Sweet potato crunch

As the weather turns colder, and we move closer to Thanksgiving, I've had holiday foods on the brain. We had pumpkin pie last week, and sweet potatoes a few days ago. Both pumpkin and sweet potatoes are rich are carotene, Vitamin A and other important nutrients. Try to watch the sugar and fat when you use these ingredients!

Last year, at Thanksgiving, my mother-in-law made a terrific sweet potato casserole. This was my attempt to re-create it this week.

You'll need:

3-4 medium sweet potatoes
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/4 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

For topping
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup brown sugar

Wash and dry the sweet potatoes, then prick them all over with a small knife. Rub them with the one teaspoon oil, place on a baking sheet and bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes to one hour. Remove from oven and let cool until you can handle them. Peel the sweet potatoes, cut in 1-inch pieces and place in a large mixing bowl. Add butter, milk, brown sugar, cinnamon and cloves. Mash with a potato masher until all is smooth and combined. Put the mashed sweet potatoes in a 2-quart baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. Mix all the topping ingredients in a medium bowl, using a small fork to incorporate completely. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the sweet potatoes. Bake the dish in a 350 degree oven for 20-30 minutes, or until the top is browned and bubbly. Cool slightly before serving. Yield: About 4 1-cup servings.