Glass Noodles with Vegetable Stir Fry (Jap Chae)

 This glass noodle dish (also known as cellophane noodles, dam myun in Korean and harusame in Japanese) is made from sweet potato starch. The dish is very similar to chow mein, but aesthetically the noodles look translucent once they're boiled and their texture is chewier.

I prepared the noodles with king mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, pan-fried tofu, baby spinach, carrots, sweet potatoes and cauliflower. The dish is relatively easy and quick to make if you have all the veggies prepped in advance.

Carrot Puree (Mashed Carrots)

As promised, here is the recipe for carrot purée that I served with my tapenade chicken the other day. I flavored the dish with rosemary, mustard, cumin and almond butter. The almond butter both thickens the purée and provides a nutty flavor.

It's a lighter, healthier version of the creamy mashed potatoes we served for Thanksgiving. Sweet potatoes and carrots are a great source of vitamin A and potassium. But don't get me wrong, healthier doesn't mean less flavorful. If you've read my many of my past recipes, you know that I'm not shy about using full fat ingredients. In this particular dish, I just don't think it's necessary to get that unctuous, creamy mouth-feel. Using the cooking techniques in the recipe, you'll be able to convince even the most anti-health food person in your life that the dish is loaded with heavy cream and butter.

Asian Style Warm Potato Salad

Sweet Mashed Potatoes with Maple Syrup Roasted Bananas

I make sweet mashed potatoes whenever the girls get bored with regular old mashed potatoes. It's a great alternative. The mild sweetness contrasts well with many savory main courses, especially fish.

I was steaming sweet potatoes for dinner today, while our little munchkin was eating a roasted banana I had just made for her. Roasted bananas are one of my childhood favorite desserts and I make them for the girls whenever they want a snack. 

"Jackie, what are you making?" she asked, while scooping the soft banana. 

"I'm making sweet potato purée for dinner."

"Can I help?"

"Of course, mon p'tit coeur (my sweetheart)" I said.

I let her pass the sweet potatoes through the food mill. She tasted it and asked "Can we add some of the roasted bananas to the sweet potatoes?" Isn't my little 5-year-old sister-in-law a culinary genius? We roasted the bananas with maple syrup to enhance the sweetness a bit. I added mustard and nutmeg to keep the dish savory, but the real credit goes to my munchkin.

Sweet Potato Pie with Pecan Crumb Topping

Sweet potato pie is a classic American dessert that is not overly sweet. The texture is similar to a pumpkin pie, but firmer. I jazzed mine up with a little anise extract, other flavorings and a crown of pecan crumb topping. It's a great pie for Thanksgiving, but really, you can enjoy it any time of the year.

I made this for a reader named Bill who e-mailed me a request for a sweet potato pie recipe. If you're reading Bill, I hope you like it!