Simple Roasted Potatoes

I swear, this is the last recipe for a while (if you can call what I plop on these pages "recipes"), but there was a lot of eating and cooking over the holidays and if I don't write it down here, I'll forget how to do it. (And, yes, there will be no formal measurements here. Sorry.)

Simple Roasted Potatoes
3 enormous sweet potatoes or yams
4 big "baker" Idaho or Russet potatoes (or any mix of potatoes/squash you like, I suspect)
Olive oil
1/4 to 1/2 of one of those clear plastic containers of fresh Rosemary
1/4 to 1/2 of one of those clear plastic containers of fresh Thyme
1/2 to 1 full head of garlic (or several cloves)
1 sweet onion, big dice
Salt and pepper

Peel and chunk up the sweet potatoes/potatoes. If I had to guess, 1 inch-ish pieces. Put them in a big kettle, cover with water. Bring to a boil on stove top, adding an ample amount of salt as water comes to a boil. Let them roll away for 15-20 minutes, depending on how big your chunks are. You DO NOT want them totally fork tender. The idea is to just give them a head start on the stove so you don't have to roast forever in the oven.

While they're boiling, prepare your herbs. Rosemary looks like pine needles. Pull the green part off the stems and chop finely. Thyme leaves are really tiny already. Pull them off the stalks and give them a quick once-through with your knife, allowing them to release the essential oils. Separate one head of garlic. Smash each clove with the back of your knife so the papery peels come off easily. Then give the whole pile a rough chop.

When the potatoes are done, drain and spread in a single layer on cookie sheets/jelly roll pans to let the potatoes cool a little so you can handle them. Make sure there's some room for the heat to circulate ... two pans is better than one crammed full pan. Then drizzle some olive oil over the potatoes, drop your herbs, garlic, salt and pepper over them. Add the onions and mix it all up. Spread back out to one layer, roast at 375 until done fork tender. I took mine out once and flipped them around just so the bottom didn't get too burnt.

This will make your house smell SOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOOD!