Oh boy are you sitting down?  You really should be sitting down for this one.  One bite and your head is going to snap backwards, eyes to the heavens and you will no doubt make the loudest MMMM mmmm sound of your life.  No doubt, this will happen.

Over reacting?  Me? I never, ever over react, I do not exaggerate when it comes to food.  Life in general yes, I’ve been known to embellish.  Food.  Never.  Food is serious stuff people.

And this dessert needs to be made.  In your kitchen.  SOON!!  Indulge people.  The hour is nigh!

Go forth and maketh ye Cherry Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding with Maple Cream Sauce.  Be Aware!  Not to be confused with beware.  Be aware, that your life will change.  As will your hips, thighs, jodpers, and the like.  It’s all good, and well worth it.  I speaketh the truth!

Me thinkest the pilgrims hast taken over my speech.

But seriously, I grew up eating bread pudding like it was no big deal.  It was something my mom made when the bread got dried out and she wanted to make a sweet treat for us.  Usually on Sunday night, we would have bread pudding with homemade chocolate sauce and we’d watch the Sunday night Disney movie or later on it was The Muppet Show.

OK again I digress.  This recipe is so quick, easy and you most likely have everything you need on hand.  If you don’t have mini chocolate chips, or dried cherries no worries leave them out or substitute chopped up chocolate chips and raisins, apricots, pecan, or use whatever our heart desires!  However, my mom never made this cream sauce.  Probably because it’s bad.  Very. Very. Bad.  I seriously found myself drinking it out of the pan, scalding hot.  Dipping bread scraps in it.  Eating it like soup.  I became so obsessed with it, it nearly ruined my life, for a minute.  Then my kids walked through the door and I snapped out of it.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Do not be left alone with the sauce!

Print

Chocolate Chip Cherry Bread Pudding with Maple Cream Sauce

This dessert is decadent and oh so easy to pull together.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American, Dessert

Keyword bread pudding, cherry, chocolate, decadent, dessert, sauce

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Servings 8 servings

Author Sheila

Equipment

• 1 7x11" baking dish 9x13 baking dish works as well

Ingredients

bread pudding

• 2 cups half and half
• 2 whole eggs
• 2 egg yolks
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup chopped dried cherries
• 1/3 cup mini semi sweet chocolate chips
• 10 cups day old bread cut into cubes approximately 1 inch in size usually 1 pound loaf of Italian bread equals 10 cups
• 1 tbsp softened butter for greasing the dish

maple cream sauce

• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1/3 cup maple syrupq
• 1/4 cup dark Karo syrup
• 1/2 tsp maple extract

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, butter an 11×7 inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon butter. assemble bread pudding

• In a bowl whisk together, half and half, eggs, syrup, sugar, spices, and vanilla until smooth. About 1 minute with whisk.

  Cut or tear bread into small pieces 1/2 inch to 1 inch and place in buttered baking dish.

  Sprinkle dried cherries, and mini chocolate chips over bread cubes, and help them fall down in leaving a few peeking out the top. (Don’t be tempted to add more chips. I’m all about an abundance of chocolate but this amount is really perfect. Trust me.)

  Pour egg mixture over bread, evenly, and pressed bread into the egg mixture with the back of a spatula. Let sit for 10 minutes, allowing bread to soak up egg. Place in preheated 350 degree oven for 45 minutes. Remove to a cooling rack. Let cool for 30 minutes, before cutting into 8 or 12 pieces.

maple cream sauce

• Combine ingredients together in a medium-sized sauce pan, place on stove top and turn burner on medium-low to low. Cook, continually stirring for 20 minutes or until sauce as reduced by 1/3 and has thickened enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon.

Notes

Note:  Bread pudding can be made a day ahead of time, as well as the maple cream sauce.  Let bread pudding come to room temperature, and warm sauce in the microwave before serving.  Bread pudding and maple cream sauce contain dairy and eggs so make sure to store any leftovers in the refrigerator.

This will definitely find its way into my holiday dessert making! I hope it makes an appearance at your table as well!!

Joy to the World!
Sheila

Disclaimer:  I am proud to be a part of  blogger network that works with the United Dairy Industry of Michigan.  Thank you for helping support Eat2gather by supporting your local dairy farmers!  

The post Cherry Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding with Maple Cream Sauce appeared first on Eat 2 Gather.

“And to you Pa..much cheer!  My my tis been quite a year for the family Pa.  Wouldest you agree?”

“Hear Ye Hear Ye Ma, tis such a year to report of.”

” Pa tis certain, we had our portion of adventure this year past!”

“Remembereth the Christmas past, Ma?”

Twas quite a special night Pa. As we watched over the household perched high atop the tannenbaum made by the hands of mensch.

A beholden site Ma.

The climate remindeth me of our first winter in the new world,  what thickest du Pa?

Yes, it twas harsh and blustery.  The girl and her Ma made many a trip to the land across the vast fresh water sea so she could jump about in the great hall, with many fine young ladies in there underwear to swat at bouncing spheres.  It was site like no other, wouldn’t you say Ma?

Surely it was Pa.

The children spent many a long hour in the learning institution.

Oh Pa, but the trip with the Pa and his son to the Isle of the British was surely a much needed escape from the harsh climate, and the long days in the learning institution, the tallest of the mensch.

Yes Ma, twas quite the respite we needed, although I nearly soiled my breeches on the boat to the small isle.  It brought back many memories of our voyage to the new world Ma.

Twas a consternation to return again to the great fresh sea and find it still be in a Siberian state!

You speaketh the truth Pa.  I was so enraptured by the beauty that I nearly froze my petticoats off, and you your brogan! Ieee!

I did thanketh the good Lord above for a break from leaping to assemble together in the great moving box with wheels.

Yes Ma, I agree.  It was quite an adventure….

Dost thou rememberest how I nearly sank to the briney bottom?  My pepper holes started taking on water, and I thought I was surely going to meet the great pepper Shaker in the sky.

Ja, for sure Pa.  The kind boy gave you a friendly flick with his foot and saved you from a briny death.  Me shuddereth Pa, to think….Oh Pa I cannot speaketh of how close we came do dire misfortune.  Snif sniff snerp.

Ah yes, when the sisters huggeth all is right in the world Ma.  The voyage to the warmer climates was what the family needed.

You speaketh truth, Pa.

Remember when we stole away with the Ma to her literary club.  So much reading this women does, always a book in her face, and the women such a chatter.  My head was spinning Pa.

Yes, Ma they are quite a unruly bookish flock.

What do they call themselves Pa?

Bucs?

Books?

No Bucks….as in great antlered beast, Ma.

Hmmmm.

Finally the snow melteth, and the amusement beganst with the children.

Pa, truly the time we visited the littlest in her mesh cage was quite an exciting day.  She has quite the time with he netted stick, dancing and tossing it about!

But the middle boy, Pa!  The running and the jumping.  Me thinkst these children are part frog.   The boy and the tall girl are always catapulting themselves hither and yon.

Ahhh but Ma twas but a melancholy day whenst the tall one and his companions donned the cardinal colored vestments.

Yes, Pa pained me to see the Ma weeping so.  Many a year hath she these young men at her table, they have not returned since.  Where hast they gone?

Pa?  Where hast they gone?  Now me waileth…..Waaaaah where hast the young mensch gone?

There, there Ma.  I did hear rumor of them traveling hither and yon to great learning institutions across the colonies.

States Pa.

Huh?

They are called states now Pa, and there are 50 of them.

Well, the Ma didst drown her sorrows in berry picking.  She is a superior berry picker, wouldst you agree Ma?

Truly Pa, and eater.  That women can, as they say, put down the berries.

Jaque.  Jack the hairy beast  He likes companionship, Pa.  Such a beggared hairy creature.  Remember Thanksgivings past when we were left alone with the creature?   Me shuddereth Pa!!  Shuddereth!  To think what would have become of us had he not come to our rescue.

Truly Ma.  The hairy beast did his best to get us to stay behind with him, remember Ma?  Whenst he see-eth the voyage trunks, he slips into a saddened state.  We nearly missed our sky voyage, Ma.

Oh Pa, I still feel bad about leaving him behind.  Ye poor Jackyhoundlein.

We arrived at the eleventh hour Ma.

I say tho Pa, twas not a ride I’d likely taketh again.  The great iron winged bird was in such a hurry.

Twas well worth it Ma, Harry Potter dost awaiteth our presence.

Pa, twas quite a world of wizardry.   Huzzah! with the butter brew, and the great ovenly heat!  Pray remembereth Ma whenst I lost you on Diagon Alley ?

OH Pa!  Twas merry, it did nearly ruinate the day.  Prithee forgiveth your lovely maiden, Pa?

Ah Ma!  I dost love your feist…and how thy petticoats didst fly whensth the flaming flying beast did return you to mee side.

Twas surely a joyous holiday with the kin folk. Pa.

Ie, Ye summer solstice bought much jesting and rollicking.  And picture watching in the great field o carriages.

Oh ye Pa my favorite was frolicking with the maddles in ze swinging trundles.

Yee Ma the swinging trundles were thee height of amusements.

Twas due time we made the trip to the great norther regions to accompany the kin to there beloved Portage Lake Bible Camp.  Kin Camp.

Twas heavenly Pa!

Twas high adventure Ma.  I made my first round at the hight ropes. I belayedth to my hearts content.

Ja surely you didst Pa.  I kept mee petticoats firmly planted on the good earth!

Twas a merry time for the kin to come together.

Remembereth the middler two took the trip to the great isle O York to be of service to the peoples of the isle?

Yes, Pa. I wish we could have joined the cavalcade, the great JZ would not alloweth with not a signed permission paper from the ancestors.

No more hast the two returneth than did the tall one, load his rucksack with his belongings.  Ma?

Ma?  weepst du?

OH Pa, twas a strange and wonderful day whenst the young mensch loadeth his many moccasins and traveled to the land called Youand M.

snerp snerftt

And just like that Pa, the youngin is on his own in the new world.  In this land with M’s everywhere.  Ze land O blau M’s Pa, twas a mysterious and bustling village.

Tis true Ma.  Hear tell he ist cherishing his moments there.  I heard the Ma say that the young mensch spreadeth his vast wings, and cometh forth from thy shell.

Oh Pa! tis wunderbar!

Twas celebratory year for the Pa, hear tell it has been 50 years since he came forth unto this earth, Pa.

HUzzah!  Ma!

His dieing wish for his ancienst of celebrations was to travel to the Port of Detroit and watch wild beasts called tigers, and drink grog.

Twas a strange and vunderful place, but I was astonished, there was nither a tiger in site Ma!

Twas strange indeed Pa, mensch in tight garments, with sticks and spheres, many menschen drinking grog and shouting.  Twas not how I would choose to spend mee last days, Pa.

Ie Ma, Ieee.

Summer solstice came and went,  Ma and whenst came the days  of the young boy with his swinging paddle.

Ma rememereth whenst du nearly lost your petticoats to the swinging paddle!!

Oh Pa! Twas surely another adventure!

No Pa!!  Truly a mensch hast seen no adventure till das mensch hast seen the leaping girl in her underwear swatting at spheres.

Surely Ma tis site beholden to mee.

Then twere the day whenst the children donned their fanciest breeches, and petticoats  to attendeth homecoming, but twas not at there home.

Twas raucous Pa, but I too twer confused why they left home for a homecoming.

Pains my noggin, Ma.

Powder puff, also a strange tradition.  Girls dressing like boys.  No powder or puffs in site.

Yes, howeverst the game of flying spheres and ribbons being ripped from the breeches of fine young fraulein was quite a fracas!! Wouldnt you agree Pa?

Twas surely a year with much to be thankful for.

Tis true Pa, tis true!

Heres to another year in this strange and wonderful haus Ma!

Cheers Pa!

Happy Thanksgiving!  Many blessings to you and your kin!

special note: photoshopping creds  go to my Cece who is a whiz when it come s to all things creative!! Thanks kiddo!

The post Pilgrims 2015 a year in review appeared first on Eat 2 Gather.

 “Joyous Thanksgiving to you Ma.  What cheer?”.

“And to you Pa..much cheer!   Lookee thee rrruulls.  I’m getting a facial from the steaming hot boons. ”

“Ma, Looks like she’s getting us ready to go.   All packed up for zee trip to zee Seestors.”

“Pa I can’t  wait  to see zee youngins?!”

“Aah ja zee youngins, I can see them now!  All full and pretty sitting on the table. Ja thee I do miss.”

“Pa? Are they gone? Did they fergit us Pa?…say it isn’t so”….sniffle, snurfle, sigh.

“I’m afraid it tis Ma.  The youngin’ packed the box and pushed us aside.”

(long pause, possibly hours)

“He left us this wheeled board Ma, maybe we can have ourselves an adventure.  What is that saying Ma?  While the fox is away….”

“Pa ur shee-nana-guns always bring us misfortune! Remember last year you lay your breetches in down in the puddin, then you convinced me to join you…U R A troublemacher Pa!”

“Pa the hairy Beast….he looketh on us.  Thinkest that he would do us harm?”

“Pa?  Pa??!”

(whistling + skateboarding noises)

“Weeeeeeeee ya hoooo!”

“Paaaaa!” (in the distance Ma can be heard)

“Bro, Dude, Ma…..I totally diamondz that trictionary mongo sick bowl.  Dag that twer sweet!”

“Pa what pray tell are you doing?!”

“Ma! mellow out, don’t get all trippy with me I’m just testin’ out my airfeet…..woo hoo!”

“What on earth speakethst you Pa?!  Come down from there this instant!  You foolhardy Mencsh!  Me thinketh we are not alone, besides the Beast there is some sort of party going on in zee leetle uns sleep quarters…ride your rail down here  Pa.  Let us see what it is all a-boot.”

 “Dude…I mean Ma, hold on to yee herses, where pray tell are you running off too?”

“In here Pa, there are people, possibly a land of leetle salt and pfeffer shakers.”

 “They seem harmless Ma, shall we ask if we may join in their merriment?”

 “Hellooo, hmmmMmmm…HEllooo”

(party noises)

“Ohh the villagers are coming over to greet us….Hellooo…Oh Pa they seem to be running at us…Pa?

“Step back Ma….they look hostile, WE COME IN PEACE, we come to celebrate a day of Thanks with yee.”

“This is Ma, and I am Pppp….whoa, we mean no harm Ahhhh….”

“Off me you evil vermin, I will spew pepper gas at you!”

“Ma zee are strong leetle buggers.  PLEASE STOP we mean you no harm.  We are only explorers from the drawer in the kitchen, we come bringing tidings of Thanks and Giving!”

“Ma ma ma are you OK?  Answer me Ma!”

“Oh Pa…I lost me pepper…doom dispair and agony on me”

“No need to be ashamed Ma, I lost my salt too…AGAIN I TELL YOU WE COME IN THE NAME OF THANKS & GIVING!  Take your puny hands off of mee Bride!”

“Pa what pray tell are they doing?  Where are they taking us?”

 “Ma…the earth is rumbling.  Don’t look now, a locomotive is heading right for us!! What fer a perilous predicament”

(Ma screaming her fool head off….pepper is flying all over.)

“Ma I want you to know….”

(Ma still screaming fool head off)

“PA! Do you hear that?  Someone is coming!”

Insert: Rocky Theme Song

 WAh-CHu TAKE THAT!  Back from the Pilgrims I tell you!

“Pa the Beast stampedeth!”

“RUN fer yer LIFE!”

(sounds of villagers causing a brouhaha)

“Giddy-up hersey!  Deliver us from that fracas!”

“We thank you great hairy Beast for the heroic rescue from the villagers, and our gentle return to the earth.”

“Good Lerd Pa, what cheweth he?  It screecheth so!”

 “Ma you stay back I’m going in for a closer look.’

“NO Pa!  Gads what is that he chompeth on?”

“Ah zee Beast…Ma”

“ARG! What is happening PA!

“STOP you vile beast!  Stop licking my huzband.”

(pa giggle hysterically)

“Ma it tickles Ma hahaha.”

“Now Beast we want to thank you for carrying us to safety and then bathing us with thy tongue.”

“Ma and I are forever beholden to you Beast. What can we do to repay you for heroicly delivering us from the crazed villagers.”

“Hello, what sayeth you?”

“He sayeth nothing, Pa.”

“Well Ma I sayeth we have much to be thankful for this day!”

“Yes Pa, I agree!”

The post Pilgrims ~ Home Alone appeared first on Eat 2 Gather.

Why I love Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs are my brother-n-law and my Cece’s favorite pre-dinner snack.  Eric actually makes a dang good deviled egg.  This recipe isn’t his, it’s mine, but we no doubt we will have Eric’s deviled eggs on Thanksgiving Day for a little pre-dinner nibble.

It’s not like we won’t have enough to eat at dinner.  I think, it’s sort of a stomach stretching ritual.

Gather these ingredients

You will want to start out by hard boiling 8 large eggs.  Don’t feel bad if you aren’t sure how to hard boil an egg.  It’s really easy.  Fill a pan half full with water, get the water boiling, carefully lower the eggs into the boiling water, boil for 10 minutes, remove from heat, cover, let stand for another 10 minutes.  Drain water off eggs, and cover with freezing cold tap water, let sit for 10 minutes.  There you have it!  Works everytime!

How to make Deviled Eggs

Peel eggs, and cut them the long way, directly down their purdy little middle.  Remove the yolks into a bowl.  Add 1/4 cup minced sweet and spicy pickle (like Famous Dave’s) , 1 tablespoon stoneground mustard, 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/8 teaspoon celery seed, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 5 turns of a  pepper mill, a dash of garlic powder, and a dash of cayenne pepper.  Using a fork smash all of this together until there are no lumps and mixture is creamy.

Spoon the deviled egg mixture into a Zip-loc bag, and snip one corner.  This is my favorite piping bag.  So easy and no clean up afterward, just throw it away!

If you have a deviled egg dish place the egg halves into it, but if you don’t, any plate or platter will do just fine!  Pipe the halves full of egg mixture letting it mound up.

Tips and Variations

Smoked Paprika!  Such a lovely spice, don’t leave home without it.

Just a pinch of paprika will do ya!  Smoked paprika not only adds that lil sumthin, sumthin, but it makes the eggs look purdy too!

So there you have it good ol’ fashioned deviled eggs!

Print

Deviled Eggs

The perfect bite of an appetizer made with spicy sweet pickles and smokey paprika.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Keyword appetizer, eggs, mustard, pickles

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 16 pieces

Author Sheila

Ingredients

• 10 whole eggs, boiled I added two extra because sometimes they peel so easily so I always make sure I have a few extra.
• 1/4 cup sweet and spicy pickles (any variety) chopped fine
• 1 tbsp stoneground mustard
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 tsp salt add more to your taste
• 1/8 tsp celery seed
• fresh ground pepper as much as you like
• 1 dash cayenne pepper
• 1 dash garlic powder ( a pinch will do)
• smoked paprika for garnish

Instructions

• Hard boil eggs. Peel eggs, and cut them in half the long way.
• Place yolks in a bowl. Add pickles, stoneground mustard, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, celery seed, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Smash with a fork until creamy or you can also use a hand mixer to make this very light and fluffy.
• Spoon into a zip-loc bag, clip corner and pipe deviled egg filling into egg halves. Garnish each egg with a pinch of smoked paprika.

Notes

Note: If you don’t have smoked paprika on hand regular paprika will do, or a crack of fresh ground pepper is nice also!

You can not go wrong with perfectly simple Deviled Eggs!

Look who photo bombed my egg picture shoot!  Rascally Pilgrims….I wonder what they’re going to be up to this year.

Enjoy,

Sheila

The post Deviled Eggs appeared first on Eat 2 Gather.

“Joyous Thanksgiving to you Ma.  What cheer?”.

“And to you Pa..much cheer!   Lookee thee pie.”

“Why hast the wee one moved us to the table?  Pure torture.  Oooo how I love pie, Ma.”

“Pa remember last year, you got us in a bit of a pickle with the relish.  Restraint Pa, restraineth thyself!  Back away from the Pie Pa!”

“What thinkest you?  Could we make it hither….across the great chasm…”

“Why for Pa?”

“I’ve always dreamed of swimming in pumkin pumpkin puddin.”

“Pa has your pepper gone dry?!”

“Tis a long way under Ma…if we could get to the ottoman below.”

“Pray remember me,…I’m going for the tumble Ma.”

“Mary mother of God Pa…… speak to me….”

“OOOomphff…you’ve lost your pepper Pa…pa…PA!

“[sputter, cough, charkle, snark] Ma, mamamamamMA?”

“How do you get us into these predicaments…over and over, year after year.  We could have been broken to bits…smashed to smithereens, cracked down de meedle.  It very well could have been the end of our seasoning careers! [gasp]”

“Settle mah….”

“love Pa, if it twernt for my everlasting foolish love for you Pa…I swear I woulda , I woulda….OOooo Pa, gentle now with thy cap.”

“Steady Ma steady……”

“Now what Pa…now what…now WHAT.  She is right on the other side of the cupboards Pa….she’s going to find us…and put us back…and what of the hairy beast pa?  Have you givin that any thought? HUh?  Pa? pa?”

“Ooo you are so nimble Pa, I find your nimbleness very salty Pa….”

“Seriously Ma…now is not the time to get all spicy.”

“Ma, you can do it. She’s at the water vessel.  Hoist your petticoat, and join me.”

“I feel a exposed Pa, like Adam and Eve…feeling the need to conceal my inequities.”

“Behind the salt feels safe Pa.  Do you feel safe Pa.  Are you afeard Pa? Now what Pa.”

“Shhhh woman!”

“She still worketh at the vessel,  preparing fruit for the pies.”

“Let me see Pa, hoist me Pa, let me looketh upon the vessel of preparation.”

“Aaaah the water runneth”

“OOO the missus cometh!”

“Ma did she say she was going to ‘take a shower’?”

“Yes Pa”

“How long does ‘taking a shower’ last?”

“Not long Pa…that one makes haste with the taking of showers.”

“Pa get your breeches out of the croost!”

“Fetch the pumpkin puddin’ Ma, pour it over mee boots….”

“Pa, Pa?  I think you knocked your stopper loose when you fell from the ottoman!  Seriously Mensch!  Get your hosen outa o ze croost!”

“Fetch the puddin’ woman!”

“Pray pardon me Pa…are you getting feisty with me?!”

“Pray pardon you Ma, you have not seen feist.  Don’t make me get my pepper up!”

“Ja, ja ja….ze puddin’ commeth…”

“UuuHH OOO ‘Himmel I’m in himmellllll, and mee boots feel so sweet, Oh Ma this is lovely.  Join me Ma.”

“Ma?”

“Oh Pa, this IS most divine , yet bethink years past.   She gave us a aweful rough rub down….your shee-nana-guns always bring us misfortune!”

“Shush woman….could you enjoy this wonderful spicy soaking…”

[silence]

[foot steps]

“May the heavens help us Pa, I told you she was a hasty one! doom dispair agony on meeee pa.”

[GASP!]

WHAT the….”CECE! CECE! Why’d you put the pilgrims in the pie?  Their holes could get clogged up?!”

“I didn’t mama…I don’t know how they got in the pie.”

[grumble, mumble, sigh, grumble, groooan]

“You’re a silly goose Cec!”

“Whatever, don’t believe me then….”

“This is most humiliating Ma…my breeches are sawgy”

“I will refrain…..”

[humphF!]

Harsh frisking.

“Here we go again.  Why does she findeth it so laughable cavorting us so.”

“Oh Pa and now the pulverization of our faces together and chuckling.”

“She’s hysterical Ma. This is most humiliating.”

“I bespoketh you so…..I wasn’t going to say it, but……..bespoketh you…”

“Ma….

“Is this our penance?  Near and yet so far…..”

“Let us look on the bright side, as they say….the Pecan Pie does look lovely doesn’t it Pa?”

“Yes Ma, lovely”

Happy Thanksgiving! Many Blessings to you ALL!

The post Pilgrims in a Pickle appeared first on Eat 2 Gather.

Jump to Recipe
Sweet Potato Pie has been a journey for me.  I haven’t met many that I like.  I wanted to like them, but usually they fell short in some way.  The best Sweet Potato Pie I have ever had was at Amy Ruth’s in Harlem, NY.  It was over the top delicious. I’ve made a few different Sweet Potato Pie recipes over the years, but none live up to Amy Ruth’s.  So I tried to think what was it that set hers apart from all the rest, and then I set out to duplicate that in my own recipe.

The Amy Ruths’s pie had a delicious spice to it, it was smooth…no chunks, it had a custard quality also.  It was sweet, but not too sweet.  I could taste the sweet potato.  It felt good in my mouth, like I wanted to just hold it there on my tongue for a second…before I let it slide down.

When I eat pie, I want to savor it, and of course I want others to savor it too.  My worst nightmare is seeing someone pushing there pie around on their plate, like they just can’t bear to take another bite.  I have to say that has never happened to me yet, with one of my pies.  However, I have felt that way about a few pies that I have had.    I want my pie to be so yummy divine that each bite is full of mmmhhs and yumms.  I want people to take small bites and savoring each one…hanging on to each delicious mouthwatering bite, like they never want it to end!

My daughter demonstrated this to me yesterday as she sampled my new Sweet Potato Pie recipe…lots of mmmmhhs, a couple yums, she made it last through her math lesson, and at the end she went back and cut herself “just a little sliver” more.  When someone goes back for another piece of pie, even if it’s just a sliver you know you did something right!

You will need to prepare one pie crust in a 9 or 10 inch pie plate.  You can find my crust recipe here. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Drain a one pound can of Yams/Sweet potatoes.

If you have a potato ricer this would be a great time to get it out and use it.  In order for the filling to be creamy the sweet potatoes need to be given a good smashing. You could also put them in a blender or smash them by hand with a potato masher.

Squish.…a one pound can of yams is two cups of potato puree.  So if you decided you would rather, cook your own potatoes you will need two cups of sweet potato puree.

Add the squished sweet potatoes, 3/4 cup Brown Sugar, 6 tablespoons melted Butter, 1 tablespoon Vanilla Extract, 1/2 teaspoon Salt, 1 teaspoon ground Cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground Nutmeg, and a scant 1/2 teaspoon ground Ginger to your mixing bowl.

Beat the above ingredients to oblivian!  Beat on medium to high speed for 3-5 minutes.

Crack 3 whole Eggs into 3/4 cup Heavy Cream….this is where the custardy comes in.  Beat the eggs and  heavy cream together with a fork.

Pour egg/cream mixture in with sweet potato mixture. Blend this on medium high speed for 3 minutes or longer.  Take a break and scrape down the sides and mix for another minute or two.

Pour into unbaked pie crust. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 50-60 minutes, until cake tester comes out clean and the center does not look fluid at all.

Your Sweet Potato Pie should look firm like the pie above.  This pie is scrumpdillyicious all on it’s own.  No need to doll this pie up, BUT if you want to have a little fun….

Spread a cup or two of miniature marshmallows over the top of your pie after you’ve baked it.   Turn the broiler on high,  pop the marshmallow covered pie under the broiler for less than one minute…stay close don’t be throwing a load of laundry in or anything, because the marshmallows will brown very fast.

MMM mmm MMMmmYum.  The perfect ending to your Thanksgiving Day dinner.  My Pilgrims even made their way out of the drawer early for this pie.

Life’s short, EAT PIE!

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Sweet Potato Pie

Sweet Potato Pie is custardy and rich with just the perfect amount of spice. It will be the perfect ending to any meal.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword dessert, pie, sweet potato, thanksgiving

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Servings 8 servings

Author Sheila

Equipment

• 1 9" pie plate

Ingredients

• 1 - 20 ounce can of Sweet Potatoes/Yams in syrup
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 6 tbsp melted butter
• 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp scant half teaspoon ground ginger
• 3 whole eggs
• 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 unbaked pie crust

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

• Roll unbaked pie crust out into a 9" pie plate, crimp edges.
• Drain sweet potatoes. Using whatever method you choose, ricer, blender, potato masher, mash sweet potatoes, getting all the lumps out.
• Add sweet potato puree, brown sugar, melted butter, vanilla, and spices to mixing bowl. Mix on high for 3 minutes, scrape down sides of bowl and continue to mix for another 2-3 minutes. 
• Measure out 3/4 cup heavy cream break 3 eggs into cream, whisk eggs and cream together. Add egg/cream mixture to sweet potato mixture, mix on medium-high speed for 3-5 minutes, scraping sides of bowl. Continue to beat until filling is fluffy and creamy consistency.
• Pour into unbaked pie shell. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 50-60 minutes. Pie is done when cake tester comes out clean when poked in middle, or when center does not appear fluid.

Notes

If you would like your crust to stay lighter, cover pie with foil while baking.

Let pie cook completely before cutting.

For marshmallow topping: adjust wrack to top half of oven, turn broiler on high, cover baked pie with miniature marshmallows, pop under broiler for less than one minute, or until marshmallows brown. Pie can also be served with  a dollop of whip cream.

If marshmallows aren’t your thing…I actually prefer this pie with a dollop of whip cream.

MMmmm…Ymmm here’s to filling your pie hole!

Enjoy,

Sheila

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