Brown Butter Garam Masala Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Do you have a certain ingredient that you have to stock up on during the holiday season? For me, it's butter. Both my fridge and my freezer are piled high from October through December, and I still find myself dangerously low sometimes. While a fair share does go towards baking and sweets, I love the richness it adds to savory dishes.

Camotes Enmielados (Mexican Candied Sweet Potatoes) | #SheMadeEllaHace

Somehow it's been over a year since the last time Leslie and I got together in the kitchen for a round of She Made, Ella Hace. Life has this crazy way of passing by so quickly that you don't realize that you've missed spending time with someone until it hits you like a load of bricks, doesn't it? A lot has happened between then and now, but one really cool thing? Leslie wrote a cookbook! It's called Taqueria Tacos—if you're a taco lover (and who isn't), you should really get your hands on a copy ASAP.

Speaking of time and things missed, since today begins Día de Muertos, we are sharing a couple of traditional recipes that are often served on this day. Leslie made some Classic Café de Olla and I made Camotes Enmielados, or Mexican Candied Sweet Potatoes.

Craving Fall Buddha Bowls | A Piece of Sky, A Grain of Rice

Today I'm hosting a book tour stop for A Piece of Sky, A Grain of Rice: a Memoir in Four Meditations by Christine Hale. This book is a little different than my usual read, and left me a bit puzzled when it came to writing my review. So, while the review that follows may seem a bit abbreviated, that is exactly the way that I wanted to present it. I hope you'll give it a chance.

Memoir for poetry fans. At first a bit of a turn-off, but the further I got, the more I became accustomed to her writing style.

Read like angst poetry or journal entries. A way to purge and let go of guilt, shame, self-doubt, neediness, hurt, codependence, and shortfalls.

Honey Balsamic Roasted Sweet Potato with Collard Greens

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Marzetti® Brand. All opinions are 100% mine.

I am basically the worst at making sure there is a good, healthy side dish at every meal. I hate to admit it, but it's true. I tend to focus all of my energy on making sure we have a delicious protein on the table, only to realize that I haven't prepared anything to serve alongside that protein as I'm about to put it on the plate. You'd think that since I know that I do this, I could easily change it...but it hasn't happened yet.

So, I usually wind up scrambling to cook whatever veggie I have in the crisper drawer or the freezer. The problem with this habit is that it usually produces boring veggies. Recently I was introduced to a new product that I have to believe was developed with people like me in mind, Marzetti® Veggie Drizzle™ Finishing Sauce, which is made for adding a splash of flavor to any cooked vegetable AFTER it has been cooked!

Enchiladas de Camote (Sweet Potato Enchiladas) Book Tour

While I love cookbooks in general, there are two types that I consider my favorites—the "personal" kind, aka the kind that tell stories behind the food, share memories, personal photographs and history and the "technical" kind, aka the kind that go deeper into the what, how and why of the ingredients, methods, and recipes techniques. Enchiladas: Aztec to Tex-Mex by Cappy Lawton and Chris Waters Dunn is one of the latter.

I'm happy to be hosting today's blog tour stop for this beautiful cookbook. Large and filled with tons of recipes and ideas for authentic enchiladas, this book is a welcome addition to the Mexican food afficionado and the home cook who likes to delve a little deeper and familiarize themselves with authentic ingredients and techniques from another culture.

25 Sweet Potato Recipes for your Thanksgiving Table

The Thanksgiving table just wouldn't be complete without a sunny dish of sweet potatoes gracing it. Whether you insist on the marshmallow-topped casserole beloved by so many, are a die-hard mashers fan, or a no-nonsense simple and roasted kinda guy or gal, I hope you'll agree that sweet potatoes have earned a quintessential spot on our tables.

If you're family is anything like mine, you might serve them the same way every year...which I totally understand. But if you're looking to shake up your tuber routine (or maybe test out a new preparation alongside the trusted one), I've put together a list of 25 delicious options to add to your Thanksgiving table this year!

Bacon and Apple Sweet Potato Casserole from greens & chocolate
Caramel Coated Sweet Potato Wedges
Hasselback Sweet Potatoes from Busy in Brooklyn
Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole from Cook the Story
Maple Bourbon Mashed Sweet Potatoes from The Roasted Root

Vanilla Sweet Potato Casserole by Nutmeg Nanny

Maple Mashed Sweet Potatoes from EverdayMaven
Maple-Orange Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Orange Butter
Mini Sweet Potato Gratins from Floating Kitchen (pictured)
Oat and Pistachio Crumble Topped Baked Sweet Potatoes from Joy the Baker
Quick 'n Easy Southern Sweet Potato Casserole from It's Yummi

Mini Sweet Potato Gratins by Floating Kitchen

Roasted Potato Medley from Dizzy Busy & Hungry
Rosemary, Olive Oil & Sea Salt Mashed Sweet Potatoes from Ari's Menu
Scalloped Sweet Potato Casserole with Apples from The Wimpy Vegetarian
Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes from Homemaking Hacks
Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Bourbon Maple Candied Pecans and Cranberries from The Roasted Root (pictured)

Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Bourbon Maple Candied Pecans and Cranberries by The Roasted Root

Sweet Potato Almondine from The Chubby Vegetarian
Sweet Potato Casserole | Ruth's Chris Copycat Recipe from Julie Blanner
Sweet Potato Gratin with Goat Cheese, Parmesan, and Thyme from Kalyn's Kitchen
Sweet Potatoes and Carrots with Apple Cider and Thyme from The Nosher
Three Bean Sweet Potato Salad from Kitchen Treaty

Whipped Sweet Potatoes and Bananas with Pecan Streusel

Twice-Baked Jalapeno Sweet Potatoes with Chipotle Pecan Streusel from Creative Culinary
Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes with Feta and Sumac from Kalyn's Kitchen
Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with Taleggio Cheese from Karen's Kitchen Stories
Vanilla Sweet Potato Casserole from Nutmeg Nanny (pictured)
Whipped Sweet Potatoes and Bananas with Pecan Streusel (pictured)

Check out my Pinterest boards for more Thanksgiving Food and Inspiration!


*Mashed Sweet Potatoes on Thanksgiving table photo via Shutterstock

Maple-Orange Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Orange Butter

It's hard for me to believe that there was a time when I didn't like sweet potatoes. Much like cranberry sauce, I only saw them once a year—on the Thanksgiving table. As was the fashion, they smooshed up in a casserole dish and topped with marshmallows. I think there was also brown sugar or something added to the sweet potatoes themselves. Bleck! They were so ridiculously sweet that I just couldn't stomach them.

I'd always give them a little nibble...because I really wanted to like them. So until I was in my 20's, I thought that I didn't like sweet potatoes. Turns out, I just didn't like that sweet potato casserole. One day, while planning what I wanted to contribute to Thanksgiving dinner that year (pretty much everything), I found a recipe in a magazine that used half sweet potatoes and half white potatoes. I can't remember which magazine it was, but that recipe changed my life.

When I slid that first tentative spoonful into my mouth, I realized that I actually did like sweet potatoes. As a matter of fact, I kind of loved them. This was that recipe, only slightly changed over the many years since. I use a mix of sweet potatoes and Yukon Golds instead of Russets now and changed the seasoning a bit, but it was near perfect as written.

And guess what? I don't even mind sticking a few marshmallows on top anymore since the potatoes themselves aren't sickly sweet. Don't even get me started on the first time I made (and tasted) a roasted sweet potato...

Speaking of roasted sweet potatoes, next on my list to try are these Melting Sweet Potatoes. Heck, maybe I'll just make it a sweet potato buffet by adding these Whipped Sweet Potatoes and Bananas with Pecan Streusel, these Mexican Candied Sweet Potatoes, these Brown Butter Garam Masala Mashed Sweet Potatoes, and these Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries to the menu!

Maple-Orange Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Orange Butter

This is the dish that will turn sweet potato haters into sweet potato lovers!


by Heather Schmitt-Gonzalez

Keywords: side vegetarian sweet potatoes maple syrup orange Thanksgiving American fall

Ingredients (serves 12)

for the orange butter:

• 2 ounces (1/4 cup / 4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at soft room temperature
• 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
• big pinch of fine sea salt

for the maple-orange sweet potatoes:

• 2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks
• 1 1/4 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 2-inch chunks (peel if you wish)
• 2 ounces (1/4 cup / 4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at soft room temperature
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper

Instructions

make the orange butter:

Stir the butter, orange zest, and salt together until thoroughly combined. Put into a small dish or a piece of plastic wrap or parchment paper and roll into a log; refrigerate.

Bring to room temperature before using. Can be made in advance and kept in the fridge for a few days, or freeze for longer.

make the mashers:

Combine both types of potatoes in a large pot and cover with water by an inch. Bring to a boil and cook until they are just tender, 12-15 minutes; drain. Return them to the same pot set over low heat until the potatoes are dry, about 5 minutes.

Mash the potatoes until they are slightly chunky—you can do this by hand with a potato masher or you can use a hand-mixer. Add the butter, orange juice, maple syrup, salt and pepper to the pot, mashing and mixing until combined.

Serve potatoes warm, each serving topped with a pat of the orange butter.

Sweet Potato Ham Biscuits inspired by History and Ham in Smithfield

A big thank you to Smithfield Foods and Hunter PR for sponsoring my trip to Smithfield, Virginia. All opinions shared in this article are my own.

clockwise from top left: view of the James River from the lodge at Aberdeen Farm, "Magnolia"  of Smithfield's Porcine Parade, A cotton field in Smithfield county, P.D. Gwaltney, Jr. House

Recently I was treated to a whirlwind 48 hour adventure in which I glimpsed the rich history and culture of Smithfield, Virginia. Before my trip, when I heard the word Smithfield, I associated it with ham. I think that's a pretty appropriate reaction to a town that is home to the world's oldest ham, a porcine parade, and thick humid air that delivers the scent of smoked ham to your senses the moment you step foot in town.

Spice-Swirled Cranberry Sweet Potato Bread | #ThreeLoaves Movement

ONE LOAF FOR YOU.

ONE LOAF FOR A FRIEND.

ONE FOR SOMEONE IN NEED.

That is the premise of the Three Loaves Movement, the brainchild of Jerry from Cooking Stoned. Inspired by his 2010 participation in the Yahoo!'s Ripple of Kindness project, Jerry kicked off this movement in which food is a form of activism. The challenge, for all who are willing to accept it, is to bake three loaves of bread a month (aka one for you, one for a friend, and one for someone in need) that feature sustainable and seasonal ingredients.  Since baking and sharing bread is something that I do on a monthly basis anyway, I loved the thought of taking part in this movement. I say it all the time—not much compares to a freshly baked loaf of bread—comfort, happiness, nourishment.

So, it's November. Obviously pumpkin and winter squash come to mind when I think seasonal produce here in the Midwest. My mind also goes directly to Thanksgiving. A table heavy with seasonal foods for which to share and give thanks. I toyed with the idea of going the savory route and combining brussels sprouts, garlic, onions, and potatoes. And though I didn't go that direction, I may still push them into some soft focaccia dough in the next couple of weeks.

Instead I decided that sweet potatoes were the way to go. I pictures my family's favorite rustic potato loaves, and thought that maybe swapping out sweet potatoes would yield the same great results, but with a beautiful orange hue to reflect the season. But then visions of cranberries and spice started swirling in my head, which transferred themselves to the inside of my sweet potato loaves. Instead of sharing savory loaves, I wound up sharing enriched loaves that were studded with cranberries and punctuated by a sweet and spicy swirl.