Recipe Talk

I am looking for a recipe for potatoes (either sweet or white, although I prefer white)that I associate with Shanxi province. although I also had it once in Beijing and once in Xi'an. It is a simple recipe, I think, in that the potatoes are draped with hard crack caramelized sugar. What I cannot recall is whether the potatoes were stir fried or boiled and how they were served with water that made them crack. I think I recall that we sprinkled them with water at the table, but maybe there was more to it than that because I think we dipped each potato in water as long as they were hot. Anyone know this recipe? I think it is common to northern China.

Thanks