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Sweet Potatoes or Yams?
 | | Commonly seen sweet potato |
There is much debate on the difference between these two foods, but call it what you will, most all of us know the delight in eating these holiday favorites. Although, this years cool season did not yield great quantities or sized potatoes, we still feel they are a signature late season crop that should be part of your box. With the low yields, there was really not enough to go out into the regular season CSA boxes, so you Bridge folks are the lucky receivers of our tiny gems.
These (typically) orange-colored roots are natives of Central and Southern America and one of the oldest known vegetables around. There are mentions of the sweet potato as far back as 10,000 years ago in Peru! These potatoes don't come out of the ground sweet - they undergo a curing process to develop their natural sugars, which release slowly into the bloodstream, so eating them doesn't spike a person's blood- sugar. In addition to slow-release sugars, sweet potatoes are high in Vitamins B6, D, and A and also contain high amounts of magnesium, iron, and potassium. Once these potatoes come home, they should be stored in a cool, dark, well-ventilated place not above 60 degrees. This versatile root can be baked, roasted, boiled, stir-fried, or steamed. Once cut up though, like a regular potato, sweet potatoes oxidize quickly, so keep the chunks submerged in water until they're ready to use. Below is a sweet potato recipe that goes beyond the standard casserole with marshmallows.
Crockpot Chicken with Apples and Sweet Potato
Ingredients:
- 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
 - 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch cubes
- Sea salt and cracked black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1/2 C. red onion, chopped
- 1 C. unsweetened apple sauce
- 2 t. apple cider vinegar
- 1 T. curry powder (or cumin if you're not a curry fan)
- 1/2 t. ground ginger
Directions:
1. Layer the sweet potato chunks and chicken breast chunks in the bottom of a slow-cooker.
2. Season with salt and pepper.
3. In a small bowl, combine garlic, red onion, apple sauce, cider vinegar, curry powder, and ginger.
4. Pour the mixture over the chicken and sweet potatoes.
5. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and the sweet potatoes are tender.
6. Serve alone or over rice.
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