3 Sweet Potato Recipes: Baked, Mashed, and Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are a tasty, healthy treat. They are often associated with holiday meals, but are a great side dish any time of the year.

When I prepare baked sweet potatoes, I make extra so that I can use the leftovers to use for mashed sweet potatoes and/or twice baked sweet potatoes later in the week.

Planning for leftovers when you cook is a great way to save time and to make sure that there is always healthful, homemade food that is ready to enjoy in your fridge.

1. Baked Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients:

• Whole sweet potatoes
• Butter
• Cinnamon or nutmeg (optional)
• Brown Sugar or Brown Sugar Twin (optional)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prick each sweet potato with a fork three to four times. Wrap each sweet potato in aluminum foil. Place potatoes on a baking sheet and bake for 45 - 60 minutes, depending on size. Smaller potatoes will be ready after about 45 minutes, but larger ones may take as much as one hour to bake.

Let your baked sweet potatoes sit in the foil for about 10 minutes before unwrapping. Cut each potato that you plan to use right away and top with butter. Sprinkle with cinnamon and or brown sugar, or Brown Sugar Twin (or your choice of sugar substitute) if you choose to use them.

2.Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients:

Leftover baked sweet potatoes

• Butter
• Milk
• Brown Sugar or Brown Sugar Twin (optional)
• Cinnamon or nutmeg (optional)

Instructions:

Peel baked sweet potatoes, preferably while they are still hot. Cut the sweet potatoes into halves or quarters, to make them easier to work with. Put the potato chunks in a large bowl. If they have been refrigerated or have cooled a good bit, you should microwave the sweet potato chunks before adding in the remaining ingredients.

Add in butter (to taste) and a little bit of milk. Mash the mixture together with a fork or spoon until the potatoes are the consistency you want. If you've never had baked sweet potatoes before, it's a good bet that you'll like them the same way you like regular mashed potatoes, as far as consistency goes. Add in the seasonings of your choice (sweetener, cinnamon, or nutmeg).

3. Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients:

• Mashed Sweet Potatoes
• Marshmallows (optional)

Instructions:

To make twice baked sweet potatoes. Simply place your mashed sweet potatoes in a small casserole dish and bake at 350degrees until hot and bubbly. If you'd like them to be extra sweet, try adding some marshmallows to the top when baking!

Recipe Variation: Different Spices

Depending on your preferences, you may want to use some of the following spices on your baked sweet potato or in the mashed or twice baked dish:

• Maple syrup
• Ginger
• Cloves
• Allspice

I don't recommend adding all of the above, as the flavors will compete. Stick with just a few add-ins, and you'll have a great side dish everyone will love.