Countdown to Thanksgiving and a Question

More fall color. These trees are in my father's backyard. Three large Japanese maples. He lives in a modern-style house with plate glass floor-to-ceiling windows along the backside of his home. He sits in his chair in the living room and enjoys watching the nature show in his garden.

Well, this is going to be a busy week for most of us, I'll bet. It may be Monday, but a short week that involves a lot of pie and ends with shopping can't be all bad. I know what I'm cooking, who will be at the table, and what I will wear, but there is a lot to do to make it happen.

I need your help. My husband asked me to make a sweet potato casserole I used to make. You roast sweet potatoes, mash them with butter and brown sugar and top them with a pecan streusel. You can assemble it the day before (except for the topping) and bake it on Thanksgiving. It was bright orange and tasted delicious. Better than the version using canned ones with marshmallows on top 

So, here's the thing. I went to the store, and bought "sweet potatoes". They look like the third potato in the photo above. The palest one. Now, I recall my casserole being quite orange. Was I using yams? It has been years and my memory is fuzzy. Did I maybe use yams in the past? This casserole is going to be pretty insipid looking if it is beige. Should I go back and pick up the Garnet Yams I saw piles of at the store? Is that what people use?

Your advice will be much appreciated!

Comments

[Melanie]

I made the same mistake once! Now I always buy yams. I just boil them like potatoes then add all the other ingredients. So yummy.

[Bev Hoek]

Yes, go back for the garnets!

[JustGail]

IIRC, most "yams" sold in US groceries are really sweet potatoes. And sweet potatoes come in a range of color, but the orange ones are what most people think of as sweet potato. Yeah, for Thanksgiving, I'd go back and get the orange ones.

Keep the light color ones to make baked sweet potato (cut into slabs, toss with oil, chili powder, bit of salt, bake til done). That's my favorite way to eat sweet potatoes, any more the traditional sweet potato casserole is too sweet for my taste.

[Robby]

Garnet yams for the win. You actually have a different type of yam, but not as sweet. If you need a recipe for the dish you describe, let me know. I have a delicious version made from fresh things and nary a marshmallow in side. Although I tend to eat it for dessert (not that anyone else sees it that way).

[Kathe Howe]

Yes, definitely go back for the yams. The color is prettier, and I think they have a sweeter taste than the light ones.

[Jan]

Your dad's view of the outdoors is gorgeous! I'm in the yams column if you're taking a vote! It's going to be a busy week but always worth the effort! I'm impressed that you already know what you're wearing...I guess I should give that some thought!

[NancyA]

I agree, get the yams. I have always thought that the orange ones were yams and the lighter ones were sweet potatoes, but in some stores they are all labeled as sweet potatoes. Now you have me interested in that recipe. Can you post it?

[Ina]

I make spicy mashed sweet potatoes with the white ones. It is really good but I'm the only one who likes it. ;p

I'm so glad your dad has a lovely view of his backyard. That is so good for him mentally.

[Kelli]

Yes go for the garnet yams! And after the holiday when you have time, would you post your recipe please? It sound delicious. Happy Thanksgiving! 🥧🦃🎃🍁🍂

[Kerry Lp]

Yup the orange are the sweet potatoes! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family!

[Paula]

Go for the Garnet yams!

[Christine Cole]

This recipe sounds like the Ruth's Chris Sweet Potato Casserole. There are a bunch of really good copycat recipes online. It's so good, almost a dessert!

[Taria]

Mom always cooked the garnet yams so I do too. We eat a lot of them. They are really good for you. Honestly, I've never cooked the others so I can't say they won't work.

[Patty McDonald]

I made the same mistake many years ago. I call them sweet potatoes but they're yams. Purple on the outside and deep orange inside. Go get the yams.

[Linda Enneking]

I used a recipe the first time I made Sweet Potato Casserole, and it turned out good, but I thought it had too much butter and sugar. The next year I cut back on both of those and it was delicious and healthier. And yes, I used the bright orange yams. I boiled them but roasting sounds like a better idea. I mash them slightly with a wooden spoon, and a beaten egg and some butter or margarine, maybe a little bit of the evaporated milk but usually not. The sugar and butter goes into the topping.

[Ainslie]

Here in New Zealand, sweet potatoes (or Kumara in the indigenous language) come in all the colours you show in your photo.
Perhaps last time you just used a different variety of sweet potato?