Sweeeeeeet potato
September 25, 2008
Meet my latest obsession, the sweet potato.
And just in time because I have eaten myself sick of hummus, my previous obsession.
I used to only eat them at Thanksgiving, smothered with brown sugar and butter. So fattening and full of sugar that I would end up 20 pounds heavier and in a diabetic coma by the time I got up from the dining room table. Which is why I only made them once a year.
Posted by Chris @ 8:46 am
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So how do make them now??
I love to make sweet potato fries - baked in the oven after I slather them with olive oil and spices. Mmm!
Chris says: CLICK THE LINK!
I made sweet potato fries, just like you mention.
September 25th, 2008 at 8:59 amOur family Loves sweet potatoes. We use them in place of regular baked potatoes often. Just some salt and pepper and butter- yum!! These are sliced, so how are you cooking them?
September 25th, 2008 at 8:59 amI love to make sweet potato french fries!
September 25th, 2008 at 9:13 amThey are so easy and really good.
Slice thin like fries, spray pam on cookie sheet, lay potatos in a single layer.
bake at about 400 until crispy.. We like them real crispy, so the last several seconds, I place them under the broiler
yummy :)no other seasoning is required, they are that good!
I just LOVE sweet potatoes! A small, local steak place got me turned onto baked sweet potatoes. When the Hubs plans on throwing steaks on the grill, he puts his regular potato and my sweet potato on as well. I just eat it with the tiniest bit of butter. Melts in my mouth! Yum!
September 25th, 2008 at 9:34 amBaked sweet potatoes topped with black beans, hot sauce and cheese: one of my favorite lunches!!
September 25th, 2008 at 9:34 amOhhhh. You pour the excess oil off(?!). I’ve tried to make homemade fries out of regular potatoes and sweet potatoes and they’ve always ended up limp and uh, kinda gross. Yours (I clicked the link) look crispy and awesome. Maybe I left in way too much oil or something. I will try it again. Do you need to soak these first like regular potatoes?(something my mom always did but I don’t know why).
September 25th, 2008 at 9:40 amYUM! I love sweet potatoes but I’m currently in the middle of my very own hummus fix (dipped with Stacy’s Simply Naked pita chips).
September 25th, 2008 at 10:00 amPerfect timing - do you know what my grocery store has in the pre-washed veggie section (along with carrots, slaw, etc)? PRECUT SWEET POTATO FRIES! Now off to check the link - you’ve probably mentioned that in your post . . .
September 25th, 2008 at 10:13 amdarn - ashley beat me to it… I have just discovered the love that is SPF. Add garlic, too, and … yum. Must go home and make some tonight…..
September 25th, 2008 at 10:16 amOoooo! I love these.
We chop them up, put them in a pot, and pour just enough whipping cream on top to cover the potatoes. Then we boil until their easily pierced with a fork. Drain the potatoes, but save the cream. Whip the potatoes with a hand mixer, adding in the reserved cream until you get the consistency you like.
No sugar, no diabetes risk, but sweet enough! Yum!
September 25th, 2008 at 10:16 amcrap. and I didn’t read your comment (or click the link) first. my stupidity knows no bounds today.
September 25th, 2008 at 10:17 amMy contribution to Thanksgiving dinner each year is mashed sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes, milk, butter, vanilla, sugar, and marshmallows. And it counts as a vegetable, simply because one of the ingredients has the word “potato” in it. Genius.
September 25th, 2008 at 10:24 amThat photo has me in a serious SP craving! I can totally appreciate the obsesssion, as I am pregnant and one of my “must have” foods is the lovely sweet potato… also preferred smothered with brown sugar and butter. (It’s for the baby, you know.) Love reading your blog every day. It inspired me to do my own.
September 25th, 2008 at 10:29 amYummmmmmmmm. I make my Thanksgiving sweet potatoes with Southern Comfort, but the rest of the year I love sp fries.
September 25th, 2008 at 10:51 amI only know 2 ways of making sweet potatoes–the Thanksgiving way and the french fry way.
Will you share new recipes you discover? Thanks
September 25th, 2008 at 10:56 amOven fries are the way to go!
September 25th, 2008 at 11:27 amSweet potatoes are suppose to be the best veggie you can eat too! So if you have to fry them up - at least know there’s some good stuff left in them???? YUMMY goodness!
September 25th, 2008 at 11:29 amLOVE THEM! I get these great frozen sweet potato fries so I can get my fix quick and easy!
September 25th, 2008 at 11:35 amSounds ‘lish…
September 25th, 2008 at 12:02 pmThese look really great, thanks for sharing.
September 25th, 2008 at 12:13 pmThose are so yummy!!!
September 25th, 2008 at 12:19 pmmmmmmmm. So good. I didn’t discover sweet potatoes until I was 18 at the Outback Steakhouse. De freakin licious. I am so excited for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
September 25th, 2008 at 12:19 pmI was just going to tell you how to make sweet potato fries, but it seems you have mastered them already.
My aunt lives on the things, slathered in the “EVOO” and taco seasoning, dipped in lowfat ranch.
I have no other wisdom regarding the sweet potatoes.
September 25th, 2008 at 12:59 pmI LOOOOOVEEEE Sweet Potato Pie! Oh man! I think it’s even better than Pumpkin Pie! Doesn’t seem as sweet to me.
Also, someone mentioned Stacy’s chips! Oh man! Those are the greatest, and I could easily OD on them!
Kathy in West Texas
September 25th, 2008 at 1:27 pmSweet potatoes are also good in a pork stir-fry. You probably need to pre-cook them slightly since stir-fry is cooked so quickly. Just the pork (I use thinly sliced breakfast chops cut into strips), the sweet potatoes, and some thinly sliced onion served over steamed rice. Very good!
Also…have any of you heard of the Sweet Potato Queens? They’re a group of crazy women based in Jackson, Mississippi. (I’m a Southern gal myself!). I think their website is http://www.sweetpotatoqueens.com.
September 25th, 2008 at 1:35 pmEver have curried sweet potato?? DELICIOUS!!!
September 25th, 2008 at 2:04 pmTry this! It’s the best sweet potato recipe EVER– delicious and beautifully colorful.
Here is the recipe–
2 1/2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cut in approx 3/4 inch pieces
Dressing:
1/3 cup oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 Tbsp ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp minced garlic
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 ground pepper
Cook potatoes in water to cover until fork tender, approximately 15 min. Drain and place in a large bowl. While hot, add half of the dressing and toss to coat. Refridgerate, covered, to chill.
Before serving add vegetables and remaining dressing. Mix gently and then add toppers, if desired.
Vegetables:
2 cups diced zucchini
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 1/2 cups corn
2/3 cup sliced scallions
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
Toppers:
6 slices crisp bacon, crumbled
Chris says: Sweet potatoes AND bacon? Hold me.
September 25th, 2008 at 2:26 pmMy friend gave me an awesome recipe for Sweet Potato Quesadillas–SO good. Grated sweet potatoes, chopped onion, olive oil, cumin, some chili powder—cook onions until tender, then add grated sweet potatoes and spices and put on a flour tortillas (or gluten free tortillas?) and grill w/ a little cheese. Serve w/ salsa and sour cream/non-fat yoghurt. I love this recipe!
Chris says: OMG that sounds so good….
September 25th, 2008 at 3:22 pmI am just about off my hummus obsession. it has been going strong all summer long. I love Sweet Potatoes any way!
September 25th, 2008 at 3:59 pmI doesn’t get much better than chunky Sweet Potato Fries with a spicy Mayo dipping sauce. Yummy in the tummy!
September 25th, 2008 at 5:35 pmI just bought some yesterday. (OK, I bought Bob Evans brand warm up in the microwave sweet potatoes. Maybe I’ll get the real ones next time!
September 25th, 2008 at 5:54 pmWe just poke them with a fork, wrap them in foil and bake them for about an hour. When done, the skin just peels off and you have delicious side dish.
Yum!
September 25th, 2008 at 6:36 pmOh, I love sweet potatoes. I don’t even use butter, I just throw one in the microwave for about 8 minutes, cut it open, sprinkle generously with pepper, and dig in. YUM.
September 25th, 2008 at 6:38 pmI’m so glad you reminded me of this awesome recipe that I keep a link to in my “favorites”: Addictive Sweet Potato Burritos http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/bean_lovers/93761 I’ll be adding those ingredients to my grocery list!
September 25th, 2008 at 8:05 pmWell, I thought I was the only one that could eat myself sick of a hummus obsession. What were you eating with the hummus? I was spreading it all over everything bagels from Costco. Couldn’t get enough of the stuff.
I cannot get hooked on sweet potatoes though. If I did, I only know how to make one thing with them, and that’s sweet potato souffle. I’d gain 50 pounds in no time!LOL
September 25th, 2008 at 9:23 pmhttp://www.ncsweetpotatoes.com/index.php?option=com_garyscookbook&Itemid=32
i noticed a swap of sweet potato ideas - one of my all time favorite foods (hummus is on the list too). above is a link for a website that is perfect for the sweet potato novice or sweet potato amateur (Thanksy only sweet potato consumers).
BTW: love your blog - have just bookmarked it!
September 25th, 2008 at 10:48 pmOH, how I LONG for sweet potatoes - they don’t have them where I currently live!
My favorite way to prepare them (other than w/olive oil/sea salt - baked on high heat way…) is to prepare them like Potatoes Anna (?-think that is right) which usually uses regular ‘taters.
Slice them THIN (I am able to do it by hand, or use a mandoline slicer,) prepare a half cup (or more) of melted unsalted butter, - place the potatoes in a prepared pan (I have used a springform pan - lined with foil on the bottom -up to the ridge so butter doesn’t leak out) making a solid single layer (like your lining a pizza with pepperoni.)
Brush atop the layer with butter, sprinkle lightly with salt/pepper and parmesan cheese - and continue on up. Bake in 325 oven until fork tender. Even people who hate sweet potatoes love this…
Sweet potatoes are one of the first things I fed my kids when they were ready for solids.
OH, and I’ll have to find my favorite sweet potato pie recipe for you!
September 26th, 2008 at 4:09 amI use sweet potatos in my vegetarian chili. I bake the sweet potatos first, then mash them and add them to the chili as it’s cooking. They cook down into the mix and make the chili richer and more robust (both in texture and flavor).
September 26th, 2008 at 8:00 amRoast them with onions peppers and butternut squash, and garlic, drizzled with olive oil. Perfection!
September 26th, 2008 at 8:24 amPersonally, I like sweet potatoes with honey! You should try it!
September 26th, 2008 at 9:45 amMy mother told me that when they would come in from school (back in the 30s) on a cold day, my grandmother would serve baked sweet potatoes (actually I think those skinnier ones are yams)as their after school snack. They would peel and eat them as if they were a banana. My kids loved them too.
September 26th, 2008 at 5:14 pmI’m in New Zealand, we have “kumara” here - quite like your sweet potato. When I lived in the US for a couple of years, I found them very similar. We get red and golden kumara, one has more white flesh and the other is golden-orange and moister when cooked. A roast dinner here wouldn’t be complete without roast kumara alongside the roast potatoes. And last night we had fish and chips from our favourite take-away - there’s nothing like fresh fresh fish from our local waters with kumara chips (fries)!! Plus I didn’t have to cook them myself…
September 26th, 2008 at 9:03 pmI have cooked with sweet potatoes for many years…was quite surprised by the Thanksgiving recipe used in the USA, they would be far too sweet for me I fear. We are having them wrapped in foil on the barbecue for dinner tonight with a side of Tasmanian Salmon and a salad.
They are excellent in curries, as a roast vegetable, a substitute for pumpkin and fabulous in soups. I make a roasted sweet potato & red lentil soup…roasting them beforehand really intensifies the flavour. I used to cook in a long daycare centre and the children just adored anything sweet potato…a sweet potato & zucchini sauce for pasta was a real favourite.
They are also surprisingly easy to grow in the garden, just plant an old one that has started to sprout, they multiply underground and are just divine and so fresh.
September 27th, 2008 at 2:01 amSweet potatoes are on the list of foods I refuse to eat now that I’m an adult. I was admitted to the hospital this summer and one morning I was asleep when they came to get my dinner order. My mother decided I would not like the soup/sandwich option and ordered me the pork chop/sweet potato option. My plate went back to the kitchen untouched that night.
September 27th, 2008 at 8:54 pmJust had to chime in- it has been awhile since I commented.
I love anything sweet potato! Here is my favorite
You can make a Sweet Potato hash:
Brown chopped celery, 1 clove of garlic, onion and at least a pound of smoked bacon (cubed) in 1tbs of butter and 1tbs of olive oil. remove from pan - add diced cubed raw sweet potato (pretty small dice so that it will cook evenly) and a little 1/2 cup chicken stock and a healthy dash of BOURBON - to deglace the pan. Pour another shot for yourself if it is after 5 pm… Cook the little nuggets of heaven until fork tender (do not OVER COOK under penalty of death) - put the celery onion and bacon back in the pan, mix well serve immediately (this recipe doesn’t hold- partly because I take huge spoonfuls out and shove them in my mouth..and it should look “hashy” not like mush… but I digress)…. serve with roast pork, roast chicken (even fried eggs for a Sunday Morning breakfast)
I save this for winter… don’t know why… but I could swear that I just saw a snowflake… so I am headed to Hannaford Supermarket…
Later skater… love the blog - you rock.
I do have another recipe for Sweet potatoes and bourbon… will dig around for it… must be a theme with me…must have at least 20 more recipes for the sweet “padayda”…
September 28th, 2008 at 1:24 pmI’m off to make yogamum’s recipe. MMMMMMMMMMM.
September 28th, 2008 at 6:14 pmTruly an underestimated starchy tuber! I love the baked SP best, but the olive-oil-and-sea-salt-SP-fries-in-the-oven rock pretty hard, too. Not just for Thanksgiving anymore!! Yummmmmm.
September 29th, 2008 at 11:01 amChris - I made your recipe for dinner tonight - most delicious!! There are NO leftovers!
I’ll just have to make it again….very soon. 
Thanks.
September 29th, 2008 at 7:53 pmTwice-baked Sweet Potatoes
September 29th, 2008 at 8:21 pmBake potatoes, scoop them out and add neufchatel cheese, a touch of brown sugar and cinnamon. Fill the shells and top with chopped pecans. Put them back in the oven until the nuts are toasted. It’s like eating pumpkin pie!