The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), commonly called a yam in parts of the United States (especially in the southern and western portions of the country; this terminology causes some confusion with true yams), is a crop plant whose large, starchy, sweet tasting tuberous roots are an important root vegetable. The young leaves and shoots are sometimes eaten as greens. The sweet potato is only distantly related to the potato (Solanum tuberosum). It is even more distantly related to the true yam (Dioscorea species) which is native to Africa and Asia. Thus, a sweet potato and a yam are in fact different foods.The genus Ipomoea that contains the sweet potato also includes several garden flowers called morning glories, though that term is not usually extended to Ipomoea batatas. Some cultivars of Ipomoea batatas are grown as ornamental plants.This plant is a herbaceous perennial vine, bearing alternate heart-shaped or palmately lobed leaves and medium-sized sympetalous flowers. The edible tuberous root is long and tapered, with a smooth skin whose color ranges between red, purple, brown and white. Its flesh ranges from white through yellow, orange, and purple.

Bake some this weekend, and forget the guilt, these are made with three whole grains. They are delicious and won't leave you feeling all "sugar high/sugar low-ish".

Chicken Tamale PieSaute onion and green pepper in butter or margarine. Stir in chicken, olives, tomatoes, chile powder and salt. Cook 10 minutes. Pour into 2 qt. casserole. Top with corn chips dot with butter or margarine. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serves 6.

Ron Paul is a flip-flopper. One moment he says he's addicted to physical health, the next he says he's addicted to delicious fresh baking. What a dirty, dirty politician. ;)

After my best chocolate chip cookie search post yielded 26 recipes in 24 hours, I knew I had too many cookie recipes to bake each and every one. So like any good geek, I averaged the recipes to make the best cookie recipe ever, or what I call a Mean Chocolate Chip Cookie. Get it?

The snow is still falling, the kids have watched "Dora the Explorer" for the third time today, and you're out of chocolate chips for those cookies you promised to bake later today. Now what are you going to do?