Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Sweet Potatoes from Heaven

I love, love, love sweet potatoes.  They are delicious.  I have often been dissuaded from making them since I didn't want them mashed and baking them can take a long time.  Then I found my sweet potato savior!  It is a quick and really easy sweet potato recipe that cooks in about 30 minutes in the oven.  Super easy prep, quick cooking time, and an oh-so-delicious "sauce" to toss them in right before serving.  Read on!

What you need:
2 large sweet potatoes
1 Tbsp. Olive or canola oil
Salt
Optional: Cumin and Chili Powder
1 Tbsp. Honey
1 Tbsp. Butter (or any of the butter-olive oil, butter-canola oil blends)

What to do:
Preheat your oven to 450 degrees

While the oven is preheating, give your sweet potatoes a quick scrub.  If you want to leave the skins on, scrub a little extra.  If not, peel your sweet potatoes next.

Each sweet potato will make about 16 wedges.  I cut my sweet potato in half (not lengthwise - across the short way).  Now, take each half and cut in half.  Cut in half again to get quarters. Cut each quarter in half to get eighths.  With both halves, you end up with 16 wedges.  Here is a handy-dandy little diagram to try and demonstrate what I mean.  Hopefully this means something to you:
Sweet Potato

Now that you hopefully have your wedges all cut up, put them in a bowl, drizzle in the oil olive and a little salt.  If you want to use some chili powder and cumin, now is the time.  A good shake of each should be fine.  Toss the sweet potatoes around so they are coated and then place on a single layer on a baking sheet (I use the non-stick foil, too).  Keep the bowl handy - you will use it again.

Let roast in the oven for about 15 minutes.  Flip the sweet potatoes.  Continue cooking for 15 more minutes.  When the sweet potatoes are done and you are ready to serve, melt the butter in the microwave.  Stir in the honey while it's still hot.  Put the sweet potatoes in the bowl and drizzle with the honey butter.  You may not need all of it - you just want a light, even coating.  Toss gently so you don't break up the potatoes.  Serve!  Enjoy!  They are sooooo good!