Sweetie’s Thanksgiving Casserole

My great-grandmother Sweetie made this every year, and we have all carried on the tradition. It is without a doubt the best version of this dish I’ve tasted. It actually tastes of sweet potatoes and is speckled with orange throughout—a refreshing contrast to the typical oversugared, overmixed, and overly processed versions that the South most frequently dotes on. It is a dish that, as a chef, I frequently have admired for its flavor balance and “outside the box” preparation.