Fresh Cooking with In-Season Food: Sweet Potatoes

Everyone knows that cooking with fresh fruits and vegetables (that are in-season) not only is a great way to stretch a buck, it is also the best way to produce flavorful dishes that will keep your family, friends, guests (whomever) asking for more. This time of year there are many wonderful selections: apples, cabbage, leafy greens, sweet potatoes and pumpkins, to name a few. A quick visit to your local farmer's market, grocery store or fresh produce stand on the corner offers a bountiful harvest of in-season crops. Here, we focus on the ever-popular root veggie, sweet potatoes. Often thought of for sweet potato pie, this veggie can be used in both savory and sweet dishes alike! From cookies to salads and the main course, these dishes are sure to be tasty treats that everyone will enjoy!

Appetizers/Soups/Breads
- Sweet Potato Squares with Ham
- Sweet Potato and Apple Soup
- Sweet Potato Spice Bread

Main Course
- Sweet Potato and Ham Hash
- Beef and Sweet Potato Pie
- Sweet Potato and Cranberry Quiche
- Sweet Potato Souffle

Side Dishes
- Jo Ann's Sweet Potato Casserole
- Pineapple Sweet Potato Casserole
- Ambrosia Stuffed Sweet Potato

Desserts
- Butter Pecan Sweet Potato Crunch
- Sweet Potato Pie
- Sweet Potato Cake

* via recipesource.com

-Appetizers/Soups/Breads-

|Sweet Potato Squares with Ham

Ingredients:

2 Lb Sweet Potatoes
3 Tb Olive Oil
1/2 tsp Pepper
1/2 tsp Salt
1 Lb Ham, precooked and sliced
Wooden Cocktail Toothpicks

Mix all ingredients together.

Preheat oven to 375. Cut potatoes into 1-inch cubes. Place sweet potatoes on a lightly greased baking sheet. Drizzle potatoes with olive oil. Sprinkle with pepper and salt. Toss to coat. Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes. Turn cubes twice while baking. Cut the ham into 1/2-inch pieces. Place one ham slice on top of one sweet potato cube. Secure with a cocktail toothpick. Repeat with remaining ham slices and potato cubes. Makes about 40 appetizers.

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