Smashed Spiced Sweet Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are a common side dish served at almost any Christmas dinner. How about trying something healthier, by serving smashed sweet potatoes instead? Sweet potatoes are loaded with all kinds of nutrients and are by far better for you than white spuds. This dish is great because it is more savory than sweet. I find that people who like sweet potatoes either like the sweetened, marshmallow topped kind, or they prefer them savory, with chili powder and cumin spices. Either way, give this dish a try and I think you will be pleasantly surprised. Plus, it is super healthy!

Smashed Spiced Sweet Potates
Serves 12 servings, 1/2 cup each
Adapted by: http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/smashed_spiced_sweet_potatoes.html

Ingredients:
4 to 5 pounds sweet potatoes or approx 4 - 5 large spuds
2 tablespoons light butter
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup - no substitutions or it will taste funny
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon lite salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pierce each potato with a fork in several places to vent the potato. Place in the oven and roast until they are soft. This could take as little as 30 minutes or as long as 1 hour 15 mins. It depends on the size of them and your oven.
-Once the potatoes are soft, remove from the oven and let them cool for about 10 minutes.
-Remove the peel from the sweet potatoes. It is best if you cut them in half and then try to remove the peel. Cut the peeled sweet potatoes into chunks and place in a large bowl.
-To the bowl of cut up sweet potatoes, add butter and then mash with a potato masher or an electric mixer until fluffy and smashed. You don't want all the lumps gone because this dish is supposed to be the consistency of a smashed potato, not a mashed potato.
-Add the maple syrup, chili powder, cumin, ginger, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine all ingredients and serve.

Enjoy! :)