Thanksgiving allways means making pies !

Sweet potato pie reminds me of Mama my grandmother who taught me how to make it,and Grandma Betty whose pie's are legendary . I have been making this pie since junior high when my grandmother helped me make them for a cultural food fair at school . In the tradition of many home cook's we did not measure a thing she just added until it tasted just right . And I am so happy Mama gave me the gift of sweet potato pie. With every bite of sweet potato pie you will taste sweetened,buttery,creamy,lusciousness with a hint of vanilla , lemon,cinnamon,and nutmeg . It is not hard to make at all it just takes a little time ,to save time you can use ready made pie shells , I have made it with a cookie crumb crust which is good too you can make your own or by it ready made .

Sweet potato pie
5 lbs sweet potato's
2 sticks butter
2 cans evaporated milk
3 cup sugar
6 eggs
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tbs pure vanilla extract
1 lemon zested and the juiced
1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
6 ready made frozen pie shells

Bake or boil potatoes in skin until they are tender about about 45 min if you roast them and 30 if you boil. Peel skin and mash while warm ,add melted butter , milk , sugar , eggs , then mix with hand mixer or stand mixer until smooth . Then add cinnamon , vanilla, lemon juice and zest , and the nutmeg mix again for about 2 minutes this will make the filling lighter. Bake pie crust 10 min or until lightly browned take out then fill with filling bake ate 350 about 55 min cool completely on wire rack . I love it with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Yum !

tips
you can also use a crumb crust made with ginger snaps , or cookies make it yourself or get ready made.
my grandmother boiled her potatoes but I like to bake them to retain more of the flavor and vitamins
this recipe makes about six to seven pies if you don't want to make that many pies just bake the rest of the sweet potato filling in a casserole dish and serve as a side dish along with your dinner. * if you don't want the side dish to be so sweet separate the filling after you add half the sugar and adjust the sugar for the pie to your taste !