Sweet Potato Praline Pie (The Great American Bake Sale)

     This Southern cousin to pumpkin pie shows up at the same Holiday events. A brown sugar - pecan crust bakes into a praline candy confection.

Makes one 9-inch pie

• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
• One third cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
• One third cup chopped toasted pecans
• 9-inch unbaked pie shell

1. Preheat oven to 450F (230C).
2. Cream butter and sugar ; blend in pecans.
3. Press into bottom of pie shell, bake 10 minutes ; remove from oven and let cool slightly while preparing filling.

Sweet potato filling

• 2 cups mashed cooked sweet potatoes
• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 cup milk
• ½ cup melted butter or margarine
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 tablespoons bourbon (optional)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon allspice
• ½ teaspoon cloves

1. Blend all ingrédients in a mixing bowl until smooth.
2. Reduce heat to 350F (175C).
3. Pour filling into crust ; return pie to oven and bake 50 minutes.
4. Let cool at least 2 hours before cutting.

BON APPETIT