Mashed Sweet Potatoes 030910

5 or 6 large sweet potatoes, peeled
1 stick butter
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 or 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup

Peel potatoes and cut into quarters. Simmer in a large 3-4 quart pot of water with 2 tsp. salt added to water.

After 20 minutes or so, test potatoes with a fork to see if they are fully tender.

When cooked, drain water and return sweet potatoes to pan over still-warm burner (leave burner off or on very low heat).

Add butter to bottom of pan and stir until melted. Using a potato masher, mash the sweet potatoes with the butter, adding salt and pepper, to taste. Add honey to sweeten, stirring thoroughly.

Do not over sweeten the potatoes; the honey should be barely perceptible but it should enhance the natural sweetness of the potatoes.