Ina Garten's Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes · Faith Middleton's Food Schmooze

Ingredients

• 3 sweet potatoes (medium sized, scrubbed (12 - 14 oz. each))
• 5½ tablespoons butter (unsalted, at room temperature, divided)
• 1/2 cup shallots (minced (2 shallots))
• 1 teaspoon thyme leaves (fresh, minced, plus 6 sprigs for garnish)
• kosher salt
• black pepper (freshly ground)
• 1 egg (extra-large, lightly beaten)
• 4 ounces taleggio cheese (small-diced (6 oz. with rind))