A Short Story From My Holiday Kitchen

The days leading up to Thanksgiving always feel like a quiet dance in my kitchen — not rushed, not frantic, just intentional. Over the years, I’ve learned to start preparing certain parts of our holiday meal days in advance. Not because I love being ahead of schedule (though it helps!), but because life has required it.

I’ve worked through many major holidays, sometimes only catching a few hours at home before heading back out again. And because of that, I had to learn how to create a holiday rhythm that made room for both my responsibilities and my children. A rhythm that allowed them to experience the joy of the season without feeling the absence of my schedule.

So I plan. I chop, mix, and prep early. I build flavors slowly. I tuck things away in the fridge and freezer like little promises to myself. I do it so that when the holiday arrives, I’m not drowning in tasks — I’m emotionally present, grounded, and able to enjoy those pockets of time with my kids, whether I’m home all day or just long enough to share a meal and laugh together.

And somewhere in the middle of all that preparation, these sweet potato rolls were born.

They came from a simple desire:
to help my youngest see the beauty and versatility of sweet potatoes — and to make sure they never felt like they were missing out on a food their siblings enjoyed.

They also became a symbol of my kind of holiday magic: finding small ways to stretch time, stretch love, and stretch tradition so my family gets to feel whole even on the days I’m balancing a lot.

These rolls have earned their place on our Thanksgiving table — soft, warm, and welcoming to even the pickiest eater in the house.

Every family has that one ingredient someone just can’t get behind — and in my house, that ingredient has always been sweet potatoes. My youngest has never been a fan, no matter how I bake them, mash them, roast them, or season them.

So over the years, I’ve made it my quiet mission to find ways to introduce sweet potatoes that highlight how versatile (and delicious!) they really are. I’ve tried plenty of versions, but only one has earned a full stamp of approval:

✨ Sweet Potato Rolls. ✨

Soft, slightly sweet, beautifully golden, and perfect for soaking up gravy or eating warm right off the pan — these rolls made their way onto our Thanksgiving table this year, and they did not disappoint. In fact, this is the only sweet potato recipe my youngest happily eats, which makes it even more special.

Whether you’re preparing for a holiday dinner or simply want a cozy roll recipe for the winter season, these sweet potato rolls are warm, comforting, and surprisingly easy to make.

Ingredients

For the dough

1 cup pureed sweet potato
1 cup (240 ml) room-temperature yogurt
4 tbsp (57 g) unsalted butter, melted
2 whole eggs, lightly beaten
2 tbsp raw cane sugar
2 1/4 tsp (1 packet) instant yeast
1 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
4 3/4 cups flour

For baking

1/2 stick melted butter

Instructions

Make the Dough

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the yogurt, melted butter, eggs, cane sugar, yeast, and sweet potato.
Add the salt and 2 cups of flour, stirring for about 1 minute.
Switch to medium-low speed and gradually mix in the remaining flour. Knead until a dough forms.
Increase to medium-high speed and continue kneading for about 5 minutes, until the dough becomes soft, smooth, and slightly tacky.
- If it’s too sticky, add flour a little at a time until manageable.
Lightly spray a clean bowl with cooking spray. Place the dough inside, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until doubled in size.

Shape & Bake the Rolls

Prepare a baking pan by spraying with cooking spray. Divide the dough into equal pieces and shape each into a smooth ball.
Brush each roll with melted butter. Cover lightly with a kitchen towel and let rise for another 30 minutes, or until puffy.
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Bake the rolls for 15 to 20 minutes, or until beautifully golden brown.
Serve warm. Store leftovers in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag.

A Small Sweet Victory

What makes this recipe so meaningful isn’t just the flavor or the softness of the rolls — it’s the fact that they brought sweet potatoes back into our Thanksgiving meal in a way that made everyone happy, even my pickiest eater.

Sometimes the best recipes are the ones that quietly solve a family dilemma and create a new tradition at the same time.

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When reading a book, it is important to remember that one is not just looking at words. They are looking at a time capsule in print. The author creates an image of a specific place in time. The reader is able to travel either to the future or the past through the writer’s lens.

The same can be said of cooking and gardening. When you make a meal from a recipe, you reach back into memory. You shape something from the past. This creation can be experienced by others in the future. When you plant seeds you’ve saved, you carry forward stories of survival and lineage. Books, recipes, and gardens—all are living vessels of heritage.

Books That Shape My Cooking and Creativity

Jessica Seinfeld’s Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food is a cookbook that deeply resonates with me. It offers inventive ways to nourish through hidden veggies. The approach is gentle, creative, and playful. What I love about it is how it invents ways to nourish through hidden veggies—gentle, creative, and playful. I’ve returned to its pages many times. It’s not just for guidance. It serves as a reminder that adaptation is at the heart of tradition.

I often take her recipes and transform them with African ingredients—adding, subtracting, or substituting to make them sing in ways that feel like home. Deceptively Delicious reminds me that creativity in the kitchen isn’t about following every rule. It’s about making something your own. At the same time, it’s about honoring what came before.

Books That Preserve Love and History

Another book that left a deep impression on me was My Dearest Friend: Letters of Abigail and John Adams. Their words to one another are tender, passionate, and grounded in both love and duty. Reading those letters felt like holding a time capsule in my hands. They offered a glimpse into their daily lives. I could see the strength of their bond during a turbulent period in history.

Just like recipes passed down in families, these letters carried their love into the future. Like seeds planted in soil, they carried their faith and story as well. They reminded me that writing is not just about recording events, but about preserving connection.

My Bookshelf Essentials

Here are two books I continue to carry with me:

Deceptively Delicious – Jessica Seinfeld – A creative reminder that food can be nourishing, playful, and endlessly adaptable.
My Dearest Friend: Letters of Abigail and John Adams – This is an intimate collection of letters. It captures history, partnership, and devotion in a timeless way.

Closing Reflections

Books shape us in ways big and small. They remind us where we’ve come from. They inspire who we are becoming. They carry stories forward for those who come after us.

👉 What books have shaped your life or inspired your creativity? Share your favorites in the comments—I’d love to build a community reading list together.

Tag: picky eaters

Holiday Sweet Potato Rolls: A Family Favorite (Even for the Picky Eaters!)