yams

This week's events have left me curious: Exactly what activities does one partake in at a Pig Stein? Or a Yambilee? If you have attended these in the past, I'd love to know. Will anyone be at the James Beard Foundation's Taste America in Las Vegas?

If you know something we've left out, please leave a message in the comments below!

• Las Vegas, NV: Rising Stars Las Vegas — Oct. 21
• Torrance, CA: Oktoberfest at Alpine Village — Oct. 21-26
• San Francisco, CA: Joy of Sake San Francisco — Oct. 23
• Atlanta, GA: Celebrity Chef Tour Atlanta — Oct. 23
• Portland, ME: Harvest on the Harbor — Oct. 23-25
• Mountain View, AR: Arkansas Bean Fest — Oct. 23-25
• Kohler, WI: Kohler Food & Wine Experience — Oct. 23-26
• Opelousas, LA: Louisiana Yambilee — Oct. 23-26
• Las Vegas, NV: The James Beard Foundation's Taste America Las Vegas — Oct. 24-26

To see the rest, read more

While they're often used interchangeably here in the United States, yams and sweet potatoes are not the same thing. In fact, the two are not even distantly related to one another!

Sweet potatoes originate from South America, and come in two different kinds: a pale-skinned variety, which has a thin yellow skin and a crumbly flesh similar to a baking potato, and a darker-skinned variety, which is often confused with the yam. The darker-skinned potato has a thicker, dark orange skin and a moist, soft interior.

Yams, which originated in Africa, are naturally sweeter than sweet potatoes and have a higher moisture content. The skin of a yam, while also dark brown, is dull in color and rough in texture compared to a dark-skinned sweet potato.

The tuberous two are easily confused because they do truly have many similarities. Both are in season from October through March, and can be prepared using the same methods, including baking, steaming, deep-frying, and microwaving. And, of course, both taste insanely delicious with brown sugar and marshmallows!

Source

Although Kwanzaa is relatively new as far as holidays go — it was created in 1966 — the foods used to celebrate it are based on old traditions. The final feast of the holiday — the Karamu — showcases fruits and vegetables that symbolize the past and current growth of African culture. Old family meals are often served in order to share them with the next generation. Some of the great dishes that can be found on the Karamu table include Chicken and Sausage Gumbo, African Squash and Yams, and Fruits with Honey-Lime Sauce. To learn the recipes for these traditional family favorites, read more

One of my favorite things about Thanksgiving dinner is eating the lovely sweet yams. This year I might try this recipe for maple-glazed gingered yams. They look so tasty! — Ladle and Whisk

Candied yams are a tradition of the Thanksgiving meal. But this year why not forego the candied element which involves a lot of sugar or corn syrup and just simply roast the yams instead? Yams and sweet potatoes are so sweet on their own.

Here's how:

4 medium peeled yams/sweet potatoes, cut into 2 inch pieces
(you can precook these in the microwave to decrease roasting time, and save space in your over crowded oven)
2 medium onions, cut into 1 inch pieces
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray a 13x9 baking pan with olive oil cooking spray. Combine all ingredients in pan and spray them lightly. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Stir mixture every 20 minutes or so, and spray them a little every time you do. Bake 35-90 minutes (depending on if you pre-cooked your yams) or until tender.

Variations:
for a little heat add a 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
for a little sweet add a 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
for a little savory add 2 teaspoons fresh chopped rosemary