Never been a big fan of brined anything. I might be me, but I’ve never really tasted a difference that made the process worth the time and effort. Maybe I’m doing it wrong.
At our house I do a traditional stuffed turkey. The stuffing is a corn bread/sweet french bread dressing with sausage, apples, and dried cranberries. The turkey is salted and peppered inside and out, slathered in butter on the outside and then a layer of bacon across the top for the first ½ of cooking. Before it goes into the oven I inject brandy into the breast legs, and thighs and pour a 3 bottles of white wine into the bottom of the roasting pan for basting and gravy later on…..
Found the following recipe last year for sweet potatoes…..People went crazy for it and insisted it become tradition…..(I did add toasted shredded coconut to the top)
Sweet-Potato Coconut Purée
• 6 pounds medium sweet potatoes
• 1 cup well-stirred canned unsweetened coconut milk
• 3 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar, or to taste
Preheat oven to 450°F with rack in middle.
Prick sweet potatoes in several places with a fork, then bake on a foil-lined baking sheet, rotating potatoes halfway through baking, until very soft, 45 minutes to 1 hour. When cool enough to handle, halve sweet potatoes and scoop flesh into a bowl.
Meanwhile, bring coconut milk, brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt just to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
Stir into warm sweet potatoes, then pulse in batches in a food processor until smooth. Season with salt.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Sweet-Potato-Coconut-Puree-350611
-Gregory