Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie

A twist on an old favorite, using sweet potatoes and pork.

4 medium-size sweet potatoes or yams
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 3/4 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon-sugar
1 pound ground pork
Dash of pepper
2 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cups water

Oven: 400 degrees

Cook sweet potatoes, covered, in boiling salted water in a large saucepan about 30 minutes or until tender. Drain. Cool potatoes until easy to handle, then peel. Mash them slightly in a large bowl. Beat in butter, a half-teaspoon salt, and the cinnamon-sugar until smooth and fluffy.

While the potatoes are cooking, mix the ground pork with one teaspoon salt and the pepper. Shape into sixteen two-inch patties. Brown patties slowly, a few at a time, in a medium frying pan. Place browned patties in a shallow 6-cup baking dish.

Pour all drippings from pan, reserving two tablespoons; return those to the pan (add butter if needed to make two tablespoons). Blend in flour and one-quarter teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring constantly, until bubbly. Stir in water. Continue cooking and stirring until gravy thickens and boils one minute.

Pour over meat in baking dish. Spread mashed potatoes over all. Bake about twenty minutes, or until bubbly. Serves four.

Technorati Tags: Recipes Food Pork Sweet Potatoes Shepherd's Pie