Spiced New England Sweet Potato Pie With a Bourbon Kick

Ingredients

• 2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 1 & # 8260, 2-inch chunks
• 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1/2 cup bourbon
• 3 eggs
• 2/3 cup instant nonfat dry milk powder, crystals
• 1 cup water
• 1 pie shell, 9-inches and unbaked
• 1/2 pint heavy cream, sweetened and whipped
• candied ginger, chopped

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

2. 2

   In a 3-quart saucepan, combine the sweet potatoes and enough water to cover them; heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce the heat to low; cover and simmer 15 to 20 minutes or until the potatoes are fork-tender. Drain well.

3. 3

   In large mixing bowl, use a potato masher to mash the sweet potatoes with maple syrup, brown sugar, vanilla, butter, salt, spices, eggs, and bourbon until well blended. (Sweet potatoes have a coarse texture to them, so there will be some very small lumps that give the filling a textured look.)

4. 4

   Stir the milk crystals into water and add to the sweet potato mixture; spoon into the pie shell. Bake in preheated oven for one hour or until filling is just set in the center. If necessary, cover the edge of the pie crust with foil during the last 20 minutes of baking to prevent overbrowning.

5. 5

   Cool the pie thoroughly on a wire rack to serve at room temperature, or cool slightly, then cover and refrigerate to serve cold later. Garnish with whipped cream and candied ginger.

6. 6

   Cook's Tip: This pie can also be made without using a crust. Pour ingredients into a buttered 9-inch pie plate and bake 40 minutes at 375 degrees F. or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.