Gourmet Sweet Potatoes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9 x 13 baking dish. In a large bowl, mash sweet potatoes. Mix in salt, 1/4 cup butter, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, sugar, and milk. Transfer to the prepared baking dish. In a medium bowl, combine the softened butter, flour, brown sugar, and chopped pecans. Mix with a pastry blender or your fingers to the consistency of course meal. Sprinkle over the potatoes. Bake 30 minutes in a 350 degree oven until topping is crisp and potatoes are heated through.