The Sweet Potato is one of the most versatile vegetables and also one of the most nutritious.  In fact, the Center for Science in the Public Interest ranks the sweet potato as the #1 most nutritional vegetable and rated it significantly higher in nutrients than the Idaho potato, spinach or broccoli. The sweet potato was ranked highest at 184. All other vegetables studied were ranked in nutritional value between 83 and 24. 

Yet, most of us purchase them only once a year and make candied yams or sweet potato soufflé that is required eating on Thanksgiving along with Turkey, Dressing and Green Bean Casserole.  With all of us more conscious about healthful eating, this fantastic vegetable is becoming more popular every year.  I am not sure why such a sweet vegetable is always cooked with added sugar but there are many other ways to take its complexity as a base and build flavors with sweet onions, herbs such as Parsley, Sage or Thyme, curry powders, hot peppers, ginger and garlic and so much more, there really are no limits!

One of my favorite recipes for Sweet Potatoes uses Sweet Italian Sausage, Leeks, Thyme and Parmigiano Reggiano in a nice winter meal that only needs an Arugula and Pear salad to go with it.  Other vegetables to pair with sweet potatoes are apples (of course), root vegetables such as Carrots, Parsnips, Turnips and Greens of all types.  Once sweet potatoes are cooked tender they can be mashed with butter and cream, seasoned and fried in a skillet, made into potato pancakes, sweet potato French fries, or try a baked sweet potato with brown sugar and pecans. 

Sweet Potato and Sausage Gratin

• 1 lb. Sweet Italian Sausages, casings removed
• 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups thinly sliced leeks or onions
• 2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/8" thick
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme (you can also add Parsley, Sage, or even
• Rosemary)
• 3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
• salt & pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Cook sausage in a large skillet to brown, crumbling well as you cook.  Drain sausage and pour off all but 2 tablespoons drippings in the skillet.  Add onions or leeks and cook 5-10 minutes until tender. Arrange 1/3 of potatoes in a baking dish along with 1/2 of sausage and 1/2 of onions.  Dot with butter, sprinkle with thyme, 1/3 of cheese, & salt & pepper.

Repeat with another layer of potatoes, sausage, onions, butter, thyme, cheese, salt & pepper.  Final layer should be potatoes, salt & pepper, thyme and cheese.  Pour broth into dish and bake for approx. 20-30 minutes until potatoes are tender and gratin is bubbly.  Cool slightly before serving. Serves 4-6.

From the Garden

The Tasteful Garden grows over 45 varieties of culinary herbs and over 45 types of heirloom and hybrid tomatoes as well as other gourmet vegetable and pepper varieties all of which are sold through their on-line and retail stores.  They enjoy growing their our own food and hope to teach other beginner gardeners how to do the same. The Tasteful Garden greenhouses and retail store are located on a 16 acre property in Chulafinnee, Alabama which is directly between Birmingham, Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia.   At their store they have organic fertilizers, natural worm castings, gift baskets, herbal scented soaps and candles, garden tools and kitchen gadgets as well as cooking and gardening books to provide more information about growing and using fresh herbs and vegetables.

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