An annual Thanksgiving favorite. Great depth of flavor, and the marshmallows give it just the right amount of sweet. Not your average boring filler dish.

Foreword: I got instructed on how to make this by my Mom, and I'll always call them "Mom's Sweet Potatoes", but fairly certain her Mom made them as well, and god knows who before that. I bring this up, because there was never a recipe, per se. What follows is my attempt at formalizing one for posterity. So many things can impact the amount of various ingredients used. Boiling time, size of potatoes, personal taste, etc... Use your taste buds, adjust where necessary, particularly in the areas of spices, bourbon, and OJ. Mind your liquids! You are after a good creamy consistency, not too dry and not too runny.

Ingredients

6-8 garnett yams (about 3#)
granulated sugar (about 1/4 cup to start)
brown sugar (about 1/4 cup to start)
butter - melted (use 1/2 stick to start, have another 1/2 ready)
1 tsp vanilla
Bourbon whiskey (about 2 tablespoons, start with 1)
whole milk (about 1/4 cup to start)
dash of salt
dash of cinnamon
dash nutmeg
dash allspice
shredded orange rind (about a teaspoon or two)
pecans or walnuts - chopped fine (about 1/4 - 1/2 cup) OPTIONAL
splash of OJ if more liquid is tolerated
mini marshmallows (you'll use the better part of a whole bag)

Directions

Clean potatoes but do not peel. Boil with jackets on slow boil for 25 mins.

Preheat oven 350 F.

Peel and mash potatoes in a large bowl.

Add butter, starting amounts of dry ingredients, 1/4 cup milk, and 1 tablespoon bourbon. Mix to incorporate.

At this point, check consistency and taste. Add more bourbon to taste, spices to taste, and milk/OJ if a bit more liquid is needed. Re-mix after adjusting.

When good to go, place in baking dish, and heat thoroughly in the oven. About 25-30 minutes.

Remove from oven, spread a generous layer of marshmallows on top, and return to oven until marshmallows begin to turn golden brown (a few more minutes).

Note on Bourbon: If you drink bourbon regularly, just use your daily drinker, or your top shelf .. really won't matter much. You do want enough in to taste it, but don't over-do it. I throw in both tablesooons immediately, but you may want to start with one if you prefer a lighter flavor. If you have no bourbon on hand, go to a liquor store and get one of the "airplane mini's". Bulleit with the Orange label is great. Others work too .. Jack, Jim .. but NOT Johnny unless you want to experiement.

Note on Potatoes: Garnet Yams are the darker ones. If not available, regular sweet potatoes work fine. My mom prefers the yams, and my dad prefers the sweet potatoes, but my mom cooks them and claims my dad never knows the difference - ROFL. Size of potatoes is important, and can change the required amounts. Recipe roughly based on "average" sized potatoes.