In a casserole or baking dish, melt 1 tablespoon of butter and grease bottoms and sides of dish.

Wash sweet potatoes (or yams). Cover with water in a large pot of salted water (1 teaspoon salt per quart of water); bring water to a boil. Boil potatoes until fork tender (about 45 minutes). After potatoes are cooked, allow to cool only enough so that you can handle them, and peel them while still hot.

Quarter the potatoes and arrange in baking dish. Melt the butter with the remaining ingredients and pour over potatoes, stirring to coat.

Bake in a preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until potatoes are tender, basting and turning occasionally to keep potatoes from drying out. Remove potatoes from oven and cover with foil for 15 minutes or until ready to serve.