Thanksgiving is a great time for families to get together, break bread and reflect on all the things to be thankful for. The food of the day should be simple and plentiful. Here's my take on sweet potato simplicity, in a tasty way.

I'm an avid fan of the sweet potato. I love it in pies, bakes, scalloped, candied, casseroled, 'bisqued'... pretty much you name it and I have either tried it or dreamed about it. Today's recipe is a simple candied sweet potato crumble. It's tasty, full of character and can be bent in almost any direction you so choose.

Here's what you're going to do:

Equipment
knife
cutting board
mortar and pestle [optional]
large mixing bowl [preferably stainless steel or glass]
VitaMix [or high powered blender]
spatula
baking dish [greased] - [I use a large lasagna pan]
oven

Sweet Potato Ingredients
10 cups sweet potatoes
2 cups natural sugar [evaporated cane juice; organic brown sugar; sucanat; agave; etc.]
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice [Trader Joe's brand; or you can grind your own using cinnamon, allspice, ginger, clove, nutmeg or mace]
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
3 Tbsp tart [apple cider vinegar, lemon or lime juice]
3 Tbsp Earth Balance margarine [or coconut butter]
sea salt [to taste - optional]

Crumble Ingredients
2 cups granola cereal [pulverized]
1/4 lb Earth Balance margarine
1 cup each: raw pecans, almonds and pumpkin seeds [pulverized]
2 cups natural sugar [granulated]
2 tsp citrus zest [lemon, lime, grapefruit, orange, etc.]
1 cup each: organic raisins, organic dried cranberries

Step 1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees fahrenheit.
Step 2. Chop your washed sweet potatoes into 1 inch chunks and blend with the rest of the sweet potato ingredients, on high, to the consistency of puree and pour into baking dish.
Step 3. Bake covered with slit foil [this is to allow the moisture to evaporate without browning the top] for 45 minutes or until the consistency is like a dense pudding.
Step 4. Combine your crumble ingredients together in mixing bowl, remove sweet potatoes from oven, remove foil, cover with crumble and return to the oven for 25 minutes or until crumble has gotten golden brown, glistening and fragrant.
Step 5. When done, turn oven off, remove your Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Crumble and let cool for 10 - 20 minutes and serve. [I like to use a large spatula for serving.]

I love food, its simplicity and the holiday season of gathering to share new ideas and dishes with family, friends and those in need. Make this holiday season a memorable one and share a great dish with an unsuspecting someone. Bring a smile to their face and joy to their heart.

As always, it's been my pleasure sharing with you these fun and tasty recipes. Until next time...