Sweet Potatoes October 31 2016
One of the side dishes my mom requests I make for Thanksgiving is Sweet Potatoes. While I believe she initially meant the "canned and covered in marshmallow with syrup" kind, she has fast become a fan of healthier versions. Here are two easy, healthy recipes to make this fiber-filled, nutrient-packed root vegetable a crowd pleaser.
ROASTED SWEET POTATOES
What You'll Need
- 1 lb of Sweet Potatoes
- 2 teaspoons of Olive Oil
- course ground Salt and Pepper, to taste
What You'll Do
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees
- Line a shallow baking tray, or a cookie sheet with a lip, with foil (for easier clean-up). If you want, spray the foil with cooking spray to prevent sticking - although the Olive Oil on the potatoes will help.
- Scrub the Sweet Potatoes with water and thoroughly dry
- Slice your Sweet Potatoes into 1/2 thick rings. Then, cut those rings into quarters / cubes.
- When done cutting, put Sweet Potato cubes into a large Ziploc / Freezer bag.
- Take one teaspoon of Olive Oil and drizzle across cubes. Grind Salt and Pepper to taste.
- Shake up in bag (this is when my mom does her best Mick Jagger impersonation and sings, "Shake It Up" ala "Start Me Up")
- Add your second teaspoon of Olive Oil and your Salt and Pepper into the bag and shake again. Lather, rinse, repeat.
- Pour out your now-coated cubes onto your foil-lined baking pan.
- Roast for approximately 30 minutes or until cubes are tender
- Enjoy!
BAKED SWEET POTATOES WITH APPLES, NUTMEG AND CINNAMON
What You'll Need
- 4 medium Sweet Potatoes
- 1 medium Apple (Macintosh, Gala - one slightly sweet and good for baking)
- Nutmeg and Cinnamon, to taste
- Butter or Butter Substitute (optional)
What You'll Do
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees
- Scrub the Sweet Potatoes with water and thoroughly dry
- On each Sweet Potato, cut two small 'vents' - one on the top and one on the bottom.
- Wrap each Sweet Potato individually in foil and put in oven, baking for approximately 45 minutes until tender
- While the taters are baking, core and thinly slice your apple. I leave the peel on for color and slight crunch, but removing the peel is your prerogative.
- Take the baked Sweet Potatoes from the oven and carefully open each foil pack.
- Slice opens the Sweet Potatoes lengthwise.
- Inside, add your Butter or Butter Substitute, if you choose, and three Apple Slices.
- Top with a dash each of Nutmeg and Cinnamon.
- Wrap each Sweet Potato back up in their foil packs and put back into the oven for 5 minutes to bake the apples
- Take out, open and enjoy!