Thanksgiving – a time for gratitude, family, and, of course, delicious food. At Royal Guernsey Creamery, while we're passionate about our butter, we're equally enthusiastic about the traditions that bring families together. We're sharing a slice of our family heritage with two special recipes that have graced our Thanksgiving table for generations.
Thanksgiving is more than just a holiday; it's a celebration of togetherness. It's an occasion where the aroma of roasted turkey and the warmth of shared stories fill the air. In our family, as in many others, it's a time when recipes passed down through generations take center stage, each dish a reminder of our rich family history and the love that binds us.
A Tale of Two Recipes
This mashed potato recipe has been a family treasure for over four generations thanks to our great-great Aunt Stella on our mom’s side of the family. It’s simple yet profoundly flavorful, and of course, it’s made even better with artisan butter. Thanksgiving on our mom’s side of the family was the biggest event of the year, hosted by our great Aunt Gertrude. Multiple turkeys were roasted, pans of mashed potatoes, green bean casseroles spread across the tables and there was even one room of the house dedicated strictly to pies. The door never closed as family came, joining the celebration from morning, through dinner and well past supper.
Party Mashed Potatoes
5 lbs. potatoes, peeled and cut into pieces
8 oz cream cheese
2 tsp onion salt
1 tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp pepper
2 Tbsp Royal Guernsey salted butter
2 Tbsp Royal Guernsey Signature butter
Fill a large saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Add the potatoes, reduce the heat to a simmer, cover, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are soft. Drain.
Mash the potatoes until smooth, careful not to over mash. Add the cream cheese, onion salt, garlic powder, pepper and salted butter and mix until fluffy, being careful not to overmix the potatoes. Spread into a buttered 13 x 9" pan or baking dish. Dot the top with Signature butter. Bake at 350°F for 45 to 60 minutes or until potatoes are heated through. Garnish with a sprinkle of paprika and parsley.
West Coast to Midwest
Hailing from our dad's side of the family, his cousin Marianne’s sweet potato soufflé is a delightful blend of sweetness and texture. These are the only sweet potatoes that have graced our family’s holiday table. Marianne and her family were dairy farmers in southern California so visits with them were rare. One year our sister and mom traveled to spend a holiday with them, and Marianne made this amazing soufflé. Ever since that visit we’ve had this dish at Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's our way of celebrating with them, even though we're miles and miles apart.
Sweet Potato Soufflé
3 lbs. sweet potatoes or yams, peeled and cut into pieces
2 large eggs
¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar, divided
¼ cup salted butter, melted
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Up to ½ cup orange juice
1 cup pecan halves
¼ cups Royal Guernsey Sweet Cinnamon butter, melted
Preheat oven to 375°F. Fill a large saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Add the potatoes, reduce the heat to a simmer, cover, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are soft. Drain.
In a large bowl, beat the potatoes with an electric mixer until they are smooth. Beat in the eggs, ¼ cup brown sugar, salted butter, salt and cinnamon. Starting with ¼ cup, beat in just enough orange juice to make the mixture moist & fluffy.
Scrape the sweet potato mixture into a 2- to 3-quart soufflé dish and smooth the surface into an even layer. Arrange the pecan halves over the top. Sprinkle the remaining brown sugar over the pecans. Drizzle the top with the melted sweet cinnamon butter. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the top is bubbly all over.
The Joy of Sharing
These recipes are more than just instructions for delicious dishes; they're an invitation to create memories. As we prepare our tables for Thanksgiving, let's remember the essence of this holiday: gratitude and togetherness. At Royal Guernsey Creamery, we're thankful for the opportunity to be a part of your celebrations and family stories.
From our family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!