3 Sweet Potato Pies

One of my Mom's specialties was her sweet potato pies.  She never made just one and only made them around Thanksgiving or Christmas.  And when Edna made sweet potato pies, she made sweet potato pies, it was normal for her to make 24 pies in one baking.  Many went in the freezer, some went to friends, but the best of the lot was reserved for family. I loved them...enjoyed them for a lunch or dinner dessert and even as breakfast with a cup of coffee.  Yum!!!

I've used Mom's recipe but somehow, mine never come out as good as hers.  So today, I ventured out on my own and the result made me very happy...let's just say I've consumed almost a half of a pie already...quality control is so important!

So here goes what I did.

Ingredients (makes 3 pies)

8 average sized sweet potatoes

1 1/2 cup sugar

3 sticks of butter, sliced

2 teaspoons cinamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 cup carnation evaporated milk

8 eggs

frozen pie shells (not deep dish); thawed 

• Preheat oven to 375
• Cover the sweet potatoes with water in a large pot, bring to a boil, lower the heat and cook until fork pierces all the way through the potatoes easily
• Place peeled potatoes in a large bowl,add butter, sugar, spices, vanilla, milk and beat with mixer until smooth
• Add eggs two at a time and beat until smooth
• Taste mixture and add more sugar or spice to your taste (a very important step!)
• Ladel mixture into pie shell...I do about 3 cups to one pie shell
• Bake for 50 minutes
• Cool, cover and refrigerate (reserve one for tasting!)

Enjoy!!!  Mom called this a hand pie...if it's done just right, a slice is easily eaten without a fork!!!