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February 13, 2012
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February 10, 2012
Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information
David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
February 6, 2012
Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
A sweet sweet potato treat
By Marialisa Calta
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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | It's fall and time to pay homage to the humble tuber we all know and (some of us) love: the sweet potato. It might be the only time of year when we give it any thought at all, but sweet potatoes, according to "The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink," are "the sixth principal food crop in the world."
Now, when discussing the sweet potato, the elephant in the room is, of course, the yam. Yams are an entirely different and unrelated species, rarely grown in the United States but popular in the tropics, and though they look similar, yams can weigh up to 120 pounds.
"Sweet potatoes in the United States are frequently misidentified as yams," says "The Oxford Companion."
Unless you shop in Caribbean or Hispanic markets (where yams are often sold in chunks), you are unlikely to encounter a true yam. So even if the tubers you buy in the supermarket are sold as yams, they are indeed sweet potatoes. End of story.
Sweet potatoes make a delicious snack and a healthy one, too. They are a good source of fiber and vitamins A and C, and they have no fat and 4 grams of protein per serving. Simply bake or microwave them as you would a potato, and eat with salt and pepper, hot sauce, maple syrup or brown sugar. For supper, slice them lengthwise into "fingers," toss them with oil and salt, and bake them at 400 F for sweet potato "fries." Then there's the old standby, "candied" sweet potatoes baked with brown sugar and marshmallows. That's the way Julia Child liked them. At a book-launch party years ago, Jacques Pepin told Child he hated sweet potatoes with marshmallows. "That's because you're French," she said. Pepin laughed.
SWEET POTATO TART TATIN
- 1 sheet frozen, store-bought puff pastry, thawed (see Cook's note)
- 3/4 cup sugar plus 1 tablespoon for sprinkling
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 16 pieces
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1-1/2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1/8-inch-thick rounds
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon milk
- ice cream, for serving, optional
Cook's note: If you can, buy an all-butter puff pastry, such as Dufour brand, sold in natural-foods stores and specialty shops. It will give the tart a rich flavor and tender texture. If you can't find it, consider making your own puff pastry, or buy a regular supermarket brand.
Heat the oven to 375 F. Line a baking sheet with baking parchment. Place the puff pastry sheet on your work surface and cut out a 10-inch circle. (Coat the scraps with melted butter, top with cinnamon sugar or jam or grated cheese, and bake, along with the tart, for an extra treat.) Set the puff pastry round on the prepared baking sheet and prick all over with a fork. Refrigerate while you make the topping.
Place the 3/4 cup sugar in a small saucepan and cover with 1/4 cup water. Gently stir with a spoon to make sure all the sugar is wet; it should have the consistency of wet sand. Place a cover on slightly askew, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook until the syrup is clear and producing syrupy-looking medium-sized bubbles, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the cover, and cook until the sugar is a light butterscotch color and its temperature reaches 320 F on a candy thermometer. Turn off the heat. (The sugar will continue to cook.) Once the temperature reaches 350 F (this will take only a few minutes) whisk in the butter, a piece at a time, waiting until each addition is completely incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla, and then pour into a 10-inch cast iron skillet.
Cover the caramel with the sliced potatoes, starting in the center and overlapping in a spiraling outward circle as you go. Top with the puff pastry circle. Beat the egg and milk together, and brush over the pastry. Then sprinkle with the remaining tablespoon of sugar.
Bake until the pastry is puffed and golden, 40 to 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let sit for 10 minutes before inverting onto a large plate. Slice into wedges and serve with or without ice cream.
Recipe from "DamGoodSweet" by David Guas and Raquel Pelzel (Taunton Press, 2009)
Yield: 6 servings
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Marialisa Calta is the author of "Barbarians at the Plate: Taming and Feeding the American Family" (Perigee, 2005). To comment, please click here.
© 2009, Marialisa Calta. Distributed by Newspaper Enterprise Assn.
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