Sweet Potato Fries

Cut up sweet potatoes about 1/4" thick.
rinse them and pat them dry

lay them out on paper towel and sprinkle with salt (let sit to release moisture)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

dredge in seasoning:

• 1 spoonfull of paprika
• " salt
• " garlic powder
• " pepper
• " onion powder
• " oregano
• " thyme
• a cup or so of flour

place on greased baking sheet (do not let the fries touch eachother)

bake for about 5-10 minutes

Heat oil to about 360-375 degrees (med-high to high) watch so the oil doesn't burn!

take fries out of oven and place a few at a time in oil until golden and crispy. place on cookie cooling rack (upside down) over newspaper

This works well with Yams as well (you can also use this method without the seasonings and just add salt after frying)

serve with ranch/ketchup :) enjoy!!

Broccoli Salad

This dish is visually appealing and surprisingly delicious! I made it for the first time for some friends at a BBQ.

Ingredients:

• 1 broccoli head
• cherries (or even grapes)
• carrots
• feta cheese
• pine nuts
• red onion
• salami
• apple cider vinegar
• sugar
• mayonnaise
• salt & pepper

Cut up the broccoli head into small florets, put in bowl. cut off the stem and slice into thin slivers (make sure you shave the outer layer of the broccoli stem first, leaves, etc). cut up a few carrots into thin slivers, add to bowl. cut red cherries; cutting around the seed (you should get 3-4 slices out of each cherry). dice up about 1/3 of a red onion. Add about 1 cut of feta cheese. Slice salami into strips and add to bowl.

Dressing:

Add about 2 large spoonfuls of mayonnaise. Then, add about 2-3 tbsp of apple cider vinegar. Add about 1-2 tbsp of sugar. Mix well, then grind a few pinches of salt and pepper to taste.

(sorry, these measurements may not be exact, you have to add wet ingredients on how they look according to how much dry ingredients you have...hope that makes sense)

Soup Season

Creamy Cauliflower Soup

I'm excited that soup season has begun. I like a good soup every now and then. This is one I came up with this week and if it's a success, I post it..again, a lot of it is taste and add, so make sure you start on the blander side and go from there. (sorry the picture quality isn't wonderful..it was taken via blackberry) Also, bear with me, this is the first time I made this, so it should get better each time..depending on what I add or take out.

Cut and cook 1 cauliflower head:

add: dash of taragon, salt, pepper, garlic, onion, 1:1 water & chicken broth

opt: cook chopped onions (about 2 tbsp) in about 1-2 tbsp olive oil

Once cauliflower is cooked thoroughly, drain and put in a blender. Add 1 1/2 c chicken broth, 2 tbsp heavy whipping cream. Blend until smooth and creamy.

Grate 1-2 c white cheddar cheese and 1/2 c mozzarella cheese

Put creamy cauliflower in a pan and cook on medium heat. Add cheeses, 1 "laughing cow" soft swiss cheese triangle (opt), dash of white pepper, and about 2-4 tbsp of heavy whipping cream.

Simmer on medium-low heat for about 5 minutes. garnish with garlic asparagus and french bread!

Asparagus: you can either cook on stove or oven: 350 degrees for 5-10 minutes or on medium heat covered for 5-10 minutes. Add butter, garlic, onion, salt and pepper.

Roast Beef Salad, Wheat Pita, Fried Zucchini, & Ranch

Ingredients: Roast Beef salad

• Roast Beef
• Avocado
• Green onion
• Tomato
• Parsley
• Garlic Salt

Tear up roast beef (deli sliced) in pieces, into a bowl. Slice avocado and tomato. Chop green onion (I like to use both green side and white side). Sprinkle parsley and garlic salt to taste, then store in a container in fridge..while you make the pita bread!

Ingredients: Whole Wheat Pita

• 2 (1/4 oz) pkg active dry yeast
• 2 c warm H20
• 1/2 tsp honey
• 1/4 c olive oil
• 1 tbsp salt
• 5 c wheat flour
• cornmeal

In a bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/2 c warm H20. Add 1/2 of the honey, let stand for 5 min. Add olive oil, remaining H20 and honey; mix. Stir in wheat flour and salt; knead onto floured surface (I use wheat flour again). Let it rise in a greased bowl for 30 min covered. Flatten a ball about the size of your fist, dip one side with cornmeal, bake on a slightly greased pan @ 475 degrees for 8-10 min. Cut in half and split with a knife to make a pita pocket!

Ingredients: fried zucchini

• Zucchini
• Bread Crumbs
• Eggs
• Oil

Slice Zucchini to desired thickness. Coat in eggs, previously whisked; then coat in bread crumbs, and repeat again. Prepare hot oil in a pan or a deep fryer (I like using a deep fryer). Fry until golden brown (only fry a few at a time). serve with ranch dip!

Ingredients: Ranch Dip

• mayonnaise
• sour cream
• onions
• parsley
• onion powder
• salt
• paprika
• garlic
• pepper

Mix 1 3/4c Mayo and 2c sour cream with herbs (other ingredients) about 1/1.

Ingredients: Ranch dressing

• 15 saltine crackers
• 2c dry minced parsley flakes
• 1/2 c dry minced onion
• 2 tbsp dry dill weed
• 1/4 c onion salt
• 1/4 c garlic salt
• 1/4 c onion powder
• 1/4 c garlic powder

Mix

• 1 tbsp mix
• 1c mayonnaise
• 1c buttermilk

Put crackers in blender on high speed until powder. Add parsley, onions, dill weed and blend. Stir in onion, salt, garlic salt, onion powder, and garlic powder. Put in a container and store in fridge to stand (best if you prepare in advance)

I love ranch dressing/dip, both are great..sorry I don't have exact specifications, since I usually just estimate when preparing my recipes.

Sprinkle grated cheese on roast beef salad and stuff into pita pocket. Serve with fried zucchini and ranch dip or dressing...and some juice (which happens to be mango/peach).

Enjoy!