The Sweet Potato. . My dear home of NC has been ranked first in sweet potato production since 1971, so it should be no surprise that I have an abundance of these near me. The sweet potato was found across the south during the war years. Many diaries of Civil War soldiers reference eating sweet potatoes and receiving them as rations. There was even a reference to sweet potatoes in the popular song Marching Through Georgia.
Period cook books are peppered with sweet potato recipes, giving you an idea of the variety this root vegetable has to offer. Today, we may think of the sweet potato being reserved for a sweet Thanksgiving side dish, but in the 19th century, it was used more often.
Here are a few recipes to get you to use this years crop!
| The Virginia Housewife, Mary Randolph, 1838 |
| Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches, Eliza Leslie, 1844 |
| The Practical Cookbook, Ms. Bliss, 1850 |
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