Most of the orange vegetables you see labeled yams or sweet potatoes are actually sweet potatoes. To find a true yam, which is from the lily family and can be as big as your arm, you need to go to a specialized food store. So the whole argument about which one is best for you is a moot point, as most yams are sweet potatoes.

Like white potatoes, sweet potatoes should not be eaten raw. Even if you wash your skin, unless they’re organically grown, I wouldn’t recommend that you eat the skin. You can treat them like you would any potato and boil them, but doing so can remove some of the nutrients. Steaming them is an alternative. If you peel and then cut each one into half-inch pieces, you only need to steam them for about seven minutes. You can also choose to microwave one for 3-4 minutes after sticking it with a fork and wrapping it in a damp paper towel. Baking later at 375 degrees Fahrenheit may take longer, but it will heat up the kitchen on a cold winter’s day and they may be done with everything else on time or in about 35-40 minutes.

I make sweet potato chips in my deep fryer at 390 degrees Fahrenheit. I cut them finely with a mandolin and fry them for 8-10 minutes. Then I give them some salt with a mixture of baking salt (less coarse) and ground ginger. I can’t seem to make enough of these, but I usually cut them 3-4 to last for a few days.

Sweet potatoes are high in vitamin A, C, and B6 and manganese, potassium, and fiber. They can be treated like you would a pumpkin in terms of seasoning them. In fact, feel free to use pumpkin spice and a little butter. Any of the sweet baking spices is good, including cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, and ginger. Due to their sweet taste, they are perfect when combined with something spicy, such as black pepper, cayenne or red pepper flakes. Even the chili powder is a nice touch. Other spices to experiment with include fennel, coriander, coconut, rosemary, oregano, and cumin. Sauté them in a little coconut oil with a little 5-spice powder for a real treat.

Make your own sweet potato spice mix by mixing the following spices and storing them in their own jar: 1 tablespoon fennel and chili powder, ¾ teaspoon coriander and black pepper, 1½ teaspoon cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, if you like it spicy. This with a teaspoon of salt will make about 1½ ounces or less than a quarter cup of your own mix.

If you have anything left, take it off your skin in the morning and mix it with your favorite pancake mix. Wow, what could be better than maple syrup with sweet potato pancakes? Or if you’re going to eat eggs, make patties and fry them in a little butter or coconut oil. Sprinkle them with your special mix. For an easy soup, chop an onion and sauté in a little butter. Put the onion in a pot and add 3 cooked sweet potatoes, 2 cups of chicken or beef broth, 2 cups of milk and simmer for 5 minutes. Puree the mixture and add a little of your special spice blend. As versatile as a potato, but with so many more vitamins and nutrients, how can you resist something so sweet?