Have you ever stopped to notice that there is a holiday {or day of observation} dedicated to just about everything? Holy buckets, if we actually go to celebrate every single one of them, it would be one non-stop party. Still, it seems a waste to not at least pay my respects to a couple of the top contenders {I’m talking to you National Donut Day!}
Just a heads up…. Today, February 22nd is National Cook a Sweet Potato Day…which is not to be confused with National Sweet Potato Day. You’re going to have to actually cook it, if you are an avid holiday fan. I personally don’t need a day to remind me to cook a sweet potato–I love them. But, who am I to question the rules. So, if you plan on letting your hair down and getting wild on this most exclusive of holidays, I thought I’d better give you some fun fact ammunition and a couple of recipes to entice. You’re welcome.
- Sweet potatoes are roots, whereas white potatoes are tubers. Totally different.
- Sweet potatoes are loaded with beta-carotene, vitamins A, C, and E, and have a pretty nice dose of potassium, iron and vitamin B-6.
- North Carolina produces 40% of the sweet potatoes eaten in the United States.
- Sweet potatoes are not the same as yams, but they are often interchanged in the grocery store.
- Sweet potatoes were grown in Peru as early as 750 BC, from what we can unearth.
How will you be cooking your sweet potato this year?
Now what are you waiting for? Get out there and celebrate!
~Mavis
Need some recipe inspiration to celebrate the big day?
Mashed Butter Pecan Sweet Potatoes
Sweet Potato Muffins with Crumb Topping
Heather says
Sweet potatoes with chili and cheese! Yum!
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes!!!!!
Melanie says
I’m a North Carolina native and I can eat sweet potatoes for any meal. Breakfast, lunch or dinner. Awesome with a little ham and sour cream — and so many other ways! We buy them from farmers by the bushel in the fall and feast all winter!
Laura says
Today is also National Margarita Day (or was that yesterday?. Can’t forget that!
mandy says
They make really good oven fries also. I like to sprinkle them with paprika and chili powder and then dip them in jalapeno mayo.
My friend gave me some purple sweet potatoes last fall and I’ve been rooting them in water, they’re growing great. I’m going to try planting them in my garden and see if they grow.
Beth says
I just saw this and thought it was funny that I bought a bag of sweet potatoes on Sunday at Costco and we had baked sweet potatoes last night with our grilled flank steak for our 19th wedding anniversary dinner- purely accidental that we celebrated national “Cook a sweet potato day”!