i always crave my grandmother's home cooking around this time of year pretty hard core. she's a fabulous southern cooking genius and i wanna be just like her when i grow up.  my most favorite of her recipes are her banana "puddin" and her macaroni and cheese, but that's not what i've been dreaming about lately . . . . it's her heavenly sweet "potat-uh pie." dear lord, it's good.

i've been off for a few days this week because the bean has been sick with croup and an ear infection, so i decided to take that time to become a baking whiz in the kitchen. i headed to the grocery store hell, went straight for the sweet potatoes and fought my way through the belligerent Christmas crowd to the butter. once i got home and looked at all my ingredients on the counter, waiting to be turned into bliss, i smiled. this is what Christmas is all about - traditions. it isn't about tenting in front of best buy for two days in the cold to get a good deal on the latest and greatest electronic. it isn't about fighting people in lines at toy stores, or stealing parking spaces in parking lots. it isn't about keeping up with the jones' and making sure to have more presents than the neighbor. it's about being a mother, with children of her own, and instilling the same values and traditions i learned when i was their age. it's about smelling sweet potato pie in the oven and becoming nostalgic. it's about family, and love, and time spent with those that make your life worthwhile.

so, here's a quick recipe to boost tradition during this holiday season. did i mention this pie is heavenly bliss?

• 2 large sweet potatoes
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 9 in. pie crust, homemade if you're that talented, premade if you're like me=)
• potato masher (a fork would work too, it'll just take you forever... go buy a potato masher, you'll thank me for it)
• large mixing bowl
• foil
• counter top and oven. hopefully, you have these things already, otherwise this may not be fun for you.