Essentially this is a smooth potato puree combining both sweet potatoes and russets, then it's spiked with chunks of ripe Comice pear. Very lush.

Sweet Potato Puree with Comice Pear

4 to 5 medium sweet potatoes
1 Yellow Finn or russet potato
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 to 1 1/2 cups milk or half milk and half cream
1 sprig thyme
1 bay leaf
1 firm, ripe Comice pear
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. Peel and dice the sweet potatoes. Bring them to a rolling boil in salted water and cook until tender. Peel and dice the potato and cook separately in boiling salted water. (Both the sweet potatoes and the other potatoes must be fully cooked, or the puree will not be smooth.)
2. While they are cooking, melt the butter in the milk (or milk and cream), add the thyme and bay leaf and steep for about 15 minutes so the milk will be flavored by the herbs. Peel and core the pear and cut into small dice. Pass the potatoes and sweet potatoes through a food mill.
3. Strain out the herbs and add enough of the flavored milk to the puree to achieve the consistency you want. Gently fold in the diced pear and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Serves 6 to 8.