Sweet Potatoes for a Picky Crowd
Posted: December 14, 2011 Filed under: recipe | Tags: chickpeas, Chipotle, corn, recipe, sweet potato 2 Comments »Every time we have an office party when we are asked to bring something for the crowd, I get worried. Most of the people I work with are not fans of vegetables (I know I am generalizing here but overall I would say they are a meat and potatoes group). I always want to bring something healthy to show them that healthy doesn’t mean tasteless. Today was our deputy directors going away party and I made my best recipe yet!
Chipotle Lime Sweet Potato Salad. I got this idea from our wedding actually and added some chickpeas for some veg protein.
Above from wedding.
This recipe was seriously simple and I got a ton of compliments on it. The only thing you have to cook are the sweet potatoes and they take 20-25min.
Chipotle, Lime, Sweet Potato Salad
- 4 medium sweet potatoes peeled and cubed
- 1 cup frozen corn (I used sweet white)
- 1 cup cooked chickpeas
- 2 finely diced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce – can add more peppers for more heat
- juice of 3 limes
- zest of 1 lime
- 3 tbsp olive oil – divided into 1 tbsp and 2 tbsp
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 large clove of garlic pressed or finely chopped
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 bunch of cilantro chopped fine
- Toss peeled and cubed sweet potatoes in 1 tbsp of olive oil and bake at 400 for approximately 20-25min until fork tender.
- While the potatoes are cooking whisk together remaining ingredients minus the corn and chickpeas.
- Mix in the chickpeas and corn.
- Add potatoes while warm to lime mixture and fold in to get the potatoes fully coated.
- The longer you can marinate, the better. (It is good hot out of the over too!)
Deeeeelicious!
Cheesy Blues
Posted: January 25, 2011 Filed under: recipe | Tags: healthy blue cheese dressing, kale chips, pinto beans, sweet potato 1 Comment »Have to heard the news about Taco Bell? Apparently they don’t really have meat inside their tacos. In all honesty, did we ever think it was real? My favorite quote is from Mark Bittman today was “Yum foods is saying their beef is as much beef as Tyson’s chicken is chicken.”
On to better things…blue cheese dressing anyone?!
The secret ingredient?
The idea started with my recent discovery for my love of blue cheese on sweet potatoes during my wisdom teeth adventure. I combined the following ingredients in a Ball jar and hoped for the best.
- 1oz good blue cheese, chopped and heated for 20sec in the micro– I mean the stinky stuff!
- 1/4 cup plain yogurt drink
- 1 tsp pepper
- dash salt
- 1 tbsp parsley chopped fine
- 1 splash of EVOO to prevent clumping
Top with anything you would normally coat in dressing – great flavor with a lot less fat and probiotics!
Obviously I was going with a sweet potato here.
Sweet potato, home cooked pinto beans heated with a sautéed onion and garlic. Topped with lovely dressing!
Garnished with a side of kale chips!
I’ve found that pinto beans cook up better than any other beans I can have tried from dry to wet.
Are you getting any crazy weather tomorrow into Thursday? We are supposed to get a wintRy mix and I am not looking forward to the icy conditions.
Toothless Eats
Posted: December 5, 2010 Filed under: wisdom teeth | Tags: banana, oat bran, pudding, sweet potato, wisdom teeth 1 Comment »On Friday morning I had my wisdom teeth out. Did you know you can have any number of wisdom teeth up to 4? I only have 3!
So what does one eat when solid foods are not allowed and I am scared to get dry sockets! I also did not want to be eating ice cream the whole time because I still need to get nutrients into my body! (I did have the last of our vanilla coconut ice cream on the first night and it was delicious!)
I have been using my blender and masher quite a bit.
My mom was here the first day and she made me a big thing of chocolate pudding with yogurt.
I added some blended banana with peanut flour to the remaining pudding for another “meal”
I have also been eating a lot of mashed sweet potatoes with goat cheese melted in.
More of these…
Blended with this and some vanilla hemp protein.
I am also enjoying some smooth cold/luke warm soups.
This tomato bisque from WF is really good cold! I ate about 3/4 of it in one sitting.
For breakfast I have been eating milked down oat bran with a mashed banana.
I wish I had more pudding right now, but I want to eat a big piece of crusty bread even more. I can only chew with my front teeth and it definitely makes you slow down to eat.
If you have your wisdom teeth out, what did you eat?
side note: You definitely do not need to spend the money of anesthesia unless you have serious dental anxiety or your teeth are impacted. I have nitrous gas and I was fine. It also saved me $300.
Slow Down Dinner
Posted: September 20, 2010 Filed under: dinner, food | Tags: salad, salmon, sweet potato 1 Comment »I did a crazy brick workout today! I swam 1200m and then took a 45min spin class. It was hard, but so good! Something different to add into the mix!
Dinner had to be just as good.
Wild Alaskan King Salmon marinated in mustard, balsamic, S&P and a little EVOO.
Slow sweet taters with rosemary.
Finished off with a lovely side salad of greens, FM mater – these are coming to an end 
, sweet peppers, cuc and feta.
I find that swimming totally works my arms. I can feel my triceps as I type this, crazy! I always thought swimming would be harder on my legs. Not so much. I don’t mind because I looooove defined arms.
What is your favorite body part?
I am so beat! Heading to my book and bed!
Night All.
3 Parts
Posted: August 3, 2010 Filed under: dinner | Tags: farmers market, Frittata, sweet potato, tomatillos 1 Comment »Are you watching “One Nation Overweight”?
It is a CNBC special on the obesity epidemic in America and it is really interesting! 1/3 children is obese or overweight, crazy.
I’m sure you can catch it online if you missed it!
Now let me get back to the reason for posting tonight, my three course 15min dinner.
These things are all on really small plates, don’t be fooled!
First plate.
Farmers market and my garden on a plate. Purple Cherokee heirloom tomato with zucchini, basil and S&P.
Second.
Frittata – 2 Farm eggs, S&P, splash of water, zucchini, tomato, tomatillo, basil and parm cheese. This was the best “frittata” I have made. I think it might be because I used water instead of milk. I say frittata in quotes because I don’t actually put it in the oven like a normal frittata, I just put the top on my pan so it cooks throughout.
Three
Sweet potato fry genius! I peeled the potato for nice crispy skins and then I used my mandolin to make thin rounds for crispy chips! The skin is crisp and earthy and the chips and sweet and crunchy. I will be doing this again!
Awesome three course meal!
Off to watch more about the epidemic. It seriously fascinates me!
Friday Night Lights
Posted: May 7, 2010 Filed under: Friday | Tags: apple, banana bread, gym, hot dog, salad, sweet potato Leave a comment »Happy Friday evening! Another week is done and the weekend is upon us. This is going to be a busy weekend, but should be a good one.
Nick and I went low key tonight because we both have early morning activities that we need to be perky for 
My office was super freezing today and I really wished I had soup for lunch, but when it is 80 outside I don’t think about soup!
Instead I have a lovely salad, crackers and apple.
In the mix; spinach, tomatoes, carrots, avocado, pumpkin seeds and 2 pollet hard boiled eggs. Check out how yellow that yoke is! It looks even better in person.
I bet you can’t guess what I had for a snack…
Squishy banana on top.
I had planned on going for a bike ride after work, but when I got home there was serious cloud cover and wind. Bummer, so I went to the gym.
I did 30min on the arctrainer and 20min on the elliptical. I also did a few leg exercises, arms and abs.
A quick shower when I got home and then it was time to get started on hot dogs for dinner! It was Friday Night Lights night so I made “game” food. Well healthy versions of hot dogs and fries.
2 Applegate Farm turkey hot dogs on a flat out fold with ketchup and hot dog relish. I love hot dog relish, and it may be one food I will not give up.
Folded with a side of sweet potato fries. Yum! No nitrates for me!
Along with our hot dogs and fries I made up a salad.
Romaine with tomatoes, carrots, cilantro and cucumber. I dressed it with a EVOO, red wine vinegar, S&P and rosemary.
For dessert I had a little ice cream and brownie but I forgot to snap it before enjoying. I had planned on banana soft serve, but my bananas did not freeze in 4 hours? Does that seem odd to anyone else?
Friday Night Lights time! Hello Riggins!
It’s Race Day!
Posted: April 25, 2010 Filed under: Sunday | Tags: baked beans, races, smoked trout, sweet potato Leave a comment »Good Moring! It is race day and it is rainy! I am going to take it as a metaphor for my running struggles for the the past 4 months.
Sorry I didn’t post anything last night. I got home from my adventures around 12:30 made an new lunch and cleaned our apartment for 3 hours until dinner! I was on fire. Once I start cleaning I can’t stop or else I will not get back up.
My lunch consisted of smoked trout! From a can! I HATED sardines so I was worried about trying another fish, but this one was smoked and known for being less oily. I googled what to do with smoked trout and this is what I came up with.
Smoked trout with avocado, roasted red peppers and goat cheese. It was actually really good but I think it would be better as a bite rather than a whole sandwich. The best part was the Great Harvest Dakota slice of bread on the bottom.
I also had a Minneola orange.
Lovely light lunch.
After cleaning I wanted something quick and easy.
Enter sweet potato and backed beans by Caitlin.
I also had another small slice of Dakota. I love the seeds throughout!
Lots of roasted boccoli also made an appearance.
Whoops I just checked the time I will have to get back to you with breakfast!
Wish me luck!
Triple Layered
Posted: April 6, 2010 Filed under: running, Tuesday | Tags: baked beans, bars, kale chips, salad, sweet potato 1 Comment »Holy Cow it is hot out there! I actually had to turn on the AC otherwise there is no way we could get to sleep. It was 90! I went for a walk during lunch and I was trying not to sweat through my clothes. Gross I know!
At least my lunch was refreshing!
Salad of organic mixed baby greens, wheat berries, carrots and maters topped with some luscious lemon hummus. I reallllllly like this hummus!
Plus a huge grapefruit that was extremely messy!
For my afternoon pick me up I went with some protein.
Chobani pineapple. Hands down the best yogurt flavor I have ever eaten.
Mirrored!
When I got home I watered the plants that had endured the hot sun, fed sissy and cleaned up the kitchen. I wanted it to get a little cooler before my run, but that wasn’t happening.
I ended up heading out in the heat anyway and boy was it a hard run. I wanted water so badly when I got home! I think I am up to six glasses at this point. I did a nice 4miler again and my knee felt great! No pain whatsoever!
I came home did some foam rolling and core before hitting the showers and starting on dinner.
Nick was going to trivia tonight so I was able to make something I have been wanting to try for a long time!
Sweet potato with baked beans and Ashley’s salt and vinegar kale chips.
Man I love baked beans!
I also loved how vinegary these chips got! I was going to use some ketchup but instead I used them to soak up the extra baked bean juice, yum!
Then it was time for me to get baking! I haven’t made bars in a really long time and this idea came to me today. What if I combined 3 bars that I had been eyeing online????
Ashley’s Graham Crackers + Allie’s Figgy Bars + Kelsey’s granola bars
Layer style!
First off I 1/2ed everything.
Bottom Layer = Graham Cracker
- 3/4 cup WW flour
- 1/6 cup sugar
- cinnamon
- dash salt
- 1 tbs oil
- 1 tbs applesauce
- 1 tbs molasses
- vanilla
- 1/8 cup whole grain milk
- Mix dry and make well.
- Mix wet and pour into well.
- mix together into a ball and roll out into pan.
Middle Layer = Figgy Bar
- 6oz figs
- 4 ct dates
- small handful almonds
- 1 tbs water
- squirt honey
- juice of 1/2 lemon
- cinnamon
- vanilla
- ginger
- Mix everything in food processor.
- Layer on top of graham crackers.
Top Layer = Oat Bar
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup Bob’s Red Mill muesli
- 1 tbs ground flax
- ~ 1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- cinnamon
- pinch salt
- vanilla
- 3/4 cup whole grain drink
- 1 eggs worth of whites
- pumpkin seeds
- chia seeds
So how did they taste?
Figgy! Which was great because I really enjoy figs, but it was border line too much. I also think the graham got a little over powered by all of the other flavors going on. I think I could make a kick butt fig newton re-make by doing a graham-fig-graham combo. Also I think I would stick to 100% rolled oats. All of the other fruit ie raisins and dates were a little too much, maybe the reason I think the fig layer was too much even.
Nonetheless I think they were a great success for a first stab, and now I finally have a good afternoon snack before runs!
Now it is time for me to crawl into bed. I am pooped! I can’t believe it is going to be 90 again tomorrow then 60 on Thursday!
Night Night!
Biking, Almost There
Posted: April 1, 2010 Filed under: Thursday | Tags: cycling, latkes, REI, salad, sweet potato Leave a comment »I’ve got to make this quick, we are leaving for kickball and red velvet cupcakes in 30min!
My day was crazy number crunching. Blech. Thank you Mr. Obama.
At least lunch was good and kept me going through the day.
Kashi crackers, strawberries and mango, salad with spinach, maters, wheat berries, avocado, sweet potato latke, goat cheese and balsamic vinegar.
I made it through the afternoon just in the nick of time and I was out of that place. I had a date with my bike!
Before heading to REI I had a piece of toast with banana pb.
REI is an amazing store! I had never really paid attention to it because I always thought it was more like EMS, but they actually have some really cool stuff. It seems to focus on all of the sports Dick’s forgets about like cycling, hiking and paddling. I really wanted to get my biked tuned up by they couldn’t take it until Tuesday. I am worried because it is so old that it might need a lot of work I did buy a new helmet and sunglasses.
These sunglasses will be good for running too. They are so light and I won’t look like an idiot running in my normal glasses anymore.
Well I tried to ride my bike a little bit on the NCR trail, but my tiers really needed air and I could tell she needed some love. Rather then pushing it I loaded the bike back into the car and headed home. I had gotten a late start anyway thanks to an accident on the way home.
When I got home I started making Nick’s dinner then mine. I really wanted to use up my leftovers before we leave on Saturday.
A lovely bowl of mush! 2 sweet potato latkes diced with 4 pieces of leftover baked tofu, peas, spinach and some organic, zero sugar, Seeds of Change pasta sauce.
Steamy mist.
Alright time to get dressed and head out the door. Lets make it 3-0 tonight!
Fullness
Posted: March 11, 2010 Filed under: Thursday | Tags: cornbread, muffin, salad, sweet potato Leave a comment »Another day bites the dust. I am in a bit of a funk tonight. No kickball due to the excessive snow melt, and I think it threw me off all night.
I did have a pretty delicious lunch to break up my stimulus hell at work.
Spinach salad with leftover roasted veggies, maters, avocado, goat cheese, balsamic and mustard. I also had two pieces of cornbread from the freezer.
I was totally burned out for most of the afternoon and needed a serious pick me up for a snack. Enter a blueberry almond muffin!
Delicious! I also had a handful of mixed nuts when I got home before my run. I also had some special birthday mail from my mom, dad and grandparents! Thanks guys!
I went on a nice 3.5 mile run with some foam rolling and core work to end. Knee is feeling mighty.
I think my afternoon snacks sort of put me over the edge because I wasn’t hungry 2 hours after I showered. This never happens. I usually want to eat the second I get out of the shower after a run. Whoops! With this plus no kickball meaning no dinner plan I really came up with a random plate of food.
1 carrot made into sticks, 2 small sweet potatoes topped with hot sauce and a sandwich thin melt with spinach and jarlesberg cheese.
Random, yes. Pretty deliciousness in 5min, yes!
I had an Adora for dessert and I am planning on making it a pretty early night. I just feel blah.
I am sure to be happier tomorrow because it is Friday!
