I love sweet potatoes. And most of the time when I serve them for dinner, I simply bake one and split it with Mr. C. Now if I could just eat the sweet potato with no additives, I would be fine. But the thought of not “decorating” my half with lots of butter, salt, and pepper, is just totally unappealing. So, out comes the butter dish every time.

But last night I decided that instead of simply baking the sweet potato whole, I would try a different approach. So I went to the internet for inspiration. And I found a simple recipe on the Epicurious site. I changed the recipe a bit to better fit our tastes. The result was both easy and delicious. And the best part. Not a dab of butter was used. Just a small amount of olive oil, plus fresh garlic and thyme. Speaking of time. (Nice segue wouldn’t you say?) This recipe takes no longer to get on the table than if I had simply baked the potato. Of course there is a bit of prep time, but not 30 minute’s worth. (Baking a whole sweet potato – 60 minutes. Baking these potato rounds – 30 minutes.)

So if you want a new and healthy way to serve sweet potatoes, give this recipe a try. You will be surprised by how much the addition of thyme and garlic enhances the flavor of the sweet potato. Of course I’m pretty sure garlic and thyme would enhance the flavor of dog food too given the opportunity. (Not going to give this hypothesis a try, you realize.)

So next time you are at the grocery store, bring home a couple of sweet potatoes. Even if you end up just baking them, you are doing your body a great favor. They are naturally rich in vitamin C, thiamine, niacin, and potassium. Just what the doctor ordered!

• 1 lg. sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into ½-inch thick rounds
• 2-3 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 T. fresh thyme leaves
• ¼ tsp. kosher salt, plus more for sprinkling
• freshly ground black pepper

In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients and toss until all pieces are coated with the oil. Arrange in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Place in a 400 degree oven and roast until tender and slightly browned, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven and if desired, lightly sprinkle with kosher salt. Serve immediately. Serves 2-3 beautifully.