A Different Kind of Sweet

Sweet Potato Chocolate Chip Muffins - This recipe was a HIT!  It was made for a cookout and received many compliments and many more bites.  These may not look as wonderful as they taste, but they are so worth it!  The secret ingredient is the sweet potatoes, making the entire muffin so fluffy and moist. 

The secret ingredient

We started out with cooking the potatoes in boiling water, peeling and putting in a food processor.  Mixed with all the ingredients and popped into the oven, these delicious treats were so easy.




Mixing it up




Pour in the batter and bake at 350


Sweet Potato Chocolate Chip Muffins

Ingredients
2 medium Nash Produce sweet potatoes
1 cup flour
2 cups light brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
2 cups mini chocolate chips

Directions: 

• Cook sweet potatoes in boiling water until tender.  Remove skin and puree in food processor. 
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt and baking soda.  In another bowl mix together oil, sweet potatoes and eggs.  Stir both mixtures together.
• Fold in chocolate chips and spoon into muffin tins (lined with paper cups or greased).  Fill to top and bake for 15-20 minutes. 
• Cool on racks and serve.

*We used regular muffin pans, but think it would be wonderful as mini muffins!

Voila!

Salad with Sweet Potatoes?

When most people think of a salad, they think green.  Not this salad!  When first starting this recipe, we weren't so sure how tasty it could be.  I mean really, sweet potatoes? Corn?  It was delicious! 



Ingredients - sweet potatoes, corn, onion, parsley and feta

First we peeled the potatoes and cut them into small cubes. 



Peel and dice



We shucked the corn and cut off the kernels.  Then we blanched the sweet potatoes and corn in boiling water for a few, drained and cooled them.




Blanching



In the meantime, an onion was chopped and the dressing was made (recipe below).   



Salad dressing ingredients


After the corn and sweet potato mixture was cooled, we added the onions, parsley and feta.  (We used a sweet onion and dried parsley, but you could substitute red onion and/or fresh parsley)  Then poured the dressing and stirred.  It was best after being chilled for an hour or so, allowing all the flavors to set in.  The first taste was delicious but we decided to add a can of drained black beans to it and it was perfect!  I only wish the final picture had the black beans in it - such a beautiful dish and everyone was a fan.




Sweet Potato Corn Salad

Recipe for Sweet Potato Black Bean and Corn Salad

Ingredients:
2 cups peeled, diced Nash Produce Sweet Potatoes (about 2 medium sweet potatoes)
1 1/2 cups corn kernels (about medium ears of corn)
1/2 cup of finely chopped onion (we used sweet, but you could use red)
1/2 cup of crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup of chopped fresh parsley
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
Dressing (recipe below)

Directions:

• Blanch diced sweet potatoes and corn in boiling water until tender (about 3 minutes).  Drain and cool.
• In a medium bowl, mix sweet potatoes and corn with chopped onion, feta cheese and parsley.  (add black beans here if desired - highly recommend this ingredient!)
• Toss with desired amount of dressing, adding more as needed.
• Refrigerate at least 1 hour and stir before serving

Dressing:
1/3 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin

Wisk all ingredients together in a small bowl.


Easter Sweets

If you are from the South, you are probably used to having the traditional ole sweet potato casserole.  (with or without marshmallows!).  To start with our first recipe and to follow up an after-Easter post, it seems natural to give you the tried and true sweet potato casserole.

There are many variations to this recipe so as you cook, tweak it to your tastes. 

Sweet Potato Casserole, Mmm Mmm!

Sweet Potato Casserole

8 average size sweet potatoes
1 tbsp. vanilla
3-5 tbsp. brown sugar (to taste)
1 stick butter
1/4 tsp. cinnamon to taste
1/4 - 1 tsp. nutmeg to taste
1/2 cup pecan pieces

Marshmallows (lg. or miniature)
Cinnamon sugar (opt.)

Boil (or bake) sweet potatoes until done. Remove peeling from hot potatoes and mash well, removing all strings.  We used an electric mixer to make sure it was creamy and fluffy. Add all ingredients but marshmallows and cinnamon sugar; mix well.   Place the potato mixture on the bottom of a lightly greased dish.  Sprinkle cinnamon sugar for added flavor. Bake about 350 degrees until hot. Remove from oven and put marshmallows on top. Place again in oven until the marshmellows are browned. 

Serves 10 to 12.

This is ALWAYS a hit!  Stay tuned for our next recipe that puts a different twist on the taters!

What's Cookin?

Tomorrow will  be a big day in the Nash Produce kitchen!  We are going to start cooking some delicious and versatile recipes with our sweet potatoes.  Stay tuned and be sure to give us your feedback!

We hope you will learn how you can cook sweet potatoes in many ways - sweet/salty, side dish/main dish/dessert, raw/cooked, etc. 



 Hope you're hungry!!

Planting Seeds

Welcome to the Nash Produce blog!  We have created this as a space for people to come to learn and grow, to understand farming and the hard-work behind it all and for ideas on how to cook and create with the fruits of their labor.  Through these posts, you will be able to join in and learn the stories of the farmers, the sweet potato crop and the end results. 

You're invited to make this interactive - ask questions, give your feedback and always let us know what's been cookin'.




Bedding sweet potatoes and Leggett Farms


The creation of this blog seemed to be in perfect timing.  As we begin planting the seeds for growth and learning with you through this outlet, our farmers are planting seed and laying beds for this years crop.  As you follow this blog, you will feel as if you are a part of the sweet potato story, excited to watch each root take place and sprout into a bountiful crop.  Join in watching the entire cycle here.  Ask questions, try the recipes and most importantly stay sweet!