LOADED SMASHED SWEET POTATOES

Prep time:  10 minutes
Total time:  60 minutes
Serves:  12

A great appetizer that combines the light sweetness of sweet potatoes and traditional loaded potato toppings!

Recipe by Nick Evans 

Ingredients:

2 strips thick bacon
3 large sweet potatoes, cut into quarters 

1/4 cup olive oil

Salt and pepper

1/2 cup sour cream

4 ounces cheddar cheese, grated

Fresh chives

Directions

• Cook bacon until crispy, either in a skillet or baked in the oven. Once the bacon is crispy, let cool and chop into bits for topping. Set aside. 
• Preheat oven to 350ºF. Cut off the ends of the sweet potatoes, then cut them into quarters. Pour olive oil on a baking sheet and rub potatoes on both sides to coat. Sprinkle potatoes with salt and pepper.
• Bake potato pieces for 25-30 minutes until they are fork tender. Then let cool briefly until you can handle them.
• Use a small plate to smash each potato down a bit. Return smashed potatoes to baking sheet.
• Bake smashed potatoes a second time for 10 minutes to crisp them up a bit.
• Remove potatoes from oven and top with sour cream, shredded cheese, crispy bacon bits, and fresh chives.