Sweet Potato Queen

Editor Jill Melton shares her affinity for a fabulous chipotle brisket with sweet potatoes—a slow cooker recipe sure to jazz up your winter dinner routine.

- Mark Boughton/styling: Teresa Blackburn

This time of year, there's nothing better than coming home to a houseful of yummy smells emanating from the slow cooker, especially when you have a houseful of kids clamoring for dinner. Since we've all probably had our share of chili, here's a dish that may now not in your repertoire—brisket. It's one of the less tender cuts of beef that benefits from a long slow braise (or moist heat), making it a perfect candidate for the slow cooker. In our chipotle brisket recipe, it's coupled with sweet potatoes, which contrast perfectly with the smoky chipotle chile and ancho chile powder used to season the beef. Sweet potatoes are also, of course, super nutritious, providing heaps of beta-carotene, vitamin C and fiber and the phytochemical, lycopene.

—By Jill Melton, Editor