Crispy Potato Roast

The Brave Astronaut Clan is heading to the beach for another Thanksgiving.  This time with Mrs. BA's sister and mother.  It should be a fun time.  The menu may be a little less than normal given the beach circumstances.  And that's presuming we get there with the first Nor'Easter heading into town on Wednesday.

I really have to have mashed potatoes, but this could possibly make an appearance - but with regular potatoes - the Brave Astronaut doesn't do the sweet potato. From Smitten Kitchen

Crispy Sweet Potato Roast 

The only thing that you might find exasperating about this recipe is how hard it is to get the measurements just right. I used a 2-quart oval baking dish and needed 5 pounds of smallish sweet potatoes to fill it. If yours are smaller or thinner, you might need fewer pounds. If yours are thicker, you might want to safely buy 6 pounds. It seems safest to buy a little extra, just in case. Mine baked in an hour, but thicker-sliced potatoes could take up to 15 minutes longer. You can absolutely make this ahead of time. It will warm well wherever you go. It can be made up to two days in advance, and still taste as good as day one. 

• 3 tablespoons salted or unsalted butter, melted 
• 3 tablespoons olive oil 
• Coarse salt and black pepper or red pepper flakes to taste 
• 5 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced thin 
• 2 shallots, peeled and sliced thin 

Heat oven to 375°F (190°C). Heat butter and oil together until butter has melted. Pour 2 tablespoons of the mixture in the bottom of a 2-quart baking dish. (Mine is 9.5-by-12-inches, if that helps.) Sprinkle butter/oil puddle with some salt and pepper. Arrange your potato slices vertically in the dish. Add a sliver of shallot between every few slices of potato, if desired. Brush tops of potatoes with remaining butter/oil and season generously with more salt and pepper. Cover dish with foil and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until potatoes are tender and almost fully cooked. Increase oven heat to 450æF (230°C), remove foil and let roast another 10 to 20 minutes, until tops of potatoes are nicely browned. Season well with salt and pepper flakes.