Purple Sweet Potatoes Recipe
As seen in the 2027 Culinary Calendar
Ingredients
1 tbsp. olive oil
3 purple sweet potatoes, scrubbed
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 4- or 5-ounce package goat cheese, at room temperature
3 tbsp. softened butter
Zest of 1 large orange
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Brush the sweet potatoes with oil, wrap each in foil and bake for about 45 minutes, or until tender. Unwrap and let cool.
2. Meanwhile, mix the cheese and butter until well combined.
3. Halve the potatoes lengthwise and slit the flesh without piercing the skin. Gently open each half and fill with one-sixth of the cheese mixture. Return to the oven for 5 minutes before serving to warm the filling
4. Remove from the oven and grate orange zest over the potatoes just before serving. Serves 6.
The Big Book of King Cake
Whether you like yours plain or filled, sugar-dusted or iced, king cake lovers have strong opinions on their favorite flavors, bakeries and traditions surrounding that oval-shaped Carnival creation. Author Matt Haines has had his fill, and then some, eating his way through more than 80 varieties. In his new book “The Big Book of King Cakes,” Haines explores king cake history, culture and the bakers that make them, along with colorful photos from food photographer Randy Krause Schmidt. Unlike the king cake, this is one Carnival treat you don’t have to wait until Twelfth Night to enjoy.
DID YOU KNOW?
The first king cake “babies” were actually dried fava beans, which were baked into the cakes for Carnival feasters to find for good luck. Alternatives to the plastic baby can also include sweetened nuts, such as almonds or pecans, coins, and plastic or porcelain animals or figures. More than 1 million king cakes are sold each year in Louisiana, so good luck finding your own baby!
