"Sweet Potato Pie" by Shadow Senator Jesse Jackson
While Jesse Jackson has been an activist for many years, he was never elected to Congress…except as a Shadow Senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997. Essentially, it means he was an official advocate for the (eventual state) of D.C. and its affairs, which are otherwise not represented in Congress. So he counts, back off.
And sorry teetotalers, it’s another boozy recipe this week — Shadow Senator Jesse Jackson’s Sweet Potato Pie.
Chef Jesse Jackson
Democratic Shadow Senator from Washington D.C.
As always, I followed the recipe word for word from the hostage-freeing political mover, no alterations:
INGREDIENTS
3 large sweet potatoes
3 tbsp butter
1/2 cup hot milk
2 eggs, separated
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 tbsp brandy
pie crust
INSTRUCTIONS
1) Boil sweet potatoes until tender. Peel and mash.
2) Melt butter into hot milk and add to pot, beat until soft and creamy.
This is important to note: you should be adding the milk and butter mixture into the mashed sweet potatoes, which should apparently still be in the pot. If you mashed them elsewhere, be sure to return them to the pot. You must use the pot.
3) Beat egg whites until stiff, set aside.
I am starting to think this may actually be a good recipe. None of these steps are upsetting.
4) Add beaten egg yolks, sugar, salt, nutmeg and brandy to potato mixture, mix well. Fold in egg whites.
“Barack {Obama}…I want to cut his nuts out.”
—Jesse Jackson
Brandy time! Two tablespoons is no small amount, so be sure you pick something good, and preferably aged. I think an un-aged brandy could ruin the good will this recipe has garnered through Step 4.
5) Pour filling into crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
I’ll be forthright with you — I was not sure this was fully baked after 30 minutes. But I took it out and ate it.
Not as neat and tidy as a pumpkin pie, the grainy sweet potato center almost looks unfinished. Is it? I cannot tell, but rules are rules, and Jesse said 30 minutes. At first bite, you’ll be overwhelmed by the flavor of delicious brandy…and I hope that you chose a delicious brandy, because that flavor is going to stay with you throughout this dessert experience. The sweet potato flavor really comes through though; it does not taste like pumpkin pie even with some of the same ingredients. A new Thanksgiving tradition?
Verdict:
It’s definitely in the top half of foods I’ve recreated here, but that brandy did not cook off and really sticks in the throat. Best had with some whipped cream, I’d wager, to cut into that sharpness.
