Silky Sweet Potato Puree Food

SILKY SWEET POTATO PUREE

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position; heat to 425 degrees.
• Place potatoes on a foil-lined pan; bake 45 to 60 minutes, until tender.
• Peel when cool enough to handle.
• Puree with salt and pepper in a food processor.
• With motor running, gradually add milks through feeder tube, then butter.
• Process until silken. (Can make up to 2 days ahead; store in an airtight container.)
• Reheat and serve.

SWEET POTATO PUREE

Steps:

• Place a steamer insert or a mesh colander in a large pot and add enough water to reach the bottom of the steamer. Place the sweet potatoes in the steamer and bring the water to a boil. Cover the pot, lower the heat, and cook over simmering water for about 25 minutes, until very tender. Check occasionally to be sure the water doesn't boil away.
• Transfer the sweet potatoes to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. With the mixer on low, slowly add the half-and-half, orange zest, orange juice, cayenne pepper, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper. With the mixer still on low, add the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, until incorporated. Taste for seasonings and mix until smooth. Serve hot.

CANDIED SWEET-POTATO PURéE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. and line a baking sheet with foil.
• Prick sweet potatoes in several places with a fork and bake on baking sheet in middle of oven until very tender, 1 to 1 1/4 hours.
• Finely grate enough zest from orange to measure 1 teaspoon and squeeze enough juice from orange to measure 1/2 cup. In a small saucepan melt 4 tablespoons butter over moderate heat and stir in zest, orange juice, sugar, bourbon, nutmeg, and salt, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
• When potatoes are just cool enough to handle, peel and put flesh in a food processor. Add butter mixture and pur e just until smooth. Sweet-potato purée may be made up to this point 2 days ahead and chilled in a 1 1/2-quart shallow baking dish, covered. Reheat purée, covered, in middle of 350°F. oven. Transfer purée to a serving dish and dot with remaining 2 tablespoons butter, letting it melt to form pools.