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Sweet Potato or Yam?

There is a difference between a sweet potato and a yam. They aren’t even related yet sweet potatoes are often mistakenly referred to as yams. Sweet potatoes are actually the root of a morning glory vine. A yam is the tuber of a vine grown in Central and South America.

Yams are quite toxic if eaten raw. Sweet potatoes are a good eaten raw and I know for a fact that they will give you a stomach ache if you eat too many. But they are not toxic.

Somehow the word candied just seems to pair with yam. Oh, well, henceforth, it will be Candied Sweet Potatoes around here. Maybe someone should ask the USDA why they require the word yam to accompany sweet potato on package labeling.

 Great old farm truck hauls bushels of sweet potatoes grown on the farm at Big Mill. Potatoes were stacked in the barn and cured. Chloe is sitting on top of the truck

Old Farm Truck and Chloe beside the Potato House

When I was growing up on the farm here at Big Mill we grew lots of sweet potatoes.  My father’s favorite was Hayman, an heirloom sweet potato. They are pale green in color and produce fewer potatoes per acre, but locals declare they taste better.

Everyone saved seed potatoes so we never had to buy the plants. We raised acres of sweet potatoes and folks came from all over to buy my father’s Hayman potatoes.

Sweet potatoes are harvested or dug in the fall. After we dug the potatoes they were cured with a low heat. The potato house is my favorite of all the barns here at Big Mill Bed & Breakfast.

I do believe the Hayman sweet potatoes are sweeter.

This old Dodge farm truck hauled bushels of sweet potatoes to the potato house (right of truck). Chloe is sitting on the truck. The goat really did eat the windshield wipers.

Sweet Potato Fries

Baked sweet potato fries are easy to make and so good for you. They also add great color to your meal. Recipe on Chloe's Blog | https://chloesblog.bigmill.com/hayman-sweet-potatoes

Baked Sweet Potato Fries are delicious!

Recipe for North Carolina Sweet potatoes - they're good for you

Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet potato fries are so good. I love the creamy insides from baking but then that crisp outer edge.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: baked sweet potato fries, baked sweet potato fries recipe
Servings: 3 servings
Calories: 278kcal
Author: Chloe Tuttle

Ingredients

  • 2 large or 4 small red sweet potatoes about 1 1/2 pounds
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  • Wash and peel the sweet potatoes. Slice each sweet potato into large steak fries. Spread on a cookie sheet in a single layer, leaving a space between each fry. Toss with the oil. Sprinkle with salt.
  • Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and turn each fry. Return to the oven and bake 15 more minutes or until the fries are tender and crisp. If you want the fries to be crispier, bake longer.
  • Serve hot. Oh, these are good!

Nutrition

Calories: 278kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 513mg | Potassium: 764mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 32175IU | Vitamin C: 5.4mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 1.4mg
Like this recipe?Follow us on Pinterest: @bigmill or tag #bigmillbb

Heirloom Hayman sweet potatoes have a lighter colored skin and a pale green flesh.

Hayman Sweet potatoes are a special sweet potato that has a yellow flesh and is prized by Sweet potato afficanados for its delicate sweet taste. @bigmill.com | https://chloesblog.bigmill.com/hayman-sweet-potatoes

Hayman Sweet potatoes have a light yellow-green flesh

Chloe Tuttle Big Mill Bed and Breakfast near Greenville NC

If you want to branch out, here is a good Sweet Potato Fritters from Jenifer in New Zealand

Big Mill Bed & Breakfast, Williamston, NC 252-792-8787

 

 

Chloe Tuttle
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