Sweet Potatoes or Yams?

Sweet Potatoes or Yams?

Sweet Potatoes

  
 Sweet Potatoes are very popular in the south. They have a yellow or orange color and are elongated with ends that taper to a point.  They have two dominant types, pale skinned with a light yellow flesh, which is not sweet and has a dry, crumbly texture.  The darker - skinned variety, which some people think is a yam in error, has a thicker dark orange to reddish skin with a vivid orange, sweet flesh and moist texture.

Yams

  
 The true “yam” is a tuber from a tropical vine.  It isn’t even distantly related to the sweet potato.  The yam is becoming more common in US markets,  and has always been popular in Latin America and the Caribbean markets with over 150 varieties available worldwide.  The yam is much sweeter than the sweet potato and can grow to over 7 feet in length.  The word yam comes from an African word ”njam”,  “nyam” or “djambi”, meaning to eat, and was first found in America in 1676.  The yam has a brown or black skin.  Its skin resembles the bark of a tree and an off-white, purple or red flesh, depending on the variety.  Yams contain more natural sugar than the sweet potato.  They are also moister.

 

 

Sweet Potato Recipes

This dish is creamy with a touch of honey and ginger.  Your kids will love them.  Sweet potatoes are very nutritious.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

    Ingredients:
        2 - cups - Cooked Sweet Potatoes (Mashed)
        3 - Ripe Bananas (Mashed)
        1 1/2 - cups - Soy Milk (or Skim Milk)
        1/2 - cup - Prune Juice
        3 - Tablespoons - Honey
        1 - teaspoon - Allspice (Ground)
        2 - teaspoons - Candied Ginger (Chopped)

    Directions:
        1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
        2) In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except the
            Ginger.
        3) Beat until fluffy.
        4) Pour into greased casserole dish.
        5) Bake 50 to 60 minutes.
        6) Sprinkle with candied ginger.
        7) Serve as a side dish or add 1 (one) extra Tablespoon
            Honey and serve as a dessert.

Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows

This recipe is an update on the buttery sweet dish your grandma used to make.  Serve this sweet potato dish anytime.  It’s not just for Thanksgiving anymore.  This dish can be made with or without the marshmallows.

    Ingredients:
        2 - 40 ounce cans - Sweet Potatoes (Drained)
        1/2 - cup - Butter (Cut Up)
        1 - 20 ounce can - Crushed Pineapple
        1 - cup - Maple Syrup (or more to taste)
        1 - 10 ounce package - Large Marshmallows
  
    Directions:
        1) Heat oven to 350 degrees.
        2) Place sweet potatoes, butter, pineapple, and maple
            Syrup in a 9 X 13 inch glass baking dish.
        3) Using a potato masher, mix well.
        4) Put dish in the oven and bake until bubbly, about 45
            Minutes.
        5) Top with marshmallows and continue baking for 15
            Minutes, until marshmallows are soft but not
            Totally melted.

Sweet Potato, Black Beans and Pork Stew

    Ingredients:
        2 - pounds - Pork Loin (Cut into 1 inch cubes)
        2 - Tablespoons - Chili Powder (Ground)
        2 - Tablespoons - Honey
        1/2 - teaspoon - Salt
        2 - Onions (Chopped)
        4 - pounds - Sweet Potatoes (Cut into 1 inch cubes)
        1/2 - cup - Orange Juice
        2 - 15 ounce cans - Black Beans (Drained)
        1/2 - cup - Chicken Broth
        Roux

    Directions:
        1) Spray large skillet with Olive Oil spray.
        2) Put the pork loin in the skillet and brown on all
            sides.
        3) Add onions and cook until transparent, adding
            Spray if needed.
        4) Add chili powder, honey, and salt and simmer.
        5) Add sweet potatoes, and orange juice.
        6) Add stock; simmer until pork is tender (30 minutes)
        7) Add black beans; simmer until smooth.
        8) In a small skillet, mix 1 tablespoon flour with 1
            Tablespoon butter; stir until smooth.
        9) Add butter mixture (roux) to stew; mix well.
        10) Allow roux to thicken stew.
        11) Serve hot with bread, rice or noodles.

That's all for now.  As always, I hope you find something you can use and enjoy. 
Until next time....
Amah