad cooked the meats, turkey breast, roast, & ham. Mom made her dressing, (it is the BEST!!), mashed potatoes, and a salad. My sister was in charge of the sweets, she brought cinnamon roll crust apple pie, pumpkin bars, and a fall fun-fetti cake, she also brought the rolls. I was in charge of green bean casserole and the Sweet Potato Casserole.
I wanted to use the ones I canned. Check out the related post. Pinterest had many recipes to choose from, some even touted that they were the best or the easiest, but they are not, because I have the EASIEST & the BEST-EST (yes that is a word when you are describing the best, of the best, of the Best!)
Smooth and velvety extra rich sweet potatoes, and
gooey, sticky, sweet, melted marshmallows, and crispy, crunchy, nutty topping. It is a little bit of Heaven on your plate!!!
In the photo I have ½ with marshmallows & ½ without, due to some family members who are not fans of marshmallows.
HEAVENLY SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
3 quarts of my home-canned sweet potatoes
(or 3 large cans of store bought, or 3 to 4 lbs of fresh cooked soft)
1 can sweetened condensed milk (2 tbsp reserved)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
2 tbls butter
1 to 3 cups small marshmallows
TOPPING:
4 cups granola cereal (I used banana nut granola)
1 2.5 oz package of chopped pecans
2 tbsp butter melted
Pre-heat oven to 350°.
Mash together the sweet potatoes, sweetened condensed milk, 2 tbsp butter, & 1 cup of the granola. Spread this mixture into a
9' x 13' baking dish, like this one with a lid,
that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. Cover with marshmallows, as many as you like. Mix the topping ingredients with the 2 reserved tbsp of sweetened condensed milk & sprinkle over the top of the marshmallows.
Bake in the oven covered for 30 minutes & uncovered for 15 minutes.
Alternatives: You can add more pecans to the sweet potato mixture. You can also mix in some marshmallows.
CONFESSION !!
It was a good thing that I took a photo before it was baked. After it came out of the oven I never even got close to it until it was half gone. So, that proves that it is Thee BEST-EST!!
God Bless & Enjoy !!
Tyra