Sweet Potato Pie

Sweet Potato Pie is decidedly unsexy. I think it's the word "potato."

It may not be sexy, but sweet potato pie is GOOD. Now, I love my pumpkin...in all kinds of baked goods...but I must say, where pie is concerned, I prefer sweet potato.

And I have a confession to make...I made the pie yesterday and today at lunch, it was calling me from the fridge. I kicked off my boots, put on my comfy socks, curled up in the big chair in our bedroom, flicked on my DVR'd Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and ate PIE for lunch. It was the best, most decadent lunch EVER.

The pie is really pretty simple. (And I'm begging you to give it a try.) If you cook the sweet potatoes the day before, you can put this pie together in a jiffy.

Sweet Potato Pie with Brown Sugar Whipped Cream
{slightly modified from Everyday Food, issue 7}

sweet potato puree:
3 large sweet potatoes
water to cover

crust:
10 graham crackers (the full sheets, rectangles)
3TBSP sugar
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
pinch kosher salt
5 TBSP unsalted butter, melted

filling:
3 eggs
1/2 c. sugar
1 and 3/4 c. cooled sweet potato puree
1/2 c. half and half
1 TBSP fresh lemon juice
2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. ground allspice

whipped cream:
1 c. heavy cream
1/2 c. light brown sugar

Peel the potatoes and cut into chunks of approximately the same size...about 1.5".

{Do NOT place the peels in your garbage disposal...so say my notes from "The Thanksgiving without a working garbage disposal, 2003."}

Place in a dutch oven, cover with water and bring to a boil. Boil for 15 minutes, or until tender with pierced with a paring knife. Drain in a colander, then transfer to a food processor. Process until smooth.

Set aside to cool. (This will make more than you'll need for the pie.)

Place an oven rack on the lowest shelf and preheat oven to 350.

Use a food processor to combine the graham crackers, sugar, ginger and salt until finely ground. Add the melted butter and pulse until moist crumbs form.

Dump the mixture into a glass 9" pie pan and press into the bottom and up sides of the pan. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar until blended. Whisk in the cooled sweet potato puree, half and half, lemon juice, vanilla, salt and allspice until completely smooth. Pour into the prepared crust and use an offset spatula to smooth the top.

Place the pie on a cookie sheet and bake 40-50 minutes until set. The pie filling should not jiggle much at all when shaken.

Transefer to a wire rack to cool, about 2 hours. Refrigerate once cooled.

Before serving, make the whipped cream. Chill the bowl and whisk attachment in the freezer for a few minutes before whipping. Beat the cream and sugar together until soft peaks form. Dollop on the pie.

{Isn't dollop a good word?}