Sweet potatoes with marshmallows—it's a love-it or hate-it Thanksgiving classic, but I've always wondered what might inspire someone to add sugar to more sugar as a side dish for a savory meal.
Despite the sweet-potato-marshmallow combo's long history (with origins in colonial America), good marketing tactics have had a much larger part in the popularity of this dish.
Early American Beginnings
Long before these tubers were smothered in marshmallows, sweet potatoes were a staple across the Americas. Native to Central and South America, they were brought to North America by the Spanish during colonial times. Sweet potatoes soon took off in popularity, especially in the southern United States, where the humid climate provided comfortable growing conditions.
Contrary to popular belief, sweet potatoes were not present at "the first Thanksgiving" aka the arrival of the pilgrims at Plymouth Rock in November 1621.The sweet vegetable did however begin appearing at seasonal holidays in the 1800s as a replacement for pumpkin in pies and other fall dishes.
It wasn't until the early 1900s that the fateful pairing of sweet potatoes with marshmallows became known in the culinary world. In the late 1800s, the creation of marshmallows was a painstaking process, making them a costly product savored mainly by the wealthy. Yet by the turn of the century, with improvements in mass production, marshmallows became a cheaply made product (but with the lasting reputation of being uber-fancy).
Sweet Marketing
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The novelty of this new product opened up a new world for marketers, who tried to find any way possible to incorporate the marshmallows into American diets. According toSaveur, it was 1917 whenthe first instance of sweet potatoes baked with a coat ofmarshmallows appeared in a recipe booklet commissioned by Angelus Marshmallows.
Since then, the dish found its way into more and more culinary publications, allowing for nationwide recognition. Today, it's one of Thanksgiving's most popular side dishes, right up there next to the mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and green bean casserole.
Despite what your grandmother says, this cloying side dish didn't originate as a family recipe. It was concocted by Big Marshmallow as a way to push the candy on Americans. Though the tubers are high in sugar to begin with, there's historical precedent for treating sweet potatoes like dessert.
The exact origin of the tradition of including sweet potatoes on the Thanksgiving dinner menu remains uncertain. However, much credit is given to writer, activist, and an influential editor Sarah Josepha Hale who was a staunch advocate for the creation of Thanksgiving as a national holiday.
Mother's great yams were always a hit at Thanksgiving. In America, yams are actually a type of sweet potato. Gingersnap cookies and marshmallows make this dish a real treat.
In fact, sweet potatoes have been part of the American cuisine for generations and in the late 1800s, sweet potatoes were being candied or glazed to act as a Thanksgiving side. But it wasn't until 1917 when marshmallows entered the scene.
They're high in fiber and antioxidants, which protect your body from free radical damage and promote a healthy gut and brain. They're also incredibly rich in beta carotene, which is converted to vitamin A to support good vision and your immune system.
Sir Walter Raleigh introduced potatoes to Ireland in 1589 & the potato has been linked to Irish history ever since. Mashed potatoes, the most common way to enjoy potatoes at Thanksgiving, became an American staple in the 1700s. As far back as 1747, Americans were mashing up potatoes with butter, milk, salt, & cream.
Sweet potatoes contain beta-carotene, and their excessive consumption can lead to hypervitaminosis A (vitamin A toxicity), in which excess vitamin A accumulates in the liver. Although it is not considered harmful, the color of the skin and nails may turn orange.
Let's start with the star of the show: the turkey. There are many different ways to prepare a Thanksgiving turkey, from the oven to the fryer to the smoker. Then you've got brines, rubs, and herbs.
So, to the question “What did the Pilgrims eat for Thanksgiving,” the answer is both surprising and expected. Turkey (probably), venison, seafood, and all of the vegetables that they had planted and harvested that year—onions, carrots, beans, spinach, lettuce, and other greens.
First, a deboned chicken is stuffed into a deboned duck and then the two birds are then crammed into a deboned turkey. It's the Russian Doll of Thanksgiving dishes. Also, the trend is so popular that they're even making turducken dog food now.
Often North Americans use the words “yam” & “sweet potato” interchangeably. However, a true yam is a starchy, edible tuber, generally with a drier taste than a sweet potato.
The Europeans repaid their Native allies by seizing Native land and imprisoning, enslaving, and executing Native people. Following “Thanksgiving” celebrations by European settlers often marked brutal victories over Native people, like the Pequot Massacre of 1636 or the beheading of Wampanoag leader Metacom in 1676.
Genetic similarities have been found between Polynesian peoples and indigenous Americans including the Zenú, a people inhabiting the Pacific coast of present-day Colombia, indicating that Polynesians could have visited South America and taken sweet potatoes prior to European contact.
"Sweet potatoes are a good source of complex carbohydrates, which can increase serotonin levels in the brain leading to improved mood and promoting feelings of relaxation," says Shapiro, who adds that sweet potatoes also contain fiber to help stabilize blood sugar levels.
Sweet potatoes are rich in the antioxidant beta-carotene, D'Ambrosio says. This helps in reducing damage to the brain cells, which can have a negative impact on mental health. It can also be helpful in reducing the oxidative stress on DNA, which has been linked with depression, anxiety and schizophrenia, she adds.
Just one sweet potato gives you 102% of the vitamin A you need each day. This helps keep your eyes healthy as well as your immune system, your body's defense against germs.It's also good for your reproductive system and organs like your heart and kidneys.
Since its introduction to the East, sweet potato has earned a special place in Asian cuisines. In China, they're baked in large iron drums and enjoyed as a winter street food; or made into Mantou buns; while in North-eastern parts, they're often cut in chunks and fried, served with hot syrup.
Introduction: My name is Aracelis Kilback, I am a nice, gentle, agreeable, joyous, attractive, combative, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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