January is national soup and national oatmeal month. Two of my favorite comforting foods in winter. Our kitchen makes this lovely soup, and you’re right that it doesn’t appear in our cookbooks, so we’re sharing it with you here even though it’s proprietary. We’re trusting you with a “secret” recipe because we love you.

I use the terms sweet potatoes and yams (i.e. red garnet yams) interchangeably, but they are different plants, and what we grow here are really sweet potatoes. Yams, grown primarily in the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and Latin America are tougher, dryer, not as sweet as sweet potatoes.

Of course, use organic ingredients. You’ll get more antioxidants that will keep you from “rusting” prematurely. You’ll keep our farmers and our soil healthier too!

Serves 6-8

2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil	4 C full-fat, unsweetened coconut milk
2 Tbsp toasted sesame oil	1 Tbsp lime zest
4 cloves garlic, minced	½ C lime juice (more at end to taste)
1½ Tbsp minced ginger root (don’t peel organic)	¼ C sliced scallions
1 Tbsp curry powder	¼ C chopped cilantro
5# unpeeled sweet potatoes, about 4 large	1 tsp good salt, or more to taste
4 C water or vegetable broth	1 tsp black pepper, optional

In a soup kettle, gently warm the oils. Add the garlic, ginger and curry powder and stir for about 2 minutes. Scrub sweet potatoes, trim ends and cut into chunks. Do not peel because you’re using ORGANIC! Put sweet potatoes, water, and coconut milk into the kettle. Turn heat up slightly and bring near to a boil. Turn down heat, cover pot, and simmer on low for 20-30 minutes, until potatoes are soft. Add lime zest (Don’t know how to zest? Ask us or watch our television show, Eat Well Be Happy). Add lime juice and stir. Turn off flame and let soup sit 5 minutes so flavors meld. Remove pot from the stove. Using a Vitamix (preferred), a blender, or a food processor, puree soup (you’ll need to do this in several batches). Add each blended batch to a clean pot (same pot for all blended batches!) Add scallions and cilantro and good salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning. Enjoy!