A Pause at the Table

By Dr. Keriann Jimenez

‘Tis the season to put down the handpiece, relax and lean into a different kind of comfort.

One dish worth the pause is the lovely Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows & Pecans from House of Nash Eats. It’s not about complicated technique or memorizing lit—just wholesome ingredients, simple steps, and the kind of warmth that helps you reset for a new year of seeing patients.

Why It Matters

• For you, the resident: You’ve spent the day navigating difficult canals, interpreting CBCTs, collaborating with faculty, and balancing clinic hours with study time. Your holiday moment is not about adding one more “to-do,” but about stepping out of that cycle for a few deep, restorative breaths.
• For the family table: The recipe leans into classic holiday flavors—sweet potato, cinnamon, brown sugar, marshmallows, pecans—and invites a communal vibe. It’s less about perfection and more about presence.

Recipe

For the mashed sweet potatoes

▢ 3 pounds sweet potatoes cleaned (about 3-4 sweet potatoes)

▢ 4 tablespoons salted butter melted

▢ 1/3 cup milk

▢ 1/2 cup brown sugar

▢ 1 teaspoon cinnamon

▢ 2 large eggs lightly beaten

▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

▢ 1/2 teaspoon table salt

For the topping

▢ 1/2 cup brown sugar

▢ 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

▢ 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

▢ Pinch of salt

▢ 6 tablespoons salted butter melted

▢ 1 1/4 cups chopped pecans

▢ 2 cups miniature marshmallows

 

1. Cook the sweet potatoes by roasting or boiling. To roast: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prick the sweet potatoes all over with a fork, then place them on a baking sheet lined with foil and sprayed with cooking spray. Roast for 45-60mins, until soft. Larger sweet potatoes may take longer to cook. To boil: Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into chunks, then boil them in a large pot with enough water to cover them for 10 minutes until fork tender. Drain well, then proceed as directed in the recipe.
2. If you have roasted the potatoes, let them cool and scoop out the insides into a large bowl. Alternatively, transfer boiled potatoes straight to a large bowl and gently mash. Add the butter, milk, brown sugar, cinnamon, eggs, vanilla, and salt, and mash with a potato masher or beat using a hand mixer until smooth.
3. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray, then transfer the mashed sweet potatoes and smooth them out evenly with a rubber spatula
4. In a separate bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, salt, melted butter, and chopped pecans. Mix them together with a fork or whisk, then sprinkle evenly on top of the mashed sweet potatoes.
5. Increase the oven temperature to 375°F. Bake the sweet potato casserole for 25-30 minutes, until heated all the way through and the topping begins to brown.
6. Remove the sweet potato casserole from the oven and sprinkle with the marshmallows. Set the oven to broil, then return the casserole to the oven and cook just long enough for the marshmallows to toast on top. This happens quickly so make sure to watch carefully during this part.
7. Serve immediately (base can be assembled up to 3 days ahead in the fridge, or frozen up to 3 months)

How to Squeeze This into a Busy Residency Schedule

• Prep one afternoon: Roast or boil the sweet potatoes, mash and mix with the filling ingredients, and layer the streusel topping. Cover and refrigerate.
• When clinic ends: Drop the dish in the oven for ~25-30 minutes at 375 °F, then add marshmallows and broil until browned (watching carefully!). This gives you a warm homecoming ritual.
• Invite conversation: As you pull the casserole out of the oven, pause to share how the day went. You don’t need to talk shop unless you want to—just the rhythm of coming together counts.
• Use leftovers wisely: If there’s scooping at midnight or reheating the next day, you’ve earned it. Let the simple sweetness carry you through.

A Final Note

You dedicate long hours to mastering root morphology and patient comfort. In this moment, set the scene with a festive Thanksgiving table instead of a microscope and cassette, because the best part of the holiday is just showing up for the people who show up for you

Dr. Keriann Jimenez is a member of the AAE’s Resident & New Practitioner Committee.