Because I was sick the entire week before Christmas, I spent the better part of my days watching the Food Network on TV. And I saw a lot of fabulous creations, including a sweet potato souffle-like dish from Bobby Flay. Now I didn't write down exact directions but if you are type-A and need very specific directions, google sweet potato banana pecan bobby flay and I'm sure you will find his directions on Food TV. For those who can use my "wing-it" method, give this a try some time. It was a big hit with my family on Christmas evening. And until I told people, they surprisingly couldn't tell that bananas were in the recipe. Bestie is cringing....she hates bananas and sweet potatoes. Ha.


Monkey Potatoes:

Ingredients:
- a bunch of sweet potatoes
- a few bananas
- some honey
- some brown sugar
- dashes of spices such as pumpkin pie, cinnamon and/or cloves
- dash of salt
- half a stick of butter
- half a cup of fat free half and half (totally makes up for the butter....right?)
- pecans, a bit more butter and two bits more brown sugar for the topping

Directions:
Mostly peel the potatoes and lay them on a cookie sheet. Pop that puppy in the oven and cook until potatoes are easy to mash up. Depending on your oven and how large/small you are making this recipe, it might be a while. About 20 minutes before your potatoes are finished, stick a few bananas on the same pan. (You might want to line this pan with tin foil to make clean up easy.) The bananas will look black and be fragrant when finished. Let all items cool for a few minutes until you can handle them. Squeeze out the banana insides into your stand mixer. It's not rotten- rather at its very sweetest- I promise! Then dump in the potatoes. Turn on the mixer and you know....mix. Add some room temp butter and brown sugar, spices, honey and half and half (or milk or heavy cream or whatever). When it's all mixed up and happy, place in baking dish. Bake at 350 until heated through. Or put in the fridge and bake it tomorrow when your family arrives. 15 minutes before finished baking, mix up the topping pecans, butter and brown sugar. Eyeball it depending on the size of your baking dish. Top the potatoes and stick it back in the oven until finished. Enjoy. I know it's different but I promise it's crazy good!!