Sweet Potato Lessons
By: Ja’Von Harris
Growing up, Thanksgiving didn't start when the turkey made its way to the table. It
started the night before in my grandmother's kitchen, and I was her shadow. The smell of
cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla filled the house and wrapped us up like a warm blanket. My tasks
were simple: help add the ingredients, watch, and learn.
The pie was made with love. I didn't need fancy toppings, ingredients, or tools. No
measuring cups were used, just scoops, pours, and pinches. Decades of practice and instinct went
into knowing how much cinnamon was needed and knowing exactly when to stop mixing the
ingredients.
Watching how she made her sweet potato pie wasn't about getting a recipe. It was about
learning patience, memory, and how food is a transfer of love. The pie was never rushed; slowly
baking the sweet potatoes until the skin peeled easily and blending the puree until almost every
lump was gone.
I took these lessons with me as I began my own cooking journey. For years, I made the
sweet potato pie just the way I remembered making it with her. Until one day, I started
experimenting to put my own twist on it. That's how my Sweet Potato Cheesecake stuffed
cookies came to life. These cookies are my twist on her sweet potato pie.
On the outside, it looks like a soft, golden, and spiced cookie. When you open one, you
are hit with a creamy, tangy cheesecake filling. Then comes the warm cinnamon and nutmeg
flavors that remind you of home. After making my first batch, I knew this was great. It captured
the memories of making sweet potato pie and made it into something new that I can pass down
one day.
The beauty of recipes being passed down through generations is that they evolve as we
do. From what started as a pie on Thanksgiving has turned into my family's favorite cookie.
Food has the ability to transform memories without erasing them. While this recipe has evolved,
the purpose behind it hasn't. It's still gathering people and creating memories that last long after
the plates are cleared.
This is what "The Bake Up” is all about. Not just a recipe but a story that reminds us of
great memories and a way to make new ones.
So here is my Sweet Potato Stuffed Cookie, my spin on my grandmother's sweet potato
pie. A dessert that doesn't follow strict rules, but follows the heart, and wraps each bite in the
warmth I felt learning how to make my grandmother’s pie.
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