I Yam what I Yam

I grew to love sweet potatoes as I lived down south for a while. In the bigger cities you could find several road side stands with trailer loads of sweet potatoes, selling real cheap. When we moved north, it is harder to find them, especially off season, they become expensive. What you will see more of in stores are Yams.

What is the difference between a Yam and a Sweet Potato? Both are similiarly nutritious, although the Yam lacks the vitamin A of the sweet potato. A sweet potato is loaded in potassium and five times higher the daily recommendation of vitamin A then that of the yam. Yams are a great source for vitamin C, fiber, and the vitamin B6. Yams help protect against heart disease, and is also thought to be an anti-cancer food.

How to tell them apart?, besides the label at the grocer? Sweet potato ends will taper to a point, with the skin the color of white, yellow, orange or purple.Yams, having over hundreds of varieties, can be white, pink or brownish black, and have a rough and scaly skin. It can be hard to tell them apart with out looking at the label above the stocked produce. Is there a difference in taste? To me, none at all.

I love the yam, sweet potato, but not a big fan of regular potatoes. The possiblities are endless to the dishes you can make with them. Besides the obvious of the pie, I added below two of my favorites.

Texas Road House Loaded Sweet Potato: Cook yam in oven or the faster way in microwave. Poke several holes for ventilation. Bake on potato button if you have that option if not, 5 minutes. Cut open, and spoon out the yam into a dish. Mash, adding a little butter, and brown sugar. Then toss in marshmallows, and drizzle caramel, gently mix. Spoon back into Yam, spray top with cooking spray and wrap in foil. Place in oven and bake additional 10 minutes. Or place on BBQ.

Stringy Fries: Use your fryer, or pan fry. Peel thin strips of the yam into a bowl. When fryer is ready, toss in and fry for a minute or two. Drain onto a cooling rack, and sprinkle a little brown sugar and cinnamin onto them. Enjoy!