Friday, September 23, 2011

It's Not Bad For Me


So, I had a craving for pie today. As usual. But I determined that I would bake something seriously less wheat/fat/sugar -y.

Here's what I came up with, very loosely based on a Weight Watchers recipe:
In a large bowl mix:

  • one tablespoon olive oil
  • two tablespoons real maple syrup
  • one teaspoon salt
  • one eighth teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • three quarter teaspoon cinnamon
  • one eight teaspoon nutmeg
Add:

  • one large sweet potato chopped into one and one half inch chunks
  • one cup coarsely chopped sweet onion
  • one cup peeled and coarsely chunked carrots
  • one apple cored and coarsely chopped 
Coat fruit and vegetables evenly with sauce. Turn into a casserole dish.
Bake uncovered at 375 degrees F. for about an hour, or until vegetables are lightly browned and potato fork tender.

I served this as a side dish alongside baked chicken, and mmmmmmmmm. What a lovely, surprising combination of sweet and savory flavors.

I have to say that at least for the moment my rolling pin is safely stowed away.

I know that many of my readers are far better cooks than I and I'm calling on them: improvements? suggestions? other sweet potato recipes? Love those sweet potatoes AND love to hear how others cook them.

3 comments:

Leslie at SugarAndSpiceADK. said...

this recipe sounds GREAT, Julia--thank you! I, too, need some new sweet potato recipes--usually just stick to baked, with butter and cinnamon and nutmeg, and also have a good twice baked (bad, bad!) recipe AND a great sweet potato pie recipe--all pretty naughty! I would like to find a good stew that contains sweet potatoes--if I find one, I'll certainly share!

dianne h. said...

Jul: Just made this last week:

Sweet Potato/ black bean and bacon soup


3 large sw pot - cooked, peeled, chunked
4-5 c chicken broth (depending on how thick you want your soup)
1 med onion
some garlic
2 cans black beans - rinse, drain
salt and pepper

Fry 6 or so slices bacon - drain, set aside.
In a bit of the grease saute the onion and garlic until translucent.

Combine broth, potato, onion and garlic and process in small batches in the blender. Put back on the stove and add your beans, heat it thoroughly and serve with the bacon bits on top. Love you girl!!!!

annie said...

Julia,

Sweet potatoes are very versatile. You can eat them baked, roasted, fried,or boiled. When roasted at high temp.(400-425)they taste like fries and become even sweeter.Usually salt and pepper is enough, but my son likes pumpkin spice on his potatoes.I like mine in a big dice, cooked like a hash and I mix kale or spinach, so good and healthy.Again, if you make a hash, add an egg or two and it makes a great meal.Unfortunately I don't season my food (gut and kidney issues)and I only cook with extra virgin olive oil(no butter, dairy issues)so my food is bland, but I season for my family.

You should look into a vegetarian cookbook. Try something from Moosewood, Deborah Madison etc. Indian cooking contains sweet potatoes, so you could make curries or a vegetarian meal. Many possibilities for good food. Enjoy

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