It used to be almost an unwritten law that sweet potato casseroles had to be made with gobs of brown sugar and marshmallows. As American society has become more health-conscious, many cooks may still serve up cloyingly sugary sweet potatoes, but others have devised healthier and tastier alternatives. A little brown sugar is not bad, but too much smothers the taste of the sweet potatoes.
Baked sweet potatoes
Baked sweet potatoes are wonderful. Scrub the skins, prick them in several places with a fork, and bake them in a shallow pan at 400 F for 30 or 40 minutes, or cook them with the meat at a lower temperature for a longer time. Five minutes or so in the microwave is enough to cook one sweet potato. Adding more potatoes requires more time.
Try stuffed baked sweet potatoes sometime. For every four medium potatoes, slice off a little of one side and scoop out some of the pulp, leaving the peeling and some pulp as a shell. Put the pulp in a mixing bowl and blend in 2 tablespoons of butter, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, 1 1/2 teaspoons of grated orange peel and two beaten egg whites. Stuff this mixture back into the shells, sprinkle the tops with shredded or grated Parmesan cheese and return the potatoes to the oven for about 15 minutes at 350 F, adjusting the time for different temperatures.
Roasted sweet potatoes
Similarly, you can peel and slice sweet potatoes and roast them up to two days ahead of time. Coat with butter--or a mixture of 2 tablespoons of butter, 1/2 cup of sugar (or brown sugar), 1/4 cup of orange juice, 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon and if you like it spicy, 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Place in a single layer on a lightly greased baking pan and roast for 40 minutes at 350 F.
If you are cooking a turkey or other roast, it is easier to peel the sweet potatoes, slice them about two inches thick and arrange them around the meat about an hour and a half before it is done. Baste occasionally with the pan drippings.
Boiled or mashed sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are also good boiled. Cut them into even-sized chunks, boil until they are soft, drain and add some butter to the pan to coat. Mashed sweet potatoes offer a number of variations. Boil as above, and then mash with a little milk and butter. They are good that way, but consider adding some of the following other combinations of ingredients:
apple sauce, vanilla extract, cinnamon
crushed pineapple, juice and all, and ground cloves
chunks of leftover chicken or turkey
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