The weather is turning colder and it's time to bring cooking back into your kitchen. It's a time for comfort foods and hearty meals. Many favorites feature potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, apples and pears.
The humble — and well-traveled — potato
Thinking of potatoes, perhaps the brown Russet, or Yukon Gold, potato comes to mind. The story of the potato is far greater than this singular variety. Potatoes originated in the Andes Mountains of South America and were introduced to Europe by early explorers.
Despite the common use and popularity of the Russet, hundreds of potato varieties exist. They come in different sizes, shapes and even colors. In addition to the Russet, other potatoes grown in North America today include Yukon Gold and Red Gold varieties, both of which can replace Russets in most uses. The Andes Mountains, particularly in Peru, continue to be a mecca for a rainbow of potatoes, including blue, red and purple varieties.
Potatoes are featured in several of our Boneless Beef Ribs with Classic BBQ Sauce. Discover roasted red potatoes in Country Herb Chicken and Mesquite Chicken Barbecue. Try Yukon Golds in our Creamy Herb Roasted Chicken Flavor Adventure.
Botanically speaking ...
... sweet potatoes are not potatoes, but they often make the perfect complement for meals. These tuber vegetables can be used in place of regular potatoes in many recipes. Originally from the Americas, sweet potatoes grow in warmer climates than potatoes do. They also come in many varieties: the Japanese Sweet Potato has a pink skin and white flesh; Garnets have purplish skin and are orange inside; and the Beauregard, or Louisiana, sweet potato is the common orange variety found in most grocery stores. Sweet potatoes also are different from yams, though often are called yams. True yams are often sold only in specialty stores and can grow to be seven feet long and weigh as much as 150 pounds.
Winter squash takes its place at the table
Winter squash (butternut, acorn, hubbard and spaghetti) is another food, bursting with a flavor that is unique. Compared with summer squash (zucchini, crookneck, pattypan), winter squashes have a hearty flesh that holds up well as a side dish or in soups and casseroles. Even the seeds of winter squash can be cooked and eaten.
Which is the apple of your eye?
Apples are another favorite with varieties for everyone's taste buds. Red Delicious continues to be the most widely grown apple. But you may like a sweeter or crisper apple. The sweet, crisp Fuji from Japan has become quite popular in recent years. Another sweeter pick is the Gala, originally from New Zealand.
If you get a whim to bake an old-fashioned pie, try Granny Smith's. They are crisp, juicy and tart—a good apple for pie-making, in salads, or even diced as a flavorful garnish for pumpkin soup!
While apples frequently make delicious desserts, such as the apple praline crisp featured with our Healthy Choice Blackened Chicken, they also add flavor to a main dish. Healthy Choice Grilled Turkey Breast is covered in a sweet cranberry-apple sauce. Apple Glazed Pork Medallions taste delicious with an apple-bourbon glaze.
For tips on storing and cooking with these vegetables and fruits, click here.
