Friday, May 11, 2007

Coconut Sweet Potatoes

What a surprise success I had tonight! I hadn't planned to post anything today. This is the night when I pull out any produce left in the refrigerator and try and figure out what in the world I can make with them. I came up with yet another broccoli and pasta dish (why exactly did I buy so much broccoli this week?). But the real surprise was the side dish.

I had one really large sweet potato which would have lasted but I felt like we needed something to go with our pasta to break up the boredom a little. My favorite way to have sweet potatoes is mashed with maple syrup and that is what I had planned to do. I'm the only one who really likes it so I wasn't overly concerned that there was only one potato. Then I spotted a partial container of coconut milk and I had a brainstorm!

Much to Kay's horror, I made her try a spoonful of the potatoes. Then, much to my surprise, she ate every speck of it off her plate and said that she liked it! I live for meals like this!

Please excuse the picture. It was very much an after-thought!

1 large sweet potato
1/2 cup coconut milk
1/2 tsp cinnamon
pinch of salt and pepper

Peel the sweet potato and cut it into chunks. Place it in a pot with just enough water to cover it. Cover and boil until the potato is soft and most of the liquid is gone (about 30 minutes).

Drain any remaining liquid and mash the potato. Add the coconut milk (adjusting to the creaminess you desire) and the seasonings. Mix well and serve.

Kay: I didn't want to even try it because I hate sweet potatoes made other ways. But this was actually good. I thought it was sweet. I was surprise that there was coconut milk in it because I hate coconut.

Mom: I was pretty sure I would like this because I'll eat just about anything if it contains coconut milk. Kay does not share my love so I refused to tell her what was in it until after she tasted it. Of course I've tried to use this as an example of why she should try everything but I think maybe I was just lucky this time!

7 comments:

Jacqueline Meldrum said...

Hi Kay and Mom,
What a great idea, I only ever use a sweet potato when I want a change from my normal baked potato and cottage cheese!
I recently bought a block of creamed coconut, thinking it might be handy to have in the store cupboard. Now i know what to do with it!
Well done!
I will let you know how I get on with it!
I wonder what I could serve it with instead of pasta? Any ideas?

Champsleeve said...

All week I've been thinking about what this would go good with besides pasta. Everything I come up with is another type of pasta! The only other thing I can think of is other side dishes. When I'm trying to use up all the little bits of things in the fridge at the end of the week, sometimes I make green beans and broccoli steamed and roasted carrots, etc. This would be a nice additional item.

-Dana

Jacqueline Meldrum said...

You are right, it would be good with a plate of veg! My creamed coconut is at the ready, now I just have to do a shop! I am poorly with a chest infection, so I have just been sending out my fiance Graham for very basic, basics and using what I have in the fridge!

Champsleeve said...

It must be a bad season everywhere. Kay is just getting over her 2nd really bad cold within the past month. She never gets sick usually. Hope you are feeling better soon!

Jacqueline Meldrum said...

Thank you, I hope Kay is feeling better soon too!

Jacqueline Meldrum said...

Hi, I am back, yet again!
For some reason I couldn't get a link to comments on your new past for Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies, so here I am! I have linked to your cunning invention for my post on National Vegetarian Week (here in the UK). hope that's ok!

Champsleeve said...

That is fine. Thanks.

Where is my comment button?! I'll have to check into that.