Perhaps like me, you did not know of November’s significance. When I heard that it was Sweet Potato Awareness Month, I panicked a little. I mean, I’m aware of the existence of sweet potatoes and I work them into various meals, but is that really being aware enough? Should I be making more of a fuss? Have sweet potatoes really suffered enough to have a whole month dedicated to making us aware of them? At least National Ice Cream Day makes you feel patriotic as you unite with fellow Americans to enjoy a sweet dairy treat. Now that I know (and you do too, dear reader) that it is Sweet Potato Awareness Month, how can I go on blithely posting homages to Sophia on National Daughters Day (sorry, I missed it) and retrospectives of Ben on National Sons Day (oops, missed that, too) if I don’t give the sweet potato its due? Can’t we all just agree that we all love our sons and daughters and sweet potatoes beyond measure, and not feel the pressure to declare it publicly?
I have a lot on my sweet potato-less plate these days and have fallen behind in my posting. I have 82 unread emails, and three Ben’s Day Wednesday posts started but not completed. I just can’t keep up this semester. Now that I’ve got this whole thing with the sweet potato, it could just push me over the edge.
I feel I must come clean at this point and tell you that Ben is not a big fan of sweet potatoes. He doesn’t loathe them, but they aren’t high on his list. Barrel 135 serves a mixture of sweet potato fries and “regular” fries. Ben and Kelly have an understanding that his “mix” will be all regular.
I searched high and low through photos of the last month for evidence that we have not marginalized the sweet potato. Delicious Blue Plate Special at the Herdic House, but no sweet potatoes.
No sweet potato fries for Ben at the Brickyard.
The Crippled Bear never disappoints, but no sweet potatoes.
A friend from Lycoming’s board of trustees set us up with some fresh kielbasa from the butcher’s shop next to her family’s 3-generation restaurant in coal country. We made kielbasa sandwiches with grilled onions and peppers, and they were amazing. Thank you, Marina! (Still no sweet potatoes.)
We were thrilled to have Jen and Matt over for breakfast!
Blueberry cobbler for this sweet little family, but no sweet potatoes.
We love having Sophia and Jake over for supper, but still no sweet potatoes.
Ben’s specialty, chicken parm, is served with penne, not sweet potatoes.
We can stand this jaunty little chicken up on a vertical roaster and put a hat on him because he looks a little like Napoleon…
…but we serve him with “power” grits and roasted fruit. (You may remember the first appearance of grits on the blog: https://bensdaywednesday.com/puttin-on-the-gritzan-unexpected-candlelight-dinner/ .)
Did we make sweet potatoes for coffee hour at church? Don’t be ridiculous!
Finally, finally, finally, I found photographic evidence of Ben’s enjoyment of sweet potatoes in the form of a sweet potato puree served at The Newsroom!
Of course, it is possible that sweet potatoes were not the main attraction of the meal for Ben.
Obviously, I owe the sweet potato a big apology. If our callous indifference to their plight doesn’t qualify them for a whole month dedicated to activism and raising sweet potato awareness, then I don’t know what does.
Happy Thanksgiving! (Or an even happier one if you serve a tasty sweet potato side dish!)