Christmas is one of the major Canadian holidays on the calendar where food plays a starring role. The centrepiece is often turkey, ham, a beef roast or even lamb, but there are many ways to build locally grown produce into a holiday menu as well.
Potatoes, carrots, turnips, parsnips, beans, corn, greens or sweet potatoes all make terrific side dishes to complement a main course of your choosing – and all of them are grown in Ontario.
By buying locally, you’re lowering your environmental footprint and supporting sustainable practices by local farmers. You’ll also add great taste and nutrition to your meal with the unmatched flavour of field or sun-ripened vegetables harvested at peak freshness.
For more than 20 years, Ontario’s fruit and vegetable growers have been widely adopting a range of practices that support sustainable food production. These include technologies and techniques to use less energy and fertilizer, using tools like soil testing and cover crops to make healthier soils, and reducing water and pesticide use.
At the same time, growers have also been investing in developing new vegetable and fruit varieties that meet consumer demands for look, taste and texture, and that grow well in the Canadian climate.
The Radiance sweet potato is one such example, the first sweet potato variety bred by Canadians for Canadians. It is red-skinned with deep orange flesh and, unlike southern varieties, matures early in Canada’s cool climate growing conditions, so it’s ready for December holiday meals.
Radiance is also sweeter, stickier and firmer than other sweet potatoes, making it ideal for Canadian consumers who prefer a caramel-like flavour. Try this recipe from Foodland Ontario with your next holiday meal:
Maple-candied Sweet Potatoes
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: Approx. 2 hours
Makes: 6 to 8 servings
Ingredients:
- 6 sweet potatoes (approximately 5 lbs/2.2 kg) peeled and quartered
- 1 cup (250 ml) apple cider
- 2/3 cup (150 ml) maple syrup
- 2 tbsp (25 ml) butter
- 1 tsp (5 ml) salt
- 1/2 cup (125 ml) chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) fresh lemon or lime juice
Directions:
- In a large pot, cover potatoes with water. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer for about 12 minutes or until almost tender. Drain in a large colander; let cool enough to handle. Slice each piece in half and place in a nonstick 9" x 13" (24 cm x 34 cm) baking dish.
- In a small saucepan, combine apple cider, maple syrup, butter and salt; bring to a boil. Pour over potatoes. Bake in 325°F (160°C) oven for 1.5 hours, gently turning and basting occasionally.
- Mix parsley with lemon or lime juice and sprinkle over potatoes.
Find more recipes using Ontario-grown produce at ontario.ca/foodland/recipes.
