You’ve got to love sweet potatoes. There is something magical about these large, starchy, sweet-tasting roots which blend with both sweet and savory dishes. I guess being a year-round staple makes them easy to obtain and their specific taste, creates a delicious bomb out of an ordinary side dish. Autumn is their peak season though, a time when yams become a daily “must have”. I never really understood why, but when I think about it, it probably has to do with all the delicious spices which fuse with yams perfectly. The scents of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, vanilla and cloves create a homey, warm atmosphere while the cool autumn winds blow from the outside. Baked alone or mixed into a soup, pie or casserole, sweet potatoes are a traditional Thanksgiving Day favorite.

I combine sweet potatoes in very many meals; they are easy to prepare and can bake by themselves, meaning I don’t have to stand next to the stove for ages waiting for them to be done. My Caramelized Sweet Potato Rounds is just one of those recipes which will start off the fall season with perfect holiday aromas all around.