Happy Sweet Potato Month!

Want a vegetable that is power packed with vitamins and nutrients, add sweet potatoes. Nutritionally, sweet potatoes are an excellent source of vitamin A, potassium, vitamin C, B6, riboflavin, copper, pantothetic acid and folic acid. But, did you know that sweet potatoes, come from the tropical lowlands of Central and South America and it is thought that Christopher Columbus is the one who, introduced the sweet potato to Europe.

Here are two kid friendly sweet potato recipes.

Sweet Potato Fries

2 lbs fresh sweet potatoes

1-2 tsp vegetable oil

Peel sweet potatoes and cut into sticks or wedges. Toss with oil in a bowl. Spread out on a baking sheet and bake about 30 minutes at 375 degrees or until browned and tender. Sprinkle pieces with a little salt and lemon juice or with a little cinnamon and sugar, if desired. Very Yummy.

Sweet Potato Biscuits

2 1/2 cup Bisquick mix

1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 cup mashed sweet potatoes

1/2 cup milk

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Stir all the ingredients together until a soft dough forms. Place dough on surface sprinkled with Bisquick: roll Bisquick to coat. Shape into a ball and knead 3 or 4 times. Roll 1/2 in thick, cut with a 2 1/2 in round cutter dipped in Bisquick. Place with edges touching on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

Sweet Potato Science

Now, that we have a good taste for our beloved sweet potato, it is time to put our sweet potato in an activity. Sweet potatoes are a part of the morning-glory family, and when grown is a great vine and has a really cool root system. So let’s do some science!

Needed

sweet potato

large clear glass or jar

tooth picks

sunny window

Step 1

Hold the sweet potato firmly making sure you have the pointy end down. Have the adult hold the sweet potato and let the child push four toothpicks crosswise into the vegetable about two-thirds of the way up. (see above)

Step 2

Put the pointy end of the sweet potato in a glass so the toothpicks rest on the rim. Fill the glass almost to the top with lukewarm water.

Step 3

Place in a sunny spot and change the water every 2 to 3 days. In a few days, roots will begin to sprout from the bottom; in about 2 weeks, leaves and stems will start sprouting from the top.

Step 4

Keep the plant in the glass until it gets too big — usually in a couple of months — then plant it 3 to 4 inches deep in a pot filled with potting soil. Keep moist. If started now it would be a great plant by Mother