How to Bake a Sweet Potato

A baked sweet potato is one of life's simplest pleasures. Fluffy and sweet on its own, it only gets better when you add your favorite toppings. And the best part? A sweet potato packs a healthy punch! It's relatively high in fiber and a great source of vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene), vitamin C and potassium. It also contains several other vitamins and minerals. What's the difference between a sweet potato and a yam? You're not going to believe this. The tuber known as a "yam" to Americans actually is a sweet potato! There are two types of sweet potatoes common in America – one with orange flesh and copper skin, and one with a creamy, white flesh and golden skin. The U.S. Department of Agriculture decided to call the orange ones "yams," to differentiate them from the lighter-colored sweet potato. True yams come from Africa and Asia and have nearly black, bark-like skin. Inside, the flesh is purple, white or reddish. How to bake a sweet potato in the oven Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F. Scrub the sweet potato with a brush under cold water until you've removed any dirt. Pat the spud dry with a paper towel. Rub the sweet potato with butter or oil, if you wish. Prick the sweet potato all over with a fork. The holes will allow steam to escape during baking. Place your sweet potato on a foil-lined baking sheet. (Oozing will occur during baking, so the foil will help with cleanup.) Bake for 45-60 minutes, until you can easily stick a fork in the sweet potato. How to bake a sweet potato in the microwave  Want to quickly make a baked sweet potato? Use your microwave and enjoy the delicious results! Scrub the sweet potato with a brush under cold water until you've removed any dirt. Pat it dry with a paper towel. Prick the sweet potato all over with a fork. The holes will allow steam to escape during baking. Place your sweet potato on a microwaveable plate, cover it with wax paper, and heat on high for 5-7 minutes, or until tender. Sweet Potato Toppings Butter & cinnamon Brown sugar A fried egg Guacamole Salsa Other Sweet Potato Recipes How to Parboil Sweet Potatoes Whole 30 Mexican Egg Baked Sweet Potatoes How to Bake Sweet Potato Fries via Food Fanatic http://ift.tt/2onXtlx Food Fanatic

How to Make Buttermilk

Have you ever tried to follow a biscuit recipe but realized you didn't have any buttermilk? You may have postponed your baking until you could get to the store, but you don't have to next time. If you've got some typical household ingredients like milk and vinegar or lemon, you can make a buttermilk substitute in minutes. No need to worry about buying an entire carton you won't use before it expires! What is buttermilk? Buttermilk is a slightly sour milk that's curdled. Originally, it was the liquid left behind after cream was churned into butter. Cultured buttermilk available in stores involves low-fat milk that has been pasteurized and had lactic acid bacteria added to it, to curdle and sour the milk. Why use buttermilk? Buttermilk makes biscuits, pancakes or quick breads tender, light and flavorful. It's also used to marinate and tenderize meats like chicken and pork. You've probably enjoyed buttermilk fried chicken from the drive through. Here's the Popeyes Chicken recipe you can try at home. How to make buttermilk Place 1 tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice in a liquid measuring cup. Add enough milk (low-fat or whole) to reach 1 cup. Whisk and let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes, until it curdles. Other buttermilk substitutes Yogurt and Water: Mix ¾ cup plain yogurt with ¼ cup water. Sour Cream and Water: Stir ¾ cup sour cream with ¼ cup water. Cream of Tartar and Milk: Whisk one cup of milk with 1 ¾ teaspoons cream of tartar. How to Make Vegan "Buttermilk" Add one tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to a liquid measuring cup. Pour in almond milk or soy milk, until it reaches the 1-cup line. (Note that coconut milk doesn't work here, since it won't curdle.) Whisk, then let the mixture sit for five minutes. How to store homemade buttermilk You can store leftover, homemade buttermilk in the refrigerator for up to a week. You also can freeze it – in small amounts, such as ½ cup – so it's convenient to grab for a recipe. Recipes using buttermilk Now that you know how to make buttermilk, you can use it in these delicious recipes! Red Lobster Biscuits Buttermilk Bread Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes via Food Fanatic http://ift.tt/2C9Rzxy Food Fanatic