163. YAM-BACON ROLL UPS

makes 4 to 6 appetizer servings


10 slices white bread, crusts trimmed
10 bacon slices
1 cup cooked mashed yams (or sweet potatoes)(see note)
2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut each bread slice into three strips. Cut each bacon strip into three pieces. Combine the yams atoes and cream cheese. Season with salt and pepper, add the parsley and stir to blend. On each bacon strip, place a strip of bread. Spread about a teaspoon of the yam mixture on each bread strip and roll up. Secure with a toothpick and place them on a cookie sheet. Bake for 15 minutes. Serve warm.

NOTE: When baking yams, wash them with cool water and pat dry with paper towels. Do not prick the skin. You can lightly oil the skins or not, then bake the yams at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to 375 degrees and continue baking until the yams are soft, about one hour or so, depending on the size. It is recommended that yams NOT be wrapped in aluminum foil so that they will achieve a sweet, syrupy flavor. Be forewarned, if the yams are cooked in a microwave, they will not have that wonderful taste. Yams can be boiled, but again, they won't have the flavor that the baked ones do. If a recipe calls for mashed yams, it's best to bake them first. Boiling is acceptable for some other applications, however. If you want to bake a large batch in a conventional oven, you can freeze the extras wrapped in plastic wrap and store them in airtight freezer bags. They can be defrosted and reheated in a microwave without losing taste.



courtesy of: Marcelle Bienvenu, The Times-Picayune, New Orleans, Louisiana