Sweet Potatoes

Age of Introduction|
4-5 months

Yield|  3 medium sweet potatoes (approx. 2.5 lb. total) + 1/4 c. water =
2 to 2-1/2 c. puree

Storage|  Refrigerator 3-4 days/ Freezer up to 2 months

Prep Time|  20-25 minutes (includes cook, cool, and puree time)

Choose|  Sweet potatoes should be firm and uniform in color with no broken skin and without shriveled/dried up looking ends.  Try to buy sweet potatoes that are similar in size, as they cook more evenly when cooking multiple potatoes at one time.

Prep|  Mist potatoes with veggie wash, then scrub gently with a vegetable brush under running water.  Poke each potato several times with a fork.

Cook|
Microwave  Place up to 3-4 potatoes on a plate in pinwheel configuration and cook 7-10 minutes on high power, rotating ends from center to outside of plate about halfway through cook time.
Crockpot  It is best to do about 6-10 potatoes at a time using this method.  Individually wrap potatoes in aluminum foil.  Place along bottom and stack against sides of crock pot.  Do not add water.  Cook on high power 2-1/2 to 4 hours or low power 8-10 hours.

Test for doneness (peel back the foil from one foil-wrapped potato to test).  When potatoes are fork tender (check 2-3 different areas), remove from microwave or crock pot and cool at room temperature about 5-10 minutes.

Puree| 

• Unwrap foil-wrapped potatoes. 
  Cut each potato in half across the middle. 
  Using a spoon, scoop potato from peels into a bowl. 
  (If they are still too hot to handle, cool more or hold the potato half in a folded paper towel or oven mitt). 
  Repeat with all potato halves. 
• Transfer sweet potatoes to food processor container.  Add 1/4 c. water. 
  Process until smooth. 
  Puree should be the consistency of a thick custard.NOTE:  This consistency is required for use in related recipes.  For young babies (4-7 months old), set aside some of this thick puree to use in recipes, and prepare the rest for serving baby by adding enough water to create a smoother consistency, then pressing puree through a mesh strainer to avoid any lumps or strings.  Label baby servings and store separately.  More water could be added to individual servings to reach desired consistency.

Serve|  The sequence of baby ages is listed to show the appropriate stages of introduction for foods that pair well with sweet potato puree.  All of the suggestions for 9 months and older are also appropriate for older children and adults.

4-5 months	Mix with rice cereal Mix with applesauce (no sugar, artificial sweetener, or high-fructose corn syrup added)
6 months	Mix with oat cereal Mix with pear puree
7 months	Mix with multigrain cereal Mix with carrot puree
8 months	Mix with plain whole milk yogurt Mix with wheat germ Serve with finely diced or mashed green beans
9 months	Mix with crushed or finely diced pineapple (100% juice, no syrup)
10 months	Mix with chopped cranberries Serve with diced green beans
12 months	Stir in a little orange juice and sprinkle with cinnamon Serve with cooked ground turkey
15 months+	Serve with cooked diced chicken or turkey

Related Recipes|  Cranberry Orange Sweet Potato Bread –
Sweet Potato Pancakes – Maple Citrus Sweet Potato Bake –

Cranberry Orange Sweet Potato Bread
– get the recipe in this cookbook: “The Family Table Cookbook~ Whole Grain Pancake & Baking Mix: 30+ Recipes/ONE Easy Mix”

Main Nutrients|  Vitamin A – Vitamin C – Dietary Fiber – Vitamin B6 – Manganese
Potassium