September 25, 2021

A Date with My Sweet

We love sweet potatoes and not just at Thanksgiving which is two months away! I do admit to enjoying sweet potato casserole with crushed pineapple and topped with toasted marshmallows just like my Mom used to make. Hey, this was always on our table and the family still loves it this way. 😊

Fresh dug sweet potatoes at North Union Farmers Market at Shaker Square, Shaker Heights, OH

Fresh dug sweet potatoes

Fresh sweet potatoes from a friends Cleveland garden

Sweet potatoes 🍠 are a yummy comfort food that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack. This gluten free root vegetable is packed with flavor and can be cooked ahead of time and kept refrigerated until ready to use. It does not require a lot of work to turn this humble veggie into a satisfying meal.

Merrifield Holiday Market in McLean, Virginia.

Why not bake up a few sweet potatoes whenever your oven is already in use? Wrap each potato in foil in a 350 degree oven for approximately 40-50 minutes until they are soft and can be easily pierced with a fork. Remove from the oven and let cool. Store in a resealable plastic bag or glass container in the refrigerator (up to five days) until ready to use.

Reheat a precooked sweet potato in a 375 degree oven for 5-10 minutes.

Stuck on what to eat for breakfast? Slit open a cooked sweet potato across the top and spoon in yogurt, cottage cheese or crumbled goat cheese. Drizzle with honey or maple syrup. Top with a handful of granola or chopped nuts.

Granola sweet potatoes

If you enjoy your sweet potatoes mashed, try blending a cup into your favorite cornbread recipe for a moist and delicious bread.

Thanks to Food52 for sharing options for sweet potatoes:

Roast a pan of cubed sweet potatoes with a drizzle of olive or coconut oil, sprinkled with some of the following;

1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, and a pinch of cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
2 tablespoons fresh, chopped rosemary (or 2 teaspoons dried)
1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup, 1 tablespoon grated orange zest, and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons dried, shredded coconut (added 12 to 15 minutes before the potatoes are done)

Toss sweet potatoes with the spices on a large sheet pan and bake in a 400 degree oven for 30-40 minutes.

Sweet Potato Fries