I’m Beverly, and I’m excited to partner with Charlotte Smarty Pants as a new food blogger. I started my business, Beverly’s Gourmet Foods, in Charlotte 13 years ago. We specialize in vegetarian, vegan, and prominently gluten free food, conveniently packaged into healthy meal components for busy families. As a working mom who grew up on a farm in Charlotte, I’m passionate about healthy, local, nutritious food that is delicious and easy for busy families. If you’re eating food from Beverly’s Gourmet, it’s the same quality as if I’d come to your house and cooked it for you.
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. Between the rich foods, the gratitude, and the great reason to bring a family together around a beautiful table, it’s one of the best times of year. To kick off my relationship with Charlotte Smarty Pants, I thought I’d bring you a Thanksgiving recipe that’s versatile, delicious, and something everyone in the family will love. We make sweet potato casserole as part of our Thanksgiving offerings every year, and we’ve heard that kids and adults alike enjoy it. It’s also a great option to make ahead and freeze if you want to plan ahead for the busy holiday season.
Sweet Potato Casserole:
5 cups cooked sweet potatoes (roughly 2.5 pounds fresh potatoes)
3/4 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup half and half
1/4 cup cream
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
Place the sweet potatoes in a stock pot, and cover with water. Bring them to a rolling boil for 45 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. Remove from heat, and drain.
Remove the skins, which should peel off very easily, and place them in a mixing bowl. Add the remaining ingredients, and purée with an immersion blender.
Pour the mixture into a two-quart baking dish. Bake at 350 for 35-45 minutes. Top with pecans or marshmallows. If you want to top with marshmallows, add them to the casserole 20 minutes before you remove it from the oven.
About Beverly’s Gourmet Foods:
Website: beverlysgourmetfoods.com
You can find our products at the Mecklenburg County Market at 1515 Harding Place, which is owned and operated by my parents and my oldest son. In addition to our food, you can get local vegetables, baked goods, jams and jellies, local honey, eggs, milk, and much more. We’re also available at Whole Foods Southpark, Reid’s Fine Foods, Healthy Home Market, Rhino Deli, Dowd and Childress Klein YMCAs, and the farmer’s markets in Cotswald and Davidson.
If you need some help with cooking this holiday season, come see us. We’ll be stocked with tofu turkey with vegan mushroom gravy; vegan herbed stuffing; sweet potato, squash, macaroni and cheese, and broccoli casseroles; roasted Brussel sprouts with mushrooms and fennel; cranberry salad; vegan macaroni and cheese; collards; and desserts including pumpkin soufflé, pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie, and pecan pie.
Smarty Alert: The Frozen Sale is THIS WEEK!
We’ll have our next frozen sale on November 16th from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the board room at the YWCA at 3420 Park Rd. Bring your coolers, and stock up on holiday essentials!
