Sweet Potato Pie

John's mom, Ellen (!!), has been trying a few different sweet potato recipes over the past few years and hasn't fallen in love with anything, so she asked if I had a favorite recipe. Do I ever have a favorite! Though I've never made it before, the Murphy's have brought it to a couple Thanksgivings and I remember it well. Linda was kind enough to share the recipe:

Souffle:

• 4 c. mashed sweet potatoes (peeled, boiled, smashed)
• 2 c. milk (1/2 if canned potatoes used)
• 3 c. granulated sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1.5 sticks butter or margarine
• tsp. each nutmeg, cinnamon

Mix it all together and pour into a shallow casserole dish. Bake at 400º for 45 minutes or until set. (It actually took us 65 minutes to set)

Topping:

• 1.5 c. crushed corn flakes
• 1 c. chopped walnuts
• 1 c. brown sugar
• 1 stick butter or margarine

Melt butter and combine with corn flakes, nuts and brown sugar. Spread evenly over potatoes and return to oven for 10 minutes at 400º.

The texture is a cross between pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes with a crispy, crunchy sweet shell. It's like an excuse for dessert in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner.