Savory Sweet Potato Pie

I over bought sweet potatoes and potatoes for Thanksgiving. I thought I needed to use them before it starts new shoots. This sweet potatoes are called ‘Satsuma’（薩摩） old name for Kagoshima （鹿児島） in Japan, Kyushu's（九州） southern prefecture. Sweeter in taste than regular sweet potatoes. I usually toss them in oven and bake at 375 for about 25 minutes.for snack. When I was child, it was the best snack in fall. Back then we baked in small stone fire pit called shichirin with coal. The skin got black and really messy to handle which my mother dislike to do. We often bought stone baked sweet potatoes(石焼いも）from street vendor. Whenever I heard the sounds of pulling cart coming to our street, I ran out side tightly clasping coins in my hand.

For Pie Filling

• 1 pie shell - I used store bought frozen pie shell for this recipe. I like Marie Calendar brand.
• 2 medium size sweet potatoes; skin and cut in big chunk then soak in water for 10 minutes.*
• 1/2 onion minced
• 1 lb. ground beef
• salt and pepper
• 2 3/4 tablespoon butter

Prick the bottom of pie shell with fork and bake for 20 minutes at 375 degrees. Set aside.

Cook potatoes with enough water to cover the potatoes over medium heat till tender. Drain the water and mash while hot until smooth.

Heat butter in a frying pan, add the beef and sauté for 2,3 minutes, add onion and continue to sauté until the onions are translucent.

Mix mashed potatoes and beef. If filling is too thick then add milk or half and half to thin it.

Salt and pepper to taste.

Fill the pie shell with the potato and beef mixture, sprinkle with breadcrumbs and flecks of butter.

Put it back in the oven for 20 minutes or until the top of the pie is slightly brown at 350 degrees. Cover with tin foil if the edge of pie gets too brown.

Put tonkatsu sauce if you’d like. Serves 4 to 6

*You could use regular potatoes (4 or 5). Just add a teaspoon of sugar for kakushi aji (隠し味) direct translation is hidden taste.  Sugar will deepen the flavor.

Our dinner is simple affair. One main and side of salad or fruits. We seldom have deserts but I often have a cup of hot chocolate (not instant) after dinner and relax.My husband reads book to unwind. On the weekend we usually go out to eat. It is nice to not wash dishes and always have dessert.