Sweet Potato Splurge: Creative Sweet Potato Recipes for Every Course of Your Thanksgiving Dinner

​As we all say goodbye to Halloween, preparations for the next holiday is swiftly approaching.  Thanksgiving is a holiday beloved by everyone, and for foodies it’s a festive opportunity to challenge your culinary skills and make your favorite dishes in new, innovative ways.  Sweet potatoes is a Thanksgiving table staple, but rather than going the tradition route of baked sweet potatoes or marshmallows and sweet potato casserole here are some delicious, creative recipes I found that will satisfy this cherished holiday dish and delight you and your dinner guests.  Sweet potatoes are not only delicious, but also are high in vitamins and contain healthy carbs for those who are looking to make their holiday treats healthier.  The following recipes include sweet potato tots, skinny buffalo sweet potatoes and cinnamon and spice sweet potato bread.

Appetizer:  Sweet Potato Tots    

photo is property of realfoodrn.com

Begin your holiday festivities with this sweet and savory starter. First you peel your sweet potatoes and then steam them until they are soft. Then you blend them in a blender or food processor until they are in small pieces. Roll them into bite-sized balls and roll in parmesan until completely coated. Then bake them in the oven for 10 minutes at 425 degrees.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups sweet potatoes
• 1 cup grated raw parmesan cheese, plus more for rolling tots in
• salt and pepper to taste

 
http://realfoodrn.com/baked-sweet-potato-tots/
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Side Dish:  Skinny Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

​photo is property of notenoughcinnamon.com

Since buffalo chicken is a beloved football-watching treat and football goes hand in hand with Thanksgiving, these skinny buffalo chicken stuffed sweet potatoes seemed like the perfect side dish for the occasion.  First bake sweet potatoes on a baking sheet for 30 minutes at 400 degrees. Then cook chicken in a large pot on medium heat for 30 minutes, when done drain, and shred chicken using two forks.  Combine buffalo sauce ingredients in a saucepan on low heat until sauce thickens, and add in shredded chicken. When the sweet potatoes are done, cut them down the middle and place buffalo chicken inside.  Top with blue cheese and desired herbs.  

Ingredients:

• 7 medium sweet potatoes (the ones with the orange flesh), skin on
• 30 oz / 800 g skinless, boneless chicken breast
• 7 tbsp blue cheese dressing or ranch dressing cilantro or parsley, optional

Buffalo Sauce:

• 2/3 cup Frank's Red Hot Original Sauce
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 tbsp white vinegar
• 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp cornstarch + 1 tbsp water 

 
http://notenoughcinnamon.com/2016/01/20/skinny-buffalo-chicken-stuffed-sweet-potatoes/

Dessert:  Cinnamon and Spice Sweet Potato Bread

 photo is property of averiecooks.com

Nothing says Thanksgiving like warm sweet potato bread for dessert. First steam sweet potatoes, peel and dice into small chunks.  Then put them in a bowl with a little bit of water, cook in microwave until soft, drain water and mash sweet potatoes until they form a puree. Combine wet ingredients, eggs, oil, buttermilk, vanilla, and sugar in one bowl; and the dry ingredients, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and all other spices in another bowl.  Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, and then the sweet potatoes and stir until it is completely combined and forms a batter.  Cook batter in a greased loaf tin 60 minutes at 350 degrees. 

​Ingredients:

• about 1 1/2 cups mashed sweet potatoes (2 medium or 1 very large)
• 3 tablespoons water
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup buttermilk (or yogurt, Greek yogurt, sour cream, or buttermilk powder)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• pinch salt, optional and to taste

 
http://www.averiecooks.com/2013/04/cinnamon-and-spice-sweet-potato-bread.html