Wednesdays Unplugged – Whipped Sweet Potatoes with apples

"Let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius." ~ Pietro Aretino

 

NOTE: I spend my Wednesdays Unplugged from appointments. It's my day to stay home, enjoy cooking and welcome our kids and grandkids for dinner in the evening. We end our meal with quotes from the Norwegian 'Quote Cup' passed on to me from my grandmother. I share a quote and a recipe here each week, and sometimes some photos of family fun. I love trying new recipes…and love getting recipes you would like to share!

I confess that I love winter for its beauty and the cocooning it inspires… love the slow-down that releases creativity. But, along with everyone else, I celebrated yesterday's warm sun after seemingly endless days of frigid cold this winter. We finally had a day warm enough to start melting snow… amazing what a warm, sunny day can do, both for snow piles and spirits… a reminder that spring will ultimately come!

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

These whipped sweet potatoes have no sugar, just a little maple syrup… so they are not sugary sweet, the flavor of the potatoes come through. I made them as a side to serve with ham and it was a great pairing, feedback was that the potates were especially good eaten with a bite of ham. I baked it longer than the recipe says at a lower temperature to cook with other sides.

WHIPPED SWEET POTATES with apples

• 3 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes, about 6 medium
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter or margarine
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 apple (more sweet than tart)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.Bake sweet potatoes until soft, 40-60 minutes depending on size. Peel as soon as they are cool enough to handle.

Place flesh of potatoes in food processor or large bowl. Add 2 tablespoons butter and maple syrup to hot sweet potatoes. Process to puree, or mash with a fork until smooth. Season lightly with salt and pepper.

Spray an 8-inch baking dish with nonstick spray and spread yams in dish, making an even layer. Peel and slice apple, arrange on top of sweet potatoes. Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter and brush over apples.

Bake, uncovered, until yams are heated through and apples have softened, 25-30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results – Email – Minneapolis Realtor Who Cooks

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