Three Layer Sweet Potatoes

It's not Christmas yet.

I just thought I should remind you. All those Christmas lights strung upon the houses down your block are only an illusion. They're only playing The Grinch song on the radio to trick you. And the snow that decided to fall from the sky last week? DIDN'T HAPPEN. Call me Scrooge, but one month of Christmas is plenty. If you start it too soon, I'm just going to get sick of it. Bah humbug. 



Mom thinks it's Christmas time. She made us go Christmas shopping today. CHRISTMAS shopping.

"Mom, Christmas season can start after Thanksgiving. You're ruining my pilgrimy mood with all this talk of jingle bells and candy canes."

"Ok fine. But I'm going to Target."

Oh Target? That's a different story.

Half of this "Christmas shopping" was spent gathering valuable trinkets and eatables for myself in the gold-paved isles of Target. Please allow me to introduce you to the treasures I acquired there.

Left to right, shall we?

A. Batman Bandaids- Essential.
B. e.l.f. Makeup Kit- Piggie took the neutral colors and I kept the smoky. It was only $5 for the whole kit. $2.50 once Piggie pays me back for her half (like that will ever happen. HA).
C. Extra Dessert Delights Gum- Hadn't ever tried the apple pie variety before. Key lime pie is still my favorite though.
D. Piggie's new owl sippy cup- Seriously, you're sixteen. But whatever. It's adorable.
E. Popcorn- Duh. It's Target. You have to get the popcorn.
F. Cupcake cups. Got those at Hobby Lobby actually. Just thought you might be getting tired of being scandalized by all my naked cupcakes.
G. White Fudge Oreos- What possessed the cruel fiends that run the Oreo company to make these seasonal? It's always the season for white chocolate covered oreos.
H. Choxie Chocolate- The most important item of all. Choxie makes the world go round, my friends. If you have never experienced the true bliss that is Choxie, then you need to get yourself to a Target today. This particular bar is milk chocolate creme brulee truffle flavored. It's filled with white chocolate truffle infused with vanilla, caramel and a touch of toffee.

So, now that we got all that Christmas shopping out of our systems, let's get back to the holiday at hand. Thanksgiving.

Allow me to introduce you to my favorite food. Yes. I have a favorite food. It should be obvious to you since I'm named after them.

Yams.

Please inspect the sticky, orange-y, brown buttery, sugary goodness bubbling up the sides of the pan, peeking through the crunchy, buttery, pecany, streusel topping.

Sorry, I go a little heavy on the adjectives when I feel passionate about things. 

And there go the marshmallows.

It make look like a pile of slop, but you'll truly never understand how wonderful it is until you try it. Dad found this recipe online one thanksgiving and I've been in love with sweet potatoes ever since. I haven't even modified the recipe tooooo much.

Three Layer Sweet Potatoes

Layer One:

28 oz. sweet potatoes*, chopped into bite size pieces (I used canned, but fresh is way better. Just make sure you cook them until they're soft.)

1 cup orange juice

1/4 cup sugar

4 T butter, browned in a small pan on the stove

Layer Two:

1 cup flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 t cinnamon

3/4 cup chopped pecans

1/2 t salt

1/2 cup softened butter

Layer Three:

1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows

Preheat oven to 350º.

Combine the sweet potatoes, orange juice, sugar, and brown butter. It will be wet, but down worry. It will thicken when it bakes.

In a bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, pecans, salt, and soft butter until crumbly. Sprinkle on top of the sweet potatoes. 

Bakefor 1/2 hour. Top with marshmallows and bake until the marshmallows are lightly browned (about 3-7 minutes)

*If you're confused about whether you are supposed to use a can of "yams" or "sweet potatoes" click here. 

Just stop your Christmas caroling for a few minutes and let me enjoy my sweet potatoes in peace.