Is sweet potates and yams the same thing? In the article it will tell you.

image from schoolphotoproject 

Here we go Thanksgiving week.  Temperature is 31F.(-.55 C)  high today of not much warm up 32F( 0C), low tonight of 19F(-7.2C).  Looking ahead to Thanksgiving high will be 27F(-2.7C) with a low of 9F( -12.7C).  We were fine as the temperature was at the lowest only 25F ( -4.4C), when we were in Australia.   Now for the ones that are looking at my posting from Australia now you realize we didn’t consider that cold.  But 10 days after we left Australia, it was 100F (37.8C).  So quickly it got warm for them.  They are at the end of their spring and summer will be starting.  All in perspective.  Stay warm, stay safe, and for some stay cool. 

Are Sweet Potatoes the Healthiest Vegetable?  By Catherine Boeckmann
Twenty years ago, our Almanac declared sweet potatoes to be the “healthiest vegetable of them all.” This fleshy root vegetable is indeed highly nutritional and low in calories, and, for the chef, it is easier than pie to use.
Sweet Potato Facts and Health Benefits
Did you know that before George Washington became a general and the first U.S. President, he was a sweet potato farmer? These tasty tuberous vegetables are native to the Americas and are a great addition to your diet. Here are just a few fun facts about the sweet potato and its myriad benefits:
A Sweet Potato is not a Potato … Nor a Yam
“There is one thing that a sweet potato is not. And that is a potato.” A sweet potato is a root. Potatoes are tubers. Since sweet potatoes are unrelated to white potatoes, the two should not be used as substitutes when cooking.
The orange-fleshed sweet potato is often called a yam. Again, the two are unrelated. True yams are starchy, underground tubers that likely originated in Africa.
#1 Most Nutritious Veggie?
Sweet potatoes are the #1 most nutritional vegetable, with more nutrients than even spinach or broccoli!
Benefits of the sweet potato include high levels of Vitamins A and C, iron, potassium, and dietary fiber.
Especially important is the high percentage of beta-carotene found in sweet potatoes. This is converted into Vitamin A, which has the ability to reduce the risk of certain cancers.
Sweet potatoes have almost no fat, which also makes them great for those watching their weight. With their low carbohydrate content and high fiber content, sweet potatoes keep you full for longer and give you all the essential nutrients.
Easy to Grow in the Garden
Sweet potatoes aren’t just nutritious but also fairly easy to grow and harvest.
The tropical origin of the plant means that it is drought- and heat-tolerant and susceptible to very few pests and diseases. Sweet potatoes grow best in the southern United States or other warm parts of the country, as the crop cannot tolerate the cold.
However, sweet potatoes can be cultivated in northern climates if planted after the soil has warmed in the spring and harvested before the first frost in the fall.
Sweet Potatoes in the Kitchen
Do NOT refrigerate sweet potatoes unless they have already been cooked. Refrigeration prior to cooking will harden the core of the vegetable, create sunken spots, and create an off taste. This will lead the vegetable to spoil much faster than at if it had been at room temperature.
Store sweet potatoes in a dry, cool place (55–60°F). They can keep for weeks. Do not wash sweet potatoes until you plan to use them; any moisture promotes spoilage.
Sweet potatoes taste best when baked. They can be scrubbed, poked with a fork, and baked at 400°F for 35 minutes to an hour, until they give a little when you squeeze them.
Our Favorite Sweet Potato Recipes
Sweet potatoes are not only delicious but also easy to cook and very versatile. Turn sweet potatoes into fries or chips. Bake or boil them to make a side for meat dishes. Sauté them along with other vegetables.
Taken from https://www.almanac.com/sweet-potato-facts-and-health-benefits
Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa [email protected]  641-794-3337   cell 641-903-9365