Maple Bourbon Mashed Sweet Potatoes

I know it's been a while, but I'm back with new recipes!  I've finished my second year of medical school (what?!) and am knee deep in studying for Step 1 Boards (yikes).  It'll all be over June 5th, so until then, I'll be sticking to quick and easy recipes, albeit still utterly delicious.  Hope you enjoy!

I've been experimenting with this recipe for a couple of months, and it is now ready to be shared with all of you!  Huzzah!  I have always loved mashed potatoes, but I've been hesitant to make them on my own because I knew they would not be as good as my dad's.  He is the master of mashed potatoes, seriously.  They were a mainstay in our dinner rotation growing up, and they were always insanely delicious.  How could I live up to such greatness?  However, when this maple bourbon sweet potato combination came to me, I knew the time had come to give it a go.  So, after learning all of my dad's secrets, I now present the foolproof method to cooking the best mashed potatoes.

Maple Bourbon Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Time: 30 minutes
Serves 4-6

The secret here is to create a double-boiler set up to ensure that the potatoes do not burn while you allow the flavors to meld.  You'll want to have the potatoes in a pot that easily sits on top of another pot of boiling water.  See the pictures below.

Ingredients:

2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2" pieces
2/3 cup milk
2 TBS butter
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 TBS bourbon
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

1.  Fill a medium pot with enough water to cover the potatoes and bring to a boil.  Add the potatoes and cook for 10-15 minutes, or until the potatoes are easily pierced with a fork.

2.  Meanwhile, in a separate small pot, heat the milk, butter, maple syrup, and bourbon over medium heat until simmering, stirring occasionally.  Be careful not to boil.  Bring a second, smaller pot of water to boil.

3.  When the potatoes are soft, drain them completely.  Place the pot back on the heat to evaporate off any remaining water, shaking occasionally, leaving the potatoes nice and dry.  Mash the potatoes with a masher.

4.  Place the pot on top of the second pot of boiling water.  Add the milk mixture, salt, and pepper and stir to combine.  Continue to heat for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, allowing the flavors to meld and the mixture to thicken.  Salt and pepper to taste, and serve immediately!