Sweet Potato Crunch - Mike Squires (Infielder)

RECIPE

 

3 cups mashed sweet potatoes

1 tsp. vanilla

1/3 cup of margarine, melted

 

Topping

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup coconut

1 cup pecans, chopped

1/2 cup margarine, melted

1/2 cup flour

 

Preheat oven 350 F.  Grease a 1 1/2 quart shallow casserole.  Combine potatoes, vanilla and margarine, place in casserole.  Combine topping ingredients and sprinkle over potato mixture.  Bake covered 20 minutes and uncover 15 minutes.

 

 

For a light-hitting first baseman, Mike Squires was still able to rack up some interesting firsts as a member of the White Sox.

 

Squires first broke in with the Sox in 1975, then went on to spend the rest of his career (1977-85) on the south side.  Although he hit for decent average (career .260), he lacked the home run crushing power one associates with many other Chicago first basemen; in fact, he never hit more than two home runs in a season.  Better skilled with the glove than the bat, he was often deployed as a late inning defensive replacement.

 

Now, some of his interesting firsts.  On May 4, 1980, Squires became the first left-handed catcher to play in a game since 1961, when he shifted from 1B to behind the plate in the ninth inning of a game.  On August 23, 1983 - the year the Sox won the AL West Division title - Squires became the first left-handed third baseman in over 50 years when he replaced Vance Law in the eighth inning of a game.  Squires would play 3B thirteen more times the following season, including four starts there.

 

As for this recipe, everything is exactly where it should be, no quirky substitutions.

 

A quick google search reveals Sweet Potato Crunch to be a classic southern dish.  Some familiar elements of southern cooking are certainly there - I'm talking about the pecans and the sweet potatoes.  They make for happy friends in this easy make, easy bake recipe.

 

What comes out of the oven is a sweet-smelling, deelish - I said - deelishous dessert treat.  The sweet potatoes are a heavenly soft base for the crunchy pecan-coconut-brown sugar topping.  Carve out a square, serve it up on a plate, and smoosh everything together on your fork.  Can you tell I really liked this one??

 

FINAL SCORE - A home run from Mike Squires!  Wish we could have more like these!