Roasted Sweet Potatoes palatable, healthful

In the South, sweet potatoes at Thanksgiving is practically a mandate. When we were kids, that meant a "casserole" of mashed sweet potatoes with sugar added and sweet marshmallows on top. It was more like dessert than a side dish. In fact, a lot of heirloom Southern cookbooks refer to this as "candied" sweet potatoes.

Now that we're not kids anymore (and our kids aren't so kid-like either), we've longed for a way to keep the tradition of sweet potatoes without all of the sugar. Today's recipe for Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Simple Balsamic Vinaigrette is a sophisticated take on this traditional vegetable that's a lot more palatable and a good deal healthier, too.

Just slice the potatoes and an onion and pop the pan into the oven to roast. If you have the oven space, this is an easy dish to add to the feast. (And if your space is limited, do these a day ahead, and rewarm after the turkey leaves the oven.)

If the idea of forgoing the oh-so-sweet sweet potatoes is too upsetting, consider serving both versions. They're almost two completely different vegetables, and we'd love to hear which one you like best. Log into our Web site at www.KitchenScoop.com to join the conversation.

ROASTED SWEET POTATOES WITH SIMPLE BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

Start to finish: 10 minutes preparation, 35 minutes to roast

4 pounds sweet potatoes (about 5 medium)

1 cup thin slices of sweet onion

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Simple Balsamic vinaigrette, for serving, recipe follows

Preheat oven to 450 F. Spray a large roasting pan (with at least 2-inch sides) with cooking-oil spray. Cut sweet potatoes (unpeeled) into 1-inch pieces and place in pan.

Toss in onion slices and drizzle with oil. Toss to coat well.

Roast until potatoes are tender and lightly browned and onions are caramelized, about 35 to 40 minutes. Stir half-way through cooking. Transfer vegetables to a serving dish and drizzle with Simple Balsamic Vinaigrette. Serve immediately. Serves 8

Approximate values per serving: 238 calories (40 percent from fat), 11 g fat (1.5 g saturated), 0 mg cholesterol, 3 g protein, 33 g carbohydrates, 5 g dietary fiber, 195 mg sodium.

SIMPLE BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

Start to finish: 3 minutes