Name: Mashed Sweet Potatoes in Fillo Shells with Candied Pecan
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 15
Ingredients: 2 large sweet potatoes (yams); 3 tablespoons butter; couple generous pinches coarse kosher salt; a few grinds cracked black pepper; 1 package Athens brand Mini Fillo Shells (15 to a package); For the Pecans:; 8-10 whole pecans broke in half lengthwise; 1 teaspoon butter; 1 teaspoon sugar; generous pinch sea salt; 15 small pieces of parsley for garnish

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Mashed Sweet Potatoes in Fillo Shells with Candied Pecan

Among the treasures of Thanksgiving are the time honored foods we embrace as memorable favorites, those continually prepared traditional dishes lovingly shared between families and friends.

This festive holiday also enables us a special time when we pause for that fleeting brief moment to give thanks for the many blessings that we have in our lives, much in part, joy celebrated over an abundant meal.

Longstanding American favorites often include a large golden browned turkey whose seasoned scents wafts for hours throughout our households while roasting,

varied bread stuffing carefully tended by its history, perhaps a recipe of Mom’s, or an extended family or regional favorite,

buttery mashed potatoes, a tureen of rich brown gravy prepared from the drippings, maybe an old fashioned green bean casserole, along with any among the diverse versions of bright orange colored sweet potatoes, representing just a few among the traditional favorites gracing the table upon this feast of plenty.

Still, while many of the basic food ingredients associated with Thanksgiving continue to endure, the portions have gradually evolved to folks opting for a bit less on the plate (well, all except the stuffing that is, for almost no one wants less stuffing, right?)

Lots of folks favor the side dishes at the Thanksgiving table, while others focus on the turkey and its trimmings, but all combined, one thing most everyone seems more interested in these days are smaller bites. You know, just a sample, a taste of this or a taste of that.

While I’m a huge mashed sweet potato lover, and sweet potatoes are a tradition must on my Thanksgiving table, still, turkey and trimmings considered, its not the dish I’m angling for huge amounts of at the feast, nor are most of my guests, so this year I’ve decided to switch it up a bit, keeping the sweet potato tradition but serving it in simple bites that is, Mashed Sweet Potatoes in Fillo Shells with Candied Pecan.

These small bites are delicious, super easy to make, and look so pretty on the table too. Simply use a large star decorating tip and pipe your favorite recipe of mashed sweet potatoes right into the frozen phyllo cups. “mini fillo shells” made by the food company, Athen’s, are generally located nearby the puff pastry in the frozen food section of the supermarket.

Arrange a half piece of candied pecan decoratively onto the side and pop them into the oven around fifteen minutes before serving time until hot and crisped.

And there you have it, a creative way to continue honoring from among enduring old fashioned recipes of tradition, those shared between family and friends at the Thanksgiving table now offered in the modern sampling of little bites, a taste of this, and a taste of that, a blessing even in smaller portions for which we can all still be grateful.