Way back in August when the grass was green and the weather sticky hot, Flying J Farm opened its (barn) doors to host the Shake the Hand that Feeds You dinner benefiting Slow Food Columbus. Alex, Lil, and I attended with our Japanese exchange student Anna.

Chefs from Skillet Rustic. Urban. Food expertly cooked up much of the feast including a lingua appetizer sandwich that helped inspire our sweet heart charcuterie. The family-style meal included a whole roast pig, tomato salad, rosemary potatoes, braised cabbage, and our favorite dish of the night, sweet potatoes and kale.

Chef Casey's pairing of my favorite vegetable, kale, and nutritious sweet potatoes was a new combination to me. Every time I eat at Skillet R.U.F. I am struck by their simple brilliance and want to recreate dishes at home.

Six months after the Flying J dinner, I chopped the last of our homegrown sweet potatoes to share with family on Christmas Eve. I prepped the vegetables early in the day and cooked them together just before guests arrived. I covered the dish to keep warm during cocktails.

The sweet, earthy, toothsome kale and sweet potatoes were a tasty accompaniment to our roast goose and mushroom pie. The leftovers kept well. Alex suggests that these kale and sweet potatoes topped with a poached egg would be an amazing simple dinner. I agree and know this dish will make its way onto a meal plan soon.

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Maple Cider Vinegar Kale & Sweet Potatoes Time: 15 minutes preparation, 20 minutes cooking Makes: 6 side dish servings

1 tablespoon olive oil 1/2 red onion, sliced into two-inch pieces 2 cups sweet potato, peeled and diced into one-inch pieces 1 large bunch kale, leaves washed well, removed from ribs, and chopped/torn into large chunks 1-2 teaspoons salt (to taste) 10-20 grinds white pepper (to taste) 1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup 1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil and onions. 2. When onions have begun to turn translucent, add sweet potatoes and turn up the heat. Cook for 10 minutes, tossing or gently stirring regularly. 3. Add kale pieces, salt, and pepper. Stir gently and reduce heat back to medium. Cook for five minutes or until kale starts to wilt. 4. Pour maple syrup and apple cider vinegar over the mix. Continue cooking until sweet potatoes are cooked through. Serve warm.

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PS. Need a little reassurance that summer will come again? Relive Shake the Hand that Feeds You through pictures.

Added to Simple Lives 76.

During last week's Friday Five, I revealed my delight that I found a way Lil would eat sweet potatoes and beets. My daughter is not the most adventurous eater and I was floored that she not only tried but ate almost a whole serving of root vegetables prepared in the recipe below. There are four reasons this preparation works so well:

1. cubed vegetables give textural interest 2. the small size allows vegetables cook quickly 3. fresh beets lend an intriguing deep red color to the dish 4. a familiar flavored dressing entices selective palates

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Cubed Roots serves 6 as a side dish preparation time: 15 minutes, cook time: 30 minutes

4 medium sized beets 1 large sweet potato 1/2 cup italian style salad dressing or 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup cider or white wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons dry italian herbs, 2 tablespoon shredded Parmesean cheese, 1/2 teaspoon pepper

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F. 2. Peel beets and potato. 3. Cut vegetables into 1/2 inch cubes. Do this by slicing from top to bottom into 1/2 inch segments. Holding these together, turn the vegetable on its side. Slice from top to bottom again in 1/2 inch segments. You now have 1/2 inch sticks. Cut from the end in 1/2 inch lengths. 4. Place cubes into a glass roasting pan. 5. Add dressing and stir to coat. 6. Roast for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until vegetables are cooked through.

NB: This roasting recipe would work well with any other root vegetables including carrots, white potatoes, parsnips, etc.

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If you missed it the first go-round, watch the goofy video I made for Newman's Own about making Cubed Roots.

Added to Hearth and Soul 38.