Checkout this colorful and seasonal meal. Photo by Heydon Hatcher Recipe by Isaac Winburne, Documented by Heydon Hatcher

‘Twas a crazy week here in our house, so when we opened up our box of veggies to discover a cornucopia of autumnal veggies that hint at impending cooler weather, we couldn’t help but salivate at the thought of sweet, creamy mashed potatoes. Since summer crops like hot peppers still abound, we obviously and probably not surprisingly spiced up these ‘taters. We paired this velvety side with some chimichurri covered pork chops, a spicy melon-y salad, and invited some pals over. It was a fun and yum time.

Ingredients

• 6 or 7 small to medium sweet potatoes
• Salt and pepper
• 1 serrano
• 1 jalapeno
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 2 shallots
• 2 sticks of unsalted butter
• 4-5 oz of good quality half and half

Photo by Heydon Hatcher.

Skin or peel the sweet potatoes and cut into quarters (they will boil faster this way). Put potatoes into a pot and boil for half an hour. When potatoes hit the 20-minute mark of boiling, finely chop shallots, serrano, jalapeno, and garlic. Put these ingredients (sans garlic) in a skillet on low/medium heat with a half-stick of butter. Salt and pepper this mixture. Add garlic 1 minute after shallots and peppers. Cook down for 3 to 5 minutes.

Drain potatoes and keep a little water in the pot. Add one and a half sticks of butter in inch chunks and 10-12 grinds of salt and pepper.

Mix skillet contents and all buttery juices with sweet potatoes. Stir, mix, and mash those potatoes, peppers, alliums around assiduously. Salt and pepper this liberally, about 8 to 10 full grinds.

Pour half and half (we used Mill King) in the pot whilst thoroughly stirring and mashing on very low heat. Add 6-8 salt grinds. Turn on “Stir It Up” by Bob Marley for stirring inspiration. Let the mash sit with the lid on for a minute or two after reaching the consistency you prefer, stir a little more and taste. Season as needed, and voila! Spicy taters for your enjoyment. Let dreams of fall lull you into a potato coma. **Serves about 6 folks.