sweet potatoes

This past weekend saw a dry run of my upcoming Thanksgiving feast — a fancified version of turkey breast, a few of my favorite vegetable sides, and my first-ever sweet potato pie.

The sweet potato pie may have been my first, but it certainly won't be my last. It's the perfect balance of textures and flavors: more soufflélike than custardy in texture, with a crispy graham cracker and butter crust to keep each bite interesting. But in my opinion, it's the candied nut cream topping, with its caramelized crunch and cool whipped consistency, that makes me absolutely crazy for it. Like, stand-over-the-counter, just-one-more-piece-and-I'm-done crazy for it. Want to be crazy for it, too? Then keep reading for the recipe.

In Mississippi, a good family recipe starts with a stick of butter and ends with chopped pecans. This Thanksgiving side dish, passed down through my Southern family on my mom's side, proves that sweet potatoes can be comforting and indulgent without moving into marshmallow-topping territory.

When I show up to a Thanksgiving celebration with this dish, everyone's first question is, what's pone? Somewhere between a casserole and a custard, sweet potato pone has a consistency that calls to mind bread pudding or cornbread dressing, and the grated potatoes and pecans combine to create a crispy, browned topping.

Though "sweet potato pone" has a nicer ring to it, yams are just as yummy. I highly recommend grating them in the food processor if you have one, and this becomes a quick and easy recipe. Serve it as a side dish during the Thanksgiving meal; I like to make it the last thing I eat on my plate. The leftovers also make a delicious Friday morning breakfast. Learn how to bake up this sweet potato side.

Sweet potatoes are one of those delicious, comforting foods perfect for enjoying when the weather cools off. Their bold, sweet flavor speaks for itself. And despite the similarly orange hue of some varieties, don't get confused! Sweet potatoes and yams were not created equally; in fact, they're completely different species. And while sweet potatoes are available year round, these beauties really peak in the cooler months. Keep reading for some ideas on how to make the most of sweet potatoes this season.

Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and if you've all of a sudden realized that you're in charge of planning, cooking, and hosting a dinner, don't freak out. I've got your back — and an incredibly easy menu that can be put together in just about two hours. For the appetizers, take some help from the store. Pick up your favorite cheese, crackers, dried fruit, and nuts. Use these items to throw together an uncomplicated yet stunning cheese display. When it comes to the main course, the simpler the better. Serve turkey breast roasted with lemon and thyme, mashed sweet potato paprika puree, and a hearty, healthy portion of braised kale.

Thanksgiving isn't about the quantity of food, it's about the quality of conversation you have while enjoying the meal. Want more fast Thanksgiving recipes? Here's 10 awesome and uncomplicated dishes.To savor the menu described here with loved ones, get the recipes after the break

For the best Thanksgiving ever, I'm trying a new strategy and letting all of Thanksgiving's star ingredients shine on their own. There won't be any green beans shrouded in mushroom cream or turkey overpowered by Cajun spices. Instead of having a marshmallow-topped sweet potato casserole, I'm highlighting the tubers with honey and seasoning to let their true flavor take over.

I could only locate the thin, yellow-skinned sweet potato variety, although any sweet potato or yam works. Roast them until they're crunchy and caramelized with a lovely sweet-savory flavor. Then you can eat them with virtually anything: a poached egg and harissa for breakfast, curried cauliflower for lunch, and, of course, turkey. Get the easy recipe when you read more.

I recently spilled the beans about my ambivalence over turkey; it's my least favorite part of the holiday meal. But I'm not alone: more than a quarter of you admitted to being undecided about the big bird. To all of you naysayers out there, I suggest you make another roast instead. Don't even worry about it being something pricey, like crown roast of lamb or beef fillet — simply make pork tenderloin. With its cranberry sauce and sweet potato side, this foolproof recipe, which comes courtesy of Ming Tsai's latest book, tastes just like Thanksgiving, no turkey required. Want the recipe? Keep reading.

Thanksgiving dinner is not usually a time when you're paying attention to your waistline, except perhaps afterward, when you're thinking your waistband feels a little too tight. But in case you're planning a healthy menu and want to know how to serve the mashed potato side, I checked out the difference between one cup of mashed potatoes made with whole milk and margarine vs. a cup of sweet mashed potatoes (of the canned variety).

Want to see how these Fall dishes stack up against each other? Read on for the stats.

For your best Thanksgiving ever, begin planning for the big day earlier than you normally do. Rather than being daunted with the turkey up front, ease yourself into the holiday by selecting your side dishes first. Start with sweet potatoes, a surefire table topper at any Fall meal.

Serve them mashed in place of conventional white potatoes; you'll enjoy the same fluffy texture but also gain vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber. Balance out the salt on the table with a dessert-like puree studded with maple syrup and nutmeg, or skip the sugar and try out a savory chipotle version. Try either — or both — when you read on.

When I had some friends over to try Bobby Flay's award-winning burger, there was only one thing I thought to pair the burgers with: fries. Not just any fries, but seasonal sweet potato fries. The burger is called the Santa Fe, so I was hoping for Tex-Mex inspired fries. Luckily, I found this recipe for baked sweet potato fries with a creamy and cooling avocado dip.

The pairing of slightly spicy sweet potatoes with a luscious green dipping sauce is absolutely sublime. Although I followed the recipe closely and I really enjoyed the flavor, my sweet potatoes weren't as crispy as I wanted them to be. Do you have tips for making them crisp? Please share with me in the comments. For the recipe, which doesn't disappoint, read on.