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sweet potatoes north carolina is the leader in sweet potato production, supplying 40 percent of the annual United states production of sweet potatoes. DID YOU KNOW?
north carolina sweet potato growers planted 42,000 acres in 2009. across the nation, 106,000 acres of sweet potatoes were planted. sweet potatoes are as american as apple pie, and even more so. native americans were already growing sweet potatoes when columbus came to these shores in 1492. sweet potatoes have been growing in the south as early as 1648. despite a physical similarity and a frequent confusion with their names, yams and sweet potatoes are not even distantly related. they are in two different botanical families. Yams are actually related to grasses and lilies.
SWEET POTATO CANDY 2 cups light brown sugar 3/4 cup evaporated milk 1/8 tsp salt 1 cup sweet potatoes, cooked and mashed 1/2 cup chopped pecans 1 tsp butter or margarine put sugar, milk, butter, and salt in a large pot. cook over medium heat to soft-ball stage. remove from heat and allow to cool until hand can be held comfortably on bottom of pot. add sweet potatoes and beat until mixture loses its gloss. add pecans, mix well, and pour into buttered pan. cut into squares when cool.
Healthy, Local Produce and Foods Every Saturday at the Western Wake Farmers’ Market in Cary! please check www.westernwakeFarmersMarket.org for weekly guest educators and musicians. Cary Living is the exclusive print sponsor of the western wake Farmers’ Market.
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