Sweet Potato

Not a relation of the potato at all, the sweet potato is a member of the morning glory family. There are several varieties of sweet potato, and their flesh, which may be white, orange or yellow, ranges from mealy to moist and watery, and their skins may be white, yellow, red, purple or brown. Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes are softer than the other varieties when cooked.

Sweet potatoes can be cooked as you would a potato — roasted, boiled, mashed or fried, but their soft, slightly sweet flesh makes them an ideal ingredient in cakes or sweet dishes, as well as in breads, soups and casseroles. Sprinkle them with brown sugar, dot with butter and roast them. Sweet potatoes don’t store for as long as potatoes but will last for 1 week if kept in a cool, dry place.