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Sweet Potato Recipes

Note: Sweet potatoes are one of the best sources for beta-carotene and Vitamin A.   For varations, try these ideas:

*  Skip praline or marshmallow toppings and serve the casserole with Pineapple-Cherry Chutney.
*  Substitute 1/4 cp orange juice for the apple cider.
* Martha Stewart bakes the potatoes, then blends with low-fat cottage cheese, onions, pecans, and sage.
*  Sliced Granny Smith apples can be mingled with the potato rounds.
* Cooking Light Magazine blends maple syrup and canned adobo sauce into mashed potatoes.

1.  Sweet Potato Praline or Marshmallow

3-5 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/2" thick, or 3 - 15 oz cans sweet potatoes

1/4 cp (1/2 stick) butter, melted, or less if praline topping is used
1 cp maple syrup
1 oz Triple Sec (The orange flavor in Triple Sec is nice, but you can substitute brandy or rum)
3/4 cp apple cider
1/4 cp brown sugar
1/2 t salt
1 t ground cinnamon
1/4 t ground nutmeg
marshmallows, enough to cover 1 1/2 qt baking dish, or praline topping below

1. For fresh sweet potatoes: boil slices for about 10 minutes, in enough water to cover at least 3".   Drain and cool.
2. Pour drained sweet potatoes (fresh or canned) into greased baking dish.
3. Combine butter, liquids, and spices and mix thoroughly
4. Pour mixture over potatoes.
5. Top with praline mixture or marshmallows and bake 18-20 minutes or till hot and marshmallows are slightly browned.

Praline Topping

1/4 cp brown sugar
3 T butter, room temp.
1/3 cp pecans, finely chopped

Blend all ingredients and top sweet potato casserole before baking.

2.  Birchwood Inn

Note: Served only on Thanksgiving at Birchwood Inn. Black Dog restaurant in Cape Cod mashes steamed cubes with some melted butter, chipotle powder, and lime juice.

Ingredients:
3 pounds of sweet potatoes
3 apples, peeled and sliced
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 cup chestnuts, halved and roasted
1 stick sweet butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
2 Tablespoons dark rum
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon mace

1.  Bake sweet potatoes at 400 degrees; cool, peel, and slice. Toss apples with lemon juice.
2.  Butter 14 inch dish. Arrange potatoes and apples; sprinkle on chestnuts.
3.  Heat butter, brown sugar, honey, rum and spices, till sugar is melted. Pour over all.
4.  Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes; baste occasionally. Broil till lightly browned.

3.  Dum Arvi

Source: Harrowsmith Cookbook

1 lb sweet potatoes
1/2 cp ghee (clarified butter) or olive oil
1 small onion
1/2 t ground ginger
1 t ground coriander
1/2 t garam masala
1/2t paprika
1 t salt
2 green chiles, chopped

1. Peel sweet potatoes and chop into 1" cubes. Fry in ghee and set aside.
2. Slice onion and fry in remaining ghee. Stir in remaining ingredients.
3. Cover and bake at 375 degrees for 30-45 minutes, till potatoes are tender.