sweet potato – Page 4 – The Pajama Chef

They say necessity is the mother of inventions… and let me tell you, last Tuesday night soup was a necessity for me! It was cold and rainy and I had just come from a terrible class. After class, I went to the grocery store and intended to buy potatoes for my favorite soup in the whole wide world… but forgot until I got home. That’s what happens when you don’t write things down on your grocery list, at least in my world. There was no way I was heading back into the nightmare that is a grocery store in a college time after a school break, nosireebob. My sweet husband offered to go out in the cold and the wet for those potatoes, but I didn’t want him to have to do that. But I still wanted that soup… so I improved. And thus, this soup was born. One day, when it is all grown up, I can tell it the tale of it’s birth on a cold, dark November night… but for now, I can just enjoy it in its infancy.

This is a top-notch savory sweet potato dish, folks. Forget all notions of Thanksgiving’s sweet potato casserole smothered in brown sugar or marshmallows [fact: I’ve never eaten sweet potato casserole with marshmallows… it’s brown sugar topping for me all the way!]. This sweet potato soup is subtly sweet, with just a hint of sweet via the nutmeg and the star of the show, the sweet potato itself. This soup is rich without being heavy, but is warm, chunky, and cozy–everything a hearty soup is destined to be, is called to be, can be.

How’s that for a introduction? Can you tell that I’m enamored with this soup, that I’ve been eating it gladly for days straight, that I haven’t dished leftovers into tupperware to freeze for future lunches for my husband? I hope you can, because I’m not sure how else to sum up my feelings about this soup. Amazing!

Sweet Potato Soup

Ingredients:

7 cups sweet potato, roughly peeled and chopped [for me, this was 2 large]
1 cup carrot, diced [2 medium]
3/4 cup onion, minced
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon dried sage
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
12 ounces fat free evaporated milk

Directions:

Combine sweet potato, carrot, onion, and chicken broth in a large stock pot and cook over medium heat until the sweet potato is soft [hint: the smaller the pieces of sweet potato, the faster it will cook… and stir constantly or you may end up with a not-so-nice layer of crusty potato at the bottom of your pot…whoops!]. Mix in sage, basil, pepper, and nutmeg, then bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and then add the milk, stirring constantly until fully combined. Simmer for at least 15 minutes or until heated through.

Click here for the printable: Sweet Potato Soup

Question of the Day: What has been your latest invention? Doesn’t have to be food-related at all! Please share in the comments 🙂

Sweet potato fries are all the rage lately [but is the phrase “all the rage” really all the rage? Or is it way outdated?]. We eat these as a side dish or a snack, and I even eat them as a meal sometimes [just like one of my roomies used to!]. But Ben prefers some meat with his meals… oh boys, whatcha gonna do with them! 🙂 I have seen them on the menu at so many restaurants, chains and local places alike. I’ve ordered them a few places only to be disappointed that they are actual fries–fried in a fryer–not the baked, soft, crispy, sweet potato goodness of these fries. Annnnnd since they are baked, you get all the taste [and health benefits… shhhh!] of sweet potatoes, with the crunchy satisfaction of fries, without all the grease, salt, fat, and other bad stuff. Though traditional fries do taste so good sometimes! Also, for those who are concerned and do not like Thanksgiving sweet potatoes… these bear no resemblance, so have no fear. These are goodies that should make an appearance many times a year!

Baked Sweet Potato Fries with Sweet & Spicy Garlic Dip

Servings: 2
Time: 60 minutes
Print

for sweet potatoes

Ingredients:

1/2 pound sweet potatoes, roughly peeled and chopped into 1/4″ sticks or wedges
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon olive or canola oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
cooking spray

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place prepared potatoes in a large bowl. Add oil, salt, and pepper and toss to coat. Lightly grease a baking sheet with cooking spray, and then spread potato slices in an even layer across the surface of the pan. Try to keep the slices in a single layer to regulate baking; use a second baking sheet or bake in 2 batches if necessary. Bake potatoes for 30 minutes, using a spatula to flip the fries every 10 minutes. Fries will be done when light brown and crisp to the touch.

Notes:

I often am impatient while cutting the potatoes and end up making the fries larger than 1/4″, so I have to cook them longer, for a total of about 40-50 minutes, so feel free to experiment with your oven and personal preferences. Also, this is just a basic recipe. Sometimes I will add 1/2 teaspoon of basil and 1/2 teaspoon of oregano, or other herbs and/or spices to the fries. Feel free to experiment with your favorite flavors! I do find that I prefer plainer fries with the following dip.

for dip

Ingredients:

1/2 cup fat free sour cream
1/2 cup Miracle Whip [I have never tried this with mayonnaise, but imagine the taste would be similar.]
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Mexican-style chili powder [I prefer this one but any should work.]

Directions:

In a small bowl, mix all ingredients. Adjust spices to taste. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes for best taste. Keeps up to one week in the fridge.

Note:

If you are sensitive to spicy foods, use a milder chili powder or reduce amount. This sauce is also excellent in a panini, and I bet it would be good with pita or bagel chips, though I have yet to try it.