The flavors of fall

Today was a good day, okay it started out rough but ended well. This morning one of the heads on the garden's irrigation system popped off, so when the irrigation ran the garden got incredibly flooded. Mike and I used shovels and buckets to bail water out for over 1/2 hour this morning until there was no standing water left, but it was still pretty wet, I just hope we got enough out that nothing drowns. Since we had worked hard so early in the morning, I decided a nice, big breakfast was in order. I have been getting tons of sweet potatoes from the farm and found some some white onions from a pesticide-free farm just across the border in Nevada, so I decided to try a sweet potato hash.

Sweet Potato Hash

3 or 4 small to medium sweet potatoes, cut into 1/4 inch cubes
2 slices applewood smoked bacon (preferably nitrate free)
1 small white onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 T fresh sage, chopped
1 t fresh thyme
salt and pepper to taste

Steam sweet potatoes in a little water in the microwave for 3 minutes. Strain and set aside. Cut bacon in to small pieces. In large skillet over medium high heat cook bacon until just crispy. Remove bacon from skillet to a plate lined with paper towels, leaving a bit of bacon fat in the skillet. Off heat, add the onions and garlic to the skillet and return to the heat. Add the sweet potatoes, salt, and pepper, stir to mix. Cook covered about 10 minutes. Remove cover, add herbs and bacon, mix well and press down slightly. Continue to cook for 6 - 10 minutes stirring occasionally until the pototoes are starting to get crispy brown edges. If desired, add a bit of paprika or cayenne pepper before serving.

I made shirred eggs to serve on top, but it would pretty much go with any sort of eggs.