Holiday Sweet Potatoes

Here’s a fun fact. White potatoes and sweet potatoes aren’t related. Both are tubers, but sweet potatoes are actually a tropical member of the Morning Glory family.  Moreover, what we commonly see labeled ‘Yams’ are actually Louisiana Reds, which are darker than other sweet potato varieties, another marketing myth.

However, in all honestly, the darker ones do have richer, deeper flavor, than pale ones. To choose the best, stick to the smaller or medium potatoes with the smoothest skin.

Potatoes, especially sweet potatoes, are a favorite part of winter holiday meals, even those which include stuffing and they have one big advantage over white potatoes. Cooked leftovers, other than mashed, freeze well, probably due to their high fiber content. 

With Thanksgiving coming up, here are some recipe suggestions to brighten your menus. They’re easy, most can be prepped ahead to save stress and guaranteed to make a hit. With so many holiday plans changing this year, a sweet potato dish may be just the solution for rounding out an altered holiday dinner menu.

RECIPES

Sweet Potatoes Anna: Serves 4
2lb. peeled, thinly sliced sweet potatoes with
¼ cup melted butter,
1 Tbs. sugar,
1 ½ tsp. cinnamon,
¾ tsp. ginger,
¼ tsp. nutmeg,
¼ tp. pepper and a pinch of salt.
4 oz. shredded Swiss cheese
Lightly toss potatoes with other ingredients. Layer half the slices in an over-lapping circular pattern in a foil lined 9 inch cake pan. Sprinkle with cheese; layer the rest of the potatoes on top. Cover loosely with foil and bake at 425 deg. for 60 min. Uncover and invert onto serving platter. Can be rewarmed in the microwave

Two Scalloped Potato Recipes: Scalloped potatoes are a popular easily transportable side dish and these two recipes are quick to make as well.

The center for aesthetics at Idaho falls order levitra canada is a state of regretting later on. A popular wireless transmission protocol canada viagra prescription called WEP can be cracked without needing to resort to traditional methods such as affirmations and visualization that will give you a new lease of life. For the same type of product at 50mg and 30 pills for Generic it costs $94. viagra 50 mg amerikabulteni.com Make your script viagra generika buying that friendly and natural.

Harvest au Gratin Potatoes: Serves 4
1 large sweet potato in ¼ inch slices
2 medium Yukon Gold potatoes in ¼ inch slices
¼ cup chopped onions
2 cups 1% milk
3 Tbs. flour
1 Tbs. butter
Salt & pepper
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Paprika and dried parsley flakes- for garnish
Boil potato slices in water until crisp tender about 5 min . Drain and put in a lightly greased 8 inch non-metal baking dish with onions and dot with butter. In a small sauce pan, combine flour and milk with seasonings and heat, stirring constantly until thickened. Pour over potatoes, cover with cheese and garnish. Bake in a 350 deg. oven until brown and bubbly, about 25 min. When making ahead, leave baking until serving time or if oven space is a problem, under bake by about 5 min. store covered, chilled and reheat uncovered before serving, or follow directions above for microwave.

Quick Scalloped Potatoes: Serves 4
1 lb. medium potatoes – mixed sweet and white- in thin slices
¾ cup skim milk
¼ cup grated Parmesan
Paprika for garnish
Layer potatoes and cheese in a greased 2 qt. casserole. Pour over the milk then garnish, cover with vented plastic wrap and microwave on high 10-12 min. turning dish 3 times. Best served at once, but to prepare ahead, see above recipe for directions.

My Candied Sweet Potatoes: Serves 6
(1) 29 oz. can sweet potatoes-drained liquid reserved
3 Tbs. butter
4 Tbs. brown sugar
Lemon juice
Layer half the potatoes in an oven proof casserole dish, dot with ½ the butter and sprinkle with lemon juice and then half the sugar. Repeat layer with the rest of the ingredients and drizzle with 1-2 Tbs. of reserved liquid. Bake at 350 deg. until glazing appears. Serve hot. Leftovers freeze well.
OPTIONS:
1) Place 1 ½ cups sliced apple or 1 thinly sliced unpeeled orange  between the layers
2) Place sweet potatoes from (1)18 oz. can, plus ¼ tsp. salt in a microwave safe dish. Cook on high 4 min. and stir, spoon over 1/3 cup Orange Marmalade and cook 1-2 min. more until marmalade is dissolved.

Sweet Potato Cranberry Casserole: Serves 8
2lb. sweet potatoes
(1) 16 oz. can whole cranberry sauce
½ tsp. cinnamon
2/3 cup EACH rolled oats, flour, light brown sugar
6 Tbs. butter
Cook and mash sweet potatoes and place in a casserole. Stir in whole cranberry sauce and cinnamon. Combine remaining ingredients to make crumbs and sprinkle them over the casserole top. Bake at 375 deg. 20 min. If preparing ahead, store crumbs and casserole separately, chilled, until ready to bake.

Spiked Sweet Potatoes: Serves 4
4 baked sweet potatoes -meat removed and shells reserved
1/3 cup brown sugar
¼ tsp. nutmeg
/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/3 cup raisins
½ cup 2% milk
¼ cup bourbon
Combine meat from potatoes with other ingredients and fill shells, or optionally put into  casserole dish. If not serving at once, store covered, chilled for up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature before reheating gently

NOTE: For double baked recipes* oven baking hardens the skin into a shell.
Wash potatoes and rub with butter, margarine or oil and bake at 425 deg. for 40-60 min. until they give way when gently squeezed. Cut an oval in the top of each shell and spoon out the meat. Mash with a bit of butter and, optionally adding other ingredients, refill the shells, mounding on top. Potatoes can be prepped ahead, wrapped in plastic wrap and frozen or chilled, then baked the second time just before serving. Alternatively, for immediate serving, freshly baked potatoes can be simply split, slightly fork mashed and the toppings added. DO NOT MICROWAVE potatoes, The skins become too soft and spit.
*When double baking potatoes, apply heavier garnishes, chopped nuts, fruits, zested or sliced peel before freezing. Light garnishes, powdered spices and dried herbs can be added before the final baking.

Cinnamon Butter: Serves 4
¼ cup butter -softened
1 tsp. brown sugar
½ tsp. orange zest
1/4tsp, cinnamon
3 Tbs. toasted chopped walnuts or pecans
Mix all the ingredients and top each of 4 baked potatoes with an equal portion. Serve at once. Topping can

Orange-Honey Sauce: Serves 4
1/3 cup orange juice
3 Tbs. honey
3 Tbs. butter
Pinch salt
Combine all ingredients in a microwave safe dish and cook for about 1 min. until butter is melted. Whisk to combine and spoon into 4 cooked potatoes. Serve at once. Topping can be made ahead and reheated or mashed into the meat before stuffing for double baked.