Quick and Sweet Summer Treats

Summer is off to a fantastic start. The weather is warm, vacation season is in full swing, and fresh produce fills the marketplace. But with summer pleasures also come summer stresses. The days may be longer, but with so much to do, we still seem to run short on time.  During the summer, quick meals are a real lifesaver. But quick doesn't have to mean sandwiches. In no time at all you can make delicious fresh summer fixings. Remember summer is about family fun, so relax, kick back and fire up the grill.  Top off your summer meal with our deliciously easy Summer Sweet Potato Salad. It takes only minutes to prepare and it tastes amazing.  After you are done, why not try some Sweet Potato Ice Cream.

Sweet Potato Ice Cream

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup whole milk
• 3/4 cup dark brown sugar
• 5 egg yolks
• 1 cup sweet potato puree
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• nuts if desired

Preparation:

Heat the cream, milk, and brown sugar in a heavy medium saucepan, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved and mixture is hot. In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolks briefly; slowly pour about 1 cup of the hot mixture into the egg yolks, whisking briskly while you pour. Pour the egg yolk mixture back into the saucepan, whisking constantly. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon, about 6 to 8 minutes. Do not boil.
Strain the mixture into a bowl. Whisk in the sweet potato puree and spices. Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.

Freeze in ice cream freezer following manufacturer instructions.


Summer Sweet Potato Salad 


Ingredients

* 2 cups medium diced sweet potatoes
* 1/2 cup raisins
* 2/3 cup finely diced red onion
* 1/3 cup finely diced celery
* 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
* 1/2 cup mayonnaise
* 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley

Directions

Cook potatoes until they are fork tender in boiling water. Drain the potatoes and cool them completely. Soak the raisins in hot water for 15 minutes and then drain. Combine all the ingredients and mix them thoroughly, but gently. Chill for 24 hours before serving.

Sweet potato pie flavor in a scoop of ice cream! Serve this sweet potato ice cream with a caramel sauce or sprinkle with chopped pecans.