On Mon 21 Feb 2005 09:21:11p, Isaac Wingfield wrote in rec.food.cooking:

> In article >, wrote:
>
>> FERRANTE wrote:
>> >
>> > I love candied sweet potatos and friends say I should try other ways
>> > of eating them. I bought one sweet potato yesterday. What is the
>> > simplest and best way to prepare it? Bake? What temp and for how long?
>> >
>> > Should Iadd anthing other than butter (and please don't say a Gmail
>> > invite)?
>> >
>> > Thanks,
>> > Mark
>>
>> THE simplest way?
>>
>> Scrub off dirt with a brush and water.
>> Pierce about 10 times with the point of a knife.
>> Wrap loosely in a paper towel.
>> Put in microwave. Use potato setting or give it about 3-4 minutes.
>> Check that it does not get overdone by stabbing with a fork.
>>
>> You can then eat it any way you want. Well cooked potato will be sweet.
>> We mash with butter and (sometimes) a little maple syrup.
>
> If you microwave sweet potatoes, they fail to develop a lot of the
> wonderful sweet flavor that they can deliver. It's not enough just to
> get them hot. Microwaving simply does not take enough time to do the job
> properly.
>
> Bake them -- longer than you would a white potato -- and then split and
> add butter.
>
> Bake more than you will eat. Let the rest cool. Next day (or soon),
> peel, slice about 1/4 inch thick, and saute in butter, slowly, to let
> the sugar caramelize, until nicely brown on both sides. Yum. Marvelous
> as a side dish to a pork roast.
>
> Isaac
>

Now that's the way to cook a sweet potato!

Wayne

Since they take so long to cook, I microwave them for a few minutes and
then bake them as this reduces the baking time. They develop that
great mushy carmelized taste. Split open and add butter and brown
sugar. Can also add cinnamon and or maple syrup.