Monday, November 13, 2006

Sweet Potatoes (for Auntie Norma)

My MIL told me growing up in Germany they would never eat Sweet Potatoes. They disdainfully considered them animal feed, and only ate white potatoes. But now she loves them as much as me.

They are far more nutritious than white potatoes, with beta carotene and fiber. Anna ate so many of them, pureed, as a baby, that she developed a beautiful golden glow. "Is that baby jaundiced?" an ER pediatrician asked us. When we told her why she was so orangey, she said, "You need to stop feeding her so many sweet potatoes!" Why? To make it easier for you to tell if she's jaundiced or not? Forgettaboutit.

Sweet Potato Fries


Cut sweet potatoes into 1/2 inch thick spears. It is not necessary to peel them, but you may want to cut the skinny edges off. Coat with a thin layer of olive oil. Spread in a single layer on a pan and bake at 450 degrees F. Turn after 10 minutes, and bake 10-15 minutes more until done. Sprinkle with salt or seasoned salt mix. They will be a little soggy, but you can still dip them in ketchup!

Roasted Sweet Potatoes


Dice potatoes, toss in olive oil and chopped rosemary, roast in oven stirring occasionally until done. Season with salt and pepper. Sometimes I mix in white potatoes, pearl onions, and/or whole garlic cloves.

Grilled Sweet Potatoes


Fire up the barby! Slice sweet potatoes on the bias into 1/3 inch thick circles. Coat w/ olive oil, S & P. Grill on high, turning after about 5 minutes, when nice grill marks appear. When done will be soft to the touch.

Auntie Norma, you can also roast them then mash them, mix in a touch of nutmeg and the slightest bit of maple syrup or honey, or grate them with white potatoes to make nice potato pancakes.

Just don't make that horrible American creation, Sweet Potato Casserole, with gooey sickly sweet marshmallows on top!


Aahhhh!


Gross!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very nice , but, I still prefer Aunt Sudie's potatoes...........

Unknown said...

Sweet potatoes still aren't my favorite. If I have to eat them, I like them best roasted within a medley of winter roots. Speaking of, I just bought some YUMMY cream potatoes and parsnips this morning!

Since you are looking for topics and while we are in the genre of vegetables-and-Jenn, why not give us your thesis on why celery is so horrible. Particularly, I would like to know HOW you can be so passionately against the innocuous little sticks. Did you have a traumatic experience with the childhood snack "Ants on a log" or something? Your sister and celery advocate, Steph

Anonymous said...

Oh,Jennifer..thanks a lot..I have just printed your recipes .. all the ways I can cook them...I love them especially with all the different Vegetables I can buy now...Parsnips,celery,peppers,onions,etc I put a little maple syrup on them too and mixed herbs.. mmmm could eat them until they come out of my ears!!Debbie likes the idea of looking 'sunburned' with eating a lot of sweet potatoes...watch out she will be causing a dearth of them now hahaha (she likes to look tanned) :o) Thank you again..xx

Anonymous said...

You are so right, I love sweetpotatoes my favorite way is on the grill with a little olive oel and salt and pepper.
love marion
PS I to would like to know what the deal is with celery.

Anonymous said...

I love sweet potato casserole.

But then again, I am southern and that's what they feed us down here. I am going to try your recipes, though, they sound yummy!

ChickenFlicken

Scribbit said...

Oh these look fabulous! I love sweet potatoes and force them on my family at all times during the year.

Leah said...

mmmmm...sweet potatoes