I never really liked sweet potatoes until I went to college in Memphis. Growing up I think sweet potato fries looked too much like carrots for me to give them a try. After trying the fries at Young Avenue Deli in Memphis, I became obsessed. I went to Sam's Club this weekend and bought sweet potatoes in bulk; I eat them so often that this is actually necessary. Usually, I just wrap them in foil and throw them in the oven, then stuff them with cheese, spices, and fruit, but I wanted to try something new.
On another note, I make a lot of bacon. A lot. A lot, a lot. I like to cut bacon slices into little squares and cook it, making bacon chips. I then eat those instead of tortilla chips because pork belly is obviously healthier than something with grains in it. Or at least I'm going to keep believing that. I always keep the bacon fat for cooking grits or vegetables, but I had never thought of cooking sweet potatoes in it. I have put bacon in my stuffed sweet potatoes before, but for some reason using the bacon fat never dawned on me.
Until Yesterday.
If you like bacon, sweet potato, rosemary, and happiness-- you have to try these bacon sweet potato bites!
Ingredients:
1 large or 2 small sweet potatoes
2 spoonfuls bacon fat
1 tablespoon rosemary
1 teaspoon garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
Fill a large pot 1/2 way full with water. Be sure to generously salt the water.
Slice the sweet potatoes into rounds that are 1/2 inch thick, try to be as consistent as possible so they cook at the same speed. Add the sweet potato rounds to the pot and move to the stove over high heat.
Once boiling, turn the heat down to medium and remove the lid.
Next, heat the bacon grease, garlic power, and rosemary in a pan over medium-high heat. Once the bacon fat is simmering, add the sweet potato rounds.
Once glazed (like above) remove from heat, season to taste, grab a plate and a fork, and Enjoy!
Note: If I didn't already have bacon fat when I made these, I think it would be really good to chop up some bacon and cook it in a pan with the garlic and rosemary while the potatoes are boiling, and then add the potatoes to the pan with the bacon.