Sweet Potato Delight

Sweet Potato Delight

Dorcas Annette Walker

I was introduced to Sweet Potato Delight while my husband, Dana, and I pastored a rural church in North Carolina. Our move from the Dutch area of Pennsylvania, where my husband met and had wooed me to the altar, to the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains was quite a change on my part. Even though I was still in the United States, at times I felt like I had moved to a strange continent. It was hard for me to understand the Southern mountain dialect and in return the mountain folk seemed puzzled by my Northern accent. I should have read the signs during the quick trip down South for a Sunday trial service. Since my husband had been raised most of his life in Florida there was no communication problems between him and the mountain folk. Instead I was the girl who ended coming up short.

The older couple we stayed with was quite friendly and welcomed us with open arms into their home. Although, the names Mamie and Otto struck me as quite strange their house was neat and clean. When the guys disappeared, Mamie and I were left by ourselves in the kitchen to get acquainted. Our conservation was punctuated with lots of smiles and, “Excuse me I didn’t understand you” or “did you mean… on my end”. Dear Mamie shook her head numerous times over the young Yankee girl who seemed a bit slow to catch on what she said, but was kindness itself. I remember Mamie asking me if we used srup. For the life of me I couldn’t figure out what on earth srup was. Mamie finally went over to her cupboard and pulled out a bottle of syrup. I smiled and quickly assured her that we did indeed have and used sy-rup up North. I met my waterloo that night after supper.

We had finished washing up the dishes and it was getting on towards evening when Mamie gave me a jar of her prized canned green beans. I had never eaten white half-runners before. After handing the jar to me, Mamie asked if I wanted a poke. I took a step backwards and smilingly declined. Mamie took a step in my direction, gestured towards me, and asked a little louder if I was sure I didn’t want a poke. I took another step backwards feeling a bit frightened. Up to that time the only poke I was acquainted with was if someone was angry at you they might jab or poke you. In another situation I might have been a bit more rational, but we had driven that day about twelve hours on the road starting before daybreak, I was nine months pregnant, and was very conscious that we were there on trial so I didn’t want to do or say anything that would hinder my husband’s ministry. I turned and ran to the room where we were staying. When Dana entered the room, between sobs, I confessed that I didn’t know what I had done, but somehow I had upset Mamie because she wanted to poke me. My loving husband instead of consoling me began to laugh uproariously. Gasping for air he slowly informed me that all Mamie had done was offer me a paper sack for the jar of green beans. Mortified I called it a day and crawled into bed. Despite our language misunderstandings, Mamie and I became close friends and shared many recipes.

My Sweet Potato Delight casserole is a great dish for the holidays as well having it year-round. The sweet potatoes are enhanced by a crispy nutty topping that is sure to please even the fussiest eater. Preparation time for the Sweet Potato Delight is about ten minutes and this recipe serves eight.

Sweet Potato Delight

Beat together with a mixer until smooth:
3 c cooked sweet potatoes
1 c sugar
2 eggs
½ c margarine
¼ c milk
1 tsp vanilla
½ tsp salt
Pour into a buttered 7½ x 11 inch baking dish.

In a small bowl mix together until small crumbs form:
1 c brown sugar
½ c self-rising flour
½ c margarine
1 c chopped pecans
Pour topping over sweet potato mixture. Bake at 350º for thirty minutes. Serve hot!

Weekly tip: Sweet potatoes make lovely indoor trailing vine plants. To start your own plant, stick the top of a cut sweet potato into water. Place in a sunny window until roots form and then plant in potting soil!

Dorcas Annette Walker is a published author, columnist, speaker, freelance magazine writer, and photographer from Jamestown, Tennessee. Contact her at: dorcaswalker@twlakes.net. For more recipes check out her Creative Mountain Cookin page at: www.dorcasannettewalker.com