Sweet Potato Bake with Crispy Garlic Topping

Preheat oven to 375 °F (190 °C). Butter a 13 x 9-inch (33 x 23 cm) glass baking dish.

Scrub potatoes under running water; pat dry. Cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) chunks and place in a single layer in baking dish. Cover and bake for about 35 min or until almost tender.

Meanwhile, in a bowl, using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese until fluffy; beat in flour, basil, salt and pepper. Gradually beat in milk until blended. Pour over sweet potatoes in dish. Cover and bake for about 10 min or until potatoes are tender and sauce is bubbly.

Topping:
In a bowl, combine bread crumbs, garlic, basil and butter; sprinkle over sweet potatoes. Broil for about 2 min or until toasted and fragrant.

Cooking Tip: For a more elegant presentation, as in the photo, bake potatoes in the rectangle baking dish, as directed, up to the end of step 3. Transfer potato mixture to an ovenproof, round serving dish and proceed with step 4.

For the Adventurous: Add 1 tsp (5 mL) smoked paprika to cream cheese mixture and add 1 cup (250 mL) shreddedAsiago cheese to Topping.

Healthy Eating Tip: It's always a better bet to get your nutrients from foods rather than supplements and this recipe is one great way to do this. Just one serving of this recipe gives you one and a half times the Vitamin A you need in a day.