Spicy Pasta with Sweet Potatoes

Spicy Pasta with Sweet Potatoes

1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut into 3/4" cubes
1/2 tsp each sugar, chili powder and cinnamon
1 tbsp. olive oil
8 oz. dried rigatoni
1/3 cup peanut butter
3 oz. cream cheese, cut up
2 tsp. Sriracha sauce (or another Asian chili sauce)
1 tbsp. soy sauce
6 green onions, thinly sliced

1. Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees. Place sweet potato cubes in a bowl and toss with olive oil, sugar, chili powder and cinnamon. Spread on foil lined pan and bake for 20 minutes, or until tender.
2. Cook pasta according to package instructions, saving 1 cup cooking water.
3. In saucepan, combine peanut butter, cream cheese, chili sauce and soy sauce. Whisk in 3/4 cup hot pasta water. Stir over medium heat until heated through, adding additional pasta water if needed.
4. Stir in green onions, pasta and sweet potatoes. Serve.

Notes: If you don't like spice, add less of the Sriracha and chili powder. Add more if you like extra heat. If you don't have rigatoni, penne works well, too. To avoid blackened potatoes, flip them half-way through cooking or put them on a cooling rack to allow more air circulation.

Recipe Origination: From "Better Homes and Gardens"