Sweet Potato Crunch

Did I ever tell you about the one year that I tried to serve sweet potatoes instead of mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving?  My family staged an all out revolt.😂  Hear me out though while I explain my reasoning: Sweet potatoes are superior to white potatoes.  I mean, sweet potatoes sweeter than white potatoes - what more do I need to say?😅  If given the option, why would anyone choose a white potato over a sweet potato?🥔🍠

Selfishly, it never even occurred to me that my family would even notice that there were no traditional mashed potatoes on the Thanksgiving table.🤷🏻‍♀️ I figured that if I made these orange infused mashed sweet potatoes with a sweet and crunchy streusel topping, no one would ever miss a big bowl of white potatoes.  I was wrong.🤣  Apparently, these sweet potatoes are not meant to take the place of regular mashed potatoes but they're intended purpose is to be served alongside them.🤦🏻‍♀️  Now I know. 😂  

I know I'm going to take some heat for this but in my opinion, mashed potatoes are fine but I feel like they're kind of like the Honda Accord of the vegetable world.  They serve a purpose and they have a place but sweet potatoes are more like Cadillacs.🚘 😅 

In all seriousness though - I would encourage you to give this sweet potato recipe a try.  It's super tasty and as long as you don't try and use it as a white potato replacement, I think your Thanksgiving guests will agree.  ​

Sweet Potato Crunch
Potatoes
6 pounds sweet potatoes, poked with a fork
6 Tablespoons butter
2 Tablespoons Grand Marnier
1 1/2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 3/4 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons grated orange zest

Topping
1 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
pinch of cayenne pepper
6 Tablespoons butter, melted

Place potatoes on a foil lined baking sheet.  Bake 75-90 minutes at 400.  Cool.

Transfer potato flesh to a bowl and mash until smooth.

Stir in melted butter, Grand Marnier, sugar, salt and orange zest.  

Transfer mixture to a 9x13" baking dish.  Spread into an even layer. 

For topping:  Whisk together flour, brown sugar, salt and cayenne.  

Stir in melted butter.  Break into pea sized pieces. 

Distribute over potatoes.   

Bake 25-30 minutes at 400.

Ciao!

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