Rosemary Roasted Potatoes - NYR - YYYYY

This recipe is from Taste of Home® Simple & Delicious, April 2010

1½ pounds potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
1½ pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
(OR 3 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes)
1 large onion, cut into wedges
2 garlic cloves, minced (or pressed)
3 T. olive oil
4½ tsp. minced fresh rosemary or 1½ tsp. dried rosemary, crushed
1 ½ tsp. Creole seasoning *
¼ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper

In a large bowl, combine potatoes, and onion. Mix together oil, garlic cloves, rosemary, Creole seasoning, salt and pepper. Drizzle on vegetables; toss to coat. Transfer to a greased 10 x 15 x 1 inch baking pan. Bake at 425º for 40 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. 8 servings

* The following spices may be substituted for 1 tsp. Creole seasoning: ¼ tsp. each salt, garlic powder and paprika, and a pinch each of dried thyme, ground cumin and cayenne pepper.

Because I only used sweet potatoes (3 pounds), I mistakenly doubled the Creole seasoning substitute, thinking I was doubling the recipe. This actually only added about 1/3 too much, since the recipe called for 1½ tsp. and this made about 2 tsp.. They tasted fine.

This recipe is from one of the magazines we received in our "Goody Bag" from the 2010 Taste of Home Cooking School." (See Asparagus Tomato Salad blog - April 4, 2010.) It also became part of the Law Family 2010 Easter Dinner. This year we even had ham, although I had been roasting a leg of lamb for the last few years. The entire menu was Spiral Sliced Ham, Rosemary Roasted Potatoes, Harvard Beets, Asparagus and Tomato Salad, Broccoli Salad, Fresh Pineapple Chunks, and Rolls. This did make for an absolutely colorful plate. For dessert each of us had a Chocolate Covered Oreo from Schimpff's Confectionery here in Jeffersonville (www.schimpffs.com).

For several years we would go out for Easter Dinner - would you believe to Chi Chi's Mexican Restaurant? This tradition began when we asked our friends, the Skogmans, whose extended family, like ours, was all several states away, if they wanted to go out for Easter. Chi Chi's was one of both families' favorites, so the 4 of us (Gary, Shell, Elizabeth & Richard), the 4 of them (Mark, Linda, Josh & Mary Beth, and a single friend (Wes) all had a fun time that day (and quick service for not many people were there for some odd reason). The next year we decided to do it again, and this time we had a group of 18! The next year, we made an announcement from the pulpit about our Easter Dinner plans and we got a room to ourselves as we had 32 people in attendance at Chi-Chi's. We continued for several years, but in smaller numbers until, unfortunately, the food and service at Chi-Chi's deteriorated so this tradition stopped and Chi-Chi's eventually went out of business. However we treasure the memories of our unusual Easter dinner tradition and the friends that shared in it with us.

I pray all of you have had a blessed Easter. He is Risen! He is Risen, indeed!