A Southern Grace: it's never too late...

February 1, 2011

it's never too late...

Yum

...for pie.


Yeah, so sweet potato pie seems to be reserved for Thanksgiving, but since I'm a rebel of epic proportions (she says oh-so-sarcastically), I made it in January. For no reason. Boo-yah.

Let me get this out of the way first--the best thing about this pie is that it tastes nothing like sweet potatoes. Don't get me wrong, I love sweet potatoes and all they have to offer. I'll take sweet potatoes fries over regular ones any day, and a loaded baked sweet potato (marshmallows included) will hit the spot on just about any occasion. What I mean is that the spices take center stage, and since cinnamon is the predominant spice here, I'm a happy eater.

The sweet potatoes do play an important role here, however--they're the vehicle, and a fine vehicle indeed. They are the Lamborghini of pie ingredients, lending an awesome, silky-smooth texture and the subtlest of earthy flavors.


Feel free to use canned sweet potatoes and a frozen crust if you must, but don't you feel such pride and accomplishment when everything is made from scratch? I know I do.

Happy Thanksgiving February!

Smooth-as-Silk Sweet Potater Pie
2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup milk
1/4 cup butter
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
salt, to taste
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 9-inch pie crust, homemade or (brace yourself) store-bought

Preheat oven to 350F.
Steam the sweet potato chunks until tender and then place them into a blender or food processor with the milk, brown sugar, butter, spices, and salt; blend until smooth. Let the mixture cool a little before adding the eggs and vanilla and then blend again to combine.
If you've made your own crust, bake it in the oven for 10-12 minutes until partially cooked. Pour the sweet potato mixture into the pie shell and bake for a further 35-40 minutes. Remove from oven and cool.

71 comments:

cocoa and coconut said...

I definitely feel proud of baked goods. You should be proud of this smooth and lush creation too!

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

OMG, that pie looks magnificent! I am a rebel too.

Cheers,

Rosa

José Manuel said...

Fantastico el corte, esto tiene que estar muy rico.

Saludos

pam said...

I officially declare you the best pie maker and photographer ever!!

shaz said...

Happy February to you Grace! I have never tried a sweet potato pie before and I reckon it's about time I start :)

Barbara said...

Nice, Grace! My sweet potato pie recipe is savory....this looks fabulous! And silky and who cares if it's February? This pie is perfect any month.

A Plum By Any Other Name said...

I'll take a pie, anytime. And the sweet potatoes are SO good now. I had one for breakfast the other day drizzled with maple syrup, raisins and (confession) blue cheese. Grace, couldn't agree with you more.

FOODESSA said...

You may know by now that for me to join the rebel club is me skipping my way to that any time of year concoction of yours Grace ;o)

I've never made a sweet potato dessert even though I do love this starch and always have it on hand.
I may just have to give this a try with a cookie crust ;o)

Ciao for now,
Claudia

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

Sweet potatoes show up often, usually in savoury dishes, but I am always willing to give sweet a try, and you made this delectable sweet pie from scratch even better!

Lori said...

Oh yes, I would sure like a bite of that beauty!

The Church Cook said...

I am mesmerized as I stare into this beautiful slice calling my name! :)

Half Baked said...

A pie that looks that good should not be eaten only at Thanksgiving...drool!

Leslie said...

You are a rebel!!! Yummy spud pie!

Lucie said...

Oooooh! Pretiest pie close-ups ever! The filling looks like candied fruit paste. I definitely agree that whenever you can find the ingredient easily, it just means it's still time for the pie!

TKW said...

Pie!! You renegade, making it in February! It looks lovely, and this is coming from a girl who doesn't like sweet potatoes.

Joanne said...

there is NEVER a bad time for pie. Especially not if it involves sweet potatoes. And cinnamon. Hellz yeah.

kat said...

Yeah, I'm not sure why we leave this kind of treat only for the holidays

Marilyn said...

Grace - I am gaining weight just by looking at your photos, absolutely mouthwatering! Agree with you on the sweet potato - fried, baked and stuffed or in a pie - YUM!

Mimi said...

I must confess that I am a seasonal eater. That said, nothing tastes as good as indulging in an out of season treat.
Mimi

LaChelle @ SugarDuchess said...

Oh, I'm all about fall foods at non-seasonal times. :) I've still got cranberries in my freezer that I can't bear to finish off because they won't be around again for another 9 months!
Yum. I've never had sweet potato pie, but good heavens, I'm pretty sure I need to change that now.

Kathy Walker said...

Perfect pie! I could never get tired of sweet potato pie. Yum.

Marjie said...

You did see my non-seasonal cranberry sherbet. I also made out of season cranberry bars, like brownies only not chocolate, this week. I'm all for out-of-season foods! Your pie looks creamy and delicious.

Pam said...

I've never had sweet potato pie but now, suddenly, I have a massive craving for it. It looks perfect.

lisa is cooking said...

We continue to get local sweet potatoes long after Thanksgiving so I see no reason not to turn them into pie! Looks fantastic.

Juliana said...

Grace, can you believe that I never had sweet potato pie? Looking at yours, I really feel that I should try it...looks so yummie and sure very tempting :-)

Faith said...

You have stolen my heart with this one, Grace! Not only do I love sweet potato pie, but I bet it's even better in February to help chase away the winter blues!

oneordinaryday said...

I've never tried sweet potato pie, but I surely do love me some pumpkin pie any time of year. I bet this is just delish.

Abby said...

Hi, stranger! Pie is my FAVORITE dessert, and I've only recently come to love sweet-potato pie! Gotta try this.

Julie M. said...

I love sweet potato pie! Who cares if it's February, it doesn't change how delicious it tastes. :) Your looks like perfection!

Anonymous said...

The perfect way to remember to be thankful anytime of year... with pie!

tamilyn said...

I'm thinking you had to wipe your lense off after that close up! I have only recently discovered sweet potatoe fries-which is probably a bad thing since they are deep fried and all, but delish! This is a new twist I should make-my hubby likes all kinds of pie :)

sewa mobil said...

Very nice, thanks for the information.

Lisa-Marie said...

Oh goodness, that looks delicious! yum!

Cookie baker Lynn said...

Would you hate me if I told you I'd never had sweet potatoe pie? Or would you just feel sorry for me and come make one for me?

Deborah said...

I have never had a sweet potato pie before, which is crazy considering what a pie fan I am! This looks delicious, though - I need to give one a try!

a frog in the cottage said...

do we really need a good reason to eat your pie in february !! I think we should eat it to celebrate every day !!

~~louise~~ said...

Hi Grace! Guess what, February is National Sweet Potato Month. I know this to be true because I just received an email from the Benny Graves @ The Mississippi Sweet Potato Council after I inquired for a future post this month. He confirms it is and I'm running with it.

I am so saving this recipe to share. Who knows, after seeing your gorgeous piece of loveliness, I may even try my hand at baking one myself!
probably not, i tried to bake sweet potato corn bread last night and I'm ashamed to even say what it tasted like, no less looked like:(

Thank you so much for sharing, simply awesome!!!

Amanda said...

You ROCK!! I love your attitude and awesome baking ability!!

MaryBeth said...

You Miss Grace are a kick in the head, I mean that in a good way. I love your stories and of course the pie. I could any and all kinds of pie 24/7 365.

Anonymous said...

Wow, such an incredibly delicious looking pie there! I love your closeup shots!

Dana said...

Happy February! It's hard to believe we're already a month into 2011.

The pie looks divine!

Carolyn Jung said...

Oh my, that's some fine pie! ;)

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

Oooh what food pornalicious close ups my dear Grace!

Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets said...

This looks and sounds amazing! The spicing, the textures, everything. Good for you, you rebel there ;p.

archana said...

Any time is pie time. Such a lovely looking slice !

RecipeGirl said...

What a beautiful slice! I made sweet potato pie for the very first time last fall. I wasn't so into it, but yours looks infinitely better than mine!

Emily said...

Mmmm I'm glad you made sweet potato pie! I think it should be made all year. It's my favorite.

It looks GOOD. Really, really, really, really, really good.

Unknown said...

Those pictures are making my mouth water...for a piece of that pie. Thanks for sharing...I'm going to try making it.

teresa said...

oh yummy! what a fantastic pie!

The Kindle 2 Cookbook said...

Oh, this is my kind of meal...I love all of the flavors.Love your blog..its looks really so good just want to eat this...Yummy!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Your sweet potato pie is so well photographed by you!! Waw!!

I have never eaten sweet potato pie before in my life because it isn't used here a lot in Belgium. Most people don't know what sweet potatoes are!!!

I must make this one for my mother because she has been wondering how it tastes like,..& so do I!

Nutmeg Nanny said...

This looks super delicious! Who cares if it's February...anytime is pie time :)

Kathryn said...

Oh my gosh, it looks so moist and yummy!! I totally admire the fact that you threw together a sweet potato pie in January for no reason. You're my kinda gal! :)

foodhoe said...

that looks danged delicious, I think I'd like it better than pumpkin! I'd love a big bite right now...

Georgia | The Comfort of Cooking said...

Grace, this pie looks unbelievably delicious! Thanks so much for sharing. I'm so glad to have found your beautiful blog and look forward to seeing more! :) - Georgia

Lyndas recipe box said...

Oh yes, sweet potato pie is good any time, not just at Thanksgiving; I love the way your pie looks Grace-so creamy and smooth, speckled with spices. Now I want it. Great job!

Kerstin said...

Sweet potato pie should be enjoyed year round - what a treat!

scrambledhenfruit said...

Sweet potato pies are not just for Thanksgiving! Yours looks wonderful. I have lots of sweet potatoes in my basement and now you've gotten me wishing for a pie. :)

Lyd Stew said...

You wild thing you! :) Sweet potato is heaven year round in my book... particularly in a pie like this. Good work! I love reading your commentary- you're brilliant! I wish we were next door neighbors!

Christine said...

oh! my! yummy-in-the-tummy! love how you made it in January too :) and your photos are beautiful, great POV of that slice of heaven Ü

Anonymous said...

this pie look fantastic! love it :) Thank you for your kind words over Chef's Dennis blog :)

Unknown said...

I've never had sweet potato pie but I imagine it would be good as it reminds me of a dessert that we make with cassava here in the Caribbean.

Anonymous said...

Boo Yah! So when is it not a good time for sweet potato pie!

Heidi - Apples Under My Bed said...

A rebel with a yummy cause! love it :) beautiful pictures.
Heidi xo

simone leblanc said...

I was just telling a friend yesterday, it's ALWAYS a good time for pie!

LyB said...

Boo-yah is right!!! That looks absolutely scrumptious!

kimberleyblue said...

I've never even tasted sweet potato pie...shameful, I know!

The texture looks amazing. Silky, smooth, thick....gotta try some, I think.

Chef Fresco said...

Yessss please! I will eat sweet potatoes any day, especially if it is in the form of a pie!

Food Courts said...

These things look gorgeous and I am sure are delicious. I'm bookmarking these to try this
weekend.

Christina said...

Yumm! I wish my family was into pies as much as I am.

Skinny said...

I just prepared it last night.. It was really delicious.. Thanks a lot for posting....I love cooking!!!
Thanks for this delicious post
Cheers.. :)