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A better way with sweet potatoes

One of the traditions of Thanksgiving is a casserole of mashed sweet potatoes, blanketed with a layer of marshmallows and baked. The basic idea of mashed sweet potatoes is a good one, but for my taste, the thing with the marshmallows is overpoweringly sweet and really is a detriment rather than a contribution to the finished dish.

Here's a simple way to make a mashed sweet potato casserole that is simple, elegant, good.

Begin by baking your sweet potatoes in the oven until tender.

Scoop out the insides.

For every two cups of sweet potato, add

3 TBS butter
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup cream
a grind of black pepper
1/4 cup bourbon

Mash it up, well. Dot the top with butter and, if you like, sprinkle with chopped pecans. Brown it in a 375 degree oven for 20 minutes before serving.

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