Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Bananas, Bourbon and Vanilla

Bananas and bourbon make this
sweet potato dish sweeter indeed.
This is such a good and comforting.

Ingredients:
3 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into 2-inch cubes
3 each very ripe bananas, peeled and sliced
1 cup heavy cream
1 small vanilla bean, split and scraped
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon bourbon
1 tablespoon soft butter
2 quarts cold water
2 teaspoons salt or to taste

Directions:
Bring the water and 2 teaspoons salt to a boil,
add the potatoes and cook until tender – about 15 to 20 minutes.
While the potatoes are cooking, in a separate pot, combine the cream, honey, brown sugar, vanilla, bananas and orange juice.
Bring to a boil and cook on high for 5 minutes.
Remove vanilla bean and mash well with a potato masher.
When the potatoes are tender, drain well and add to the cream mixture. Cook on medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes and mash
gently with a spoon leaving some chunks of potato.
The mixture will thicken slightly as the potatoes absorb the cream.
Stir in the bourbon and the soft butter.