A FRIDGE FULL OF FOOD...

Good & Good For You: Roasted Sweet Potatoes

 

Did anyone else see Shaun T on Dr. Oz yesterday talking about how great sweet potatoes are for us nutritionally?  I've always loved them and love that they're potatoes but they're kind of not really. They're more of a regular vegetable in the sense of do you count it as a bread or as a veggie? Packed with vitamins and fiber, they're only "bad" for me if I load it up with butter and brown sugar. Luckily, there are other ways to prepare them.

There's not even a recipe per se, just roast them.  I peeled and diced them into a bowl, poured over a few tablespoons of olive oil, and a teaspoon or two of Cavender's greek seasoning (salt-free) and a dash of salt and pepper. Any seasoning/seasoning salt will do.  A tsp of dried rosemary, thyme, or basil, or all of the above,  Italian seasoning, or go the simple route and stick with just salt and pepper. Toss the potatoes around with a spatula until they're all evening covered with the oil and spices.  Spread out into one layer on a foil-lined baking sheet and pop into a 425 degree pre-heated oven and bake for 30-45 minutes or until browned, crispy, and tender in the middle.

That night, Gene and I also ate tortilla-crusted Tilapia froms Schwan's which is a new add to our list. Delicious, and only 250 calories per huge filet.

East, fast, and delicious--I like it!

 

 

Taste of the Ozarks: Beans & Greens

Even I will admit that maybe that doesn't look all that delcious, but I swear on a stack of Bibles, it's delicious.  Beans & Greens has long been a down-home dish throughout most of the southern U.S. and we're no exception.  We love our "brown" (pinto for the uninitiated) beans and cornbread, which btw, form a complete protein. Couple that with kale, collards, or spinach, and you're really looking at a protein/vitamin powerhouse. To be completely honest, you see the green but you don't really taste it.  Until I told him, Gene thought I'd just gone really nuts with the parsley.

This is my version using country sausage with lots of sage, collard greens, and pinto beans.  It's an easy-peasy workday recipe where you throw everything from the pantry/freezer into the crock-pot and either go to work, or like me, go to sleep. Dinner is ready when you are.  Add crackers or cornbread or dinner rolls and you've got a happy Gene, I mean, whatever your spouse's name is.