Carbing up to push toward the Summit Part 2 (À la recherche du patate douce perdu)

I've mentioned before, a main part of Thanksgiving dinner is the Proustian journey the foods sends you on. For some, it's the Mac and Cheese Aunt Mabel made. For others, it's the giblet gravy that their Grandma made. And for others, it's Candied Sweet Potatoes. So sweet, so sticky, so gooey (for those of you on a diet - look away.)

How can you not love any food that has marshmallows as an ingredient?


Candied Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients

* 6 medium sized sweet potatoes
* 1 cup of brown sugar (tightly packed)
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 cup butter
* 1/4 cup orange juice
* 1 cup of mini marshmallows
* Ground cinnamon to taste
* Ground nutmeg to taste


Tools

* Large stockpot
* Large metal spoon
* Sharp utility knife
* Cutting board
* 2 cup measuring cup
* Small mixing bowl
* Kosher salt
* 9x13 inch baking dish


Pre-heat your oven to 375°F. Grease your baking dish (put aside.)

Wash and peel your sweet potatoes. This time, instead of singing along with your favorite album, imagine that you have to do KP duty - lean over the sink, mutter to yourself about how you hate being in the service. For the correct verisimilitude, dangle a Camel from you lip. Hey your peeling potatoes, you have to keep yourself amused somehow.

Slice your potatoes into eighths. Add the sweet potatoes into your pot of salted water and bring to a boil. Boil sweet potatoes for about 10 to 13 minutes (they should be slightly undercooked.) Drain and put aside.

Mix the salt, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg (use fresh spices if you can - don't sweat it if you can't) and orange juice in your small mixing bowl (this should form a disgusting sludge - deal with it.) Arrange the pieces of sweet potato in the greased baking dish. Pour (glop) your brown sugar mixture on top of the sweet potatoes and dot with butter.

Place your baking dish in the oven and bake for about 25 minutes, basting frequently (don't burn yourself, remember what I've said about hot sugar syrup.)

25 minutes into the cooking, pull the baking dish out of the oven and top with your carefully guarded marshmallows (watch out for those damn kids.) If you don't think that you have enough, add some more. Raise the oven temperature to 425°F and put the dish back in the oven. Continue baking for about 5 minutes or until the marshmallows have turned golden brown.

Serve