To me, there is no day where food carries such a sense of nostalgia and holds so many memories as Thanksgiving. That’s probably why it’s my favorite day of the year. The smells alone transport me back to Thanksgiving’s of the past. One of the dishes that will always hold a special place in my heart is my mom’s sweet potato pie.
Now, I know a few years ago everyone went absolutely crazy for Patty LaBelle’s sweet potato pie. It was sold out all over, and it’s all anyone could talk about leading up to Thanksgiving. Being a fan of sweet potato pie my entire life, I HAD to see what all the fuss was about. When I finally got my hands on one and had the chance to taste it, do you know what I thought? “Meh.” Sorry, Patty.
Don’t get me wrong – Patty’s pie is good, but it’s got nothing on Mama Pam. Anyone that’s tried it can attest to that! This sweet potato pie is so freaking delicious, and it SO MUCH BETTER than the standard pumpkin pie you usually find around Turkey Day. It’s got the warm spices as pumpkin pie, but it’s much more luscious and creamy.
There is no dish that reminds me of my childhood more than this sweet potato pie, and that is why it is one of my favorite food memories.
I’ve been eating this pie every Thanksgiving for as long as I can remember. The day before Thanksgiving, my mom would make two pies. One for dessert, and the other for us to have for breakfast (because pie for dessert is life)! Every Thanksgiving morning, we’d eat a slice (or two) of pie for breakfast while watching the parade from the comfort of our living room, cuddled under a soft, cozy blanket.
One year, we crazily decided to attend the parade, which meant leaving the house early, standing out in the freezing cold (in Michigan), and missing out on breakfast pie under some cozy blankets. I’m not sure what we were thinking, but I assure you that is a sacrifice we did not make again!
This pie has special meaning to everyone in my family. Now that we’re grown and I’ve since moved away, I think this pie is something that ties all of us together. Even if we’re not physically with each other, this pie connects us, no matter where we are. We can be 1,000 miles away from each other, and somehow still be together.
My parents divorced many years ago when I was young, and my dad also makes the pies now. Gotta love tradition! We all have the recipe written out on a recipe card (cause that’s how we roll). Each year, without fail, my dad will call me and ask – “Is this recipe for one pie, or for two?” Whenever I get a call a few days before Thanksgiving, I usually answer with “It’s for one pie, dad.”
(You can get the recipe for Mama Pam’s Sweet Potato Pie here)
Every year, I make this sweet potato pie. I look forward to this sweet potato pie every year, and I never let a Thanksgiving go by without it. And just like always, I have to eat it; crust first, completely covered in whip cream from the can – not the tub, and not homemade.
Of course, it’s completely possible to make this pie any time of the year, but it just wouldn’t be the same. I mean, who wants a sweet potato pie in August? Well, I wouldn’t say no, but you get the point.
