oven-roasted sweet potato fries

i haven't been cooking much this week because i am in cram mode with only one week left in the quarter!! fortunately, i have a freezer stocked with frozen meals that i made last month. for lunch i defrosted the curry soup with chickpeas (it was just as good as the first time).


however, i needed a study break tonight so i made roasted sweet potato fries and a juicy burger topped with caramelized onions to eat while i worked on a paper. the hour i "wasted" cooking was totally worth it! not only did i get to try a successful new recipe, but i also used my new silicone baking sheet for the first time...it was a birthday present from my friends. if you don't have one i highly recommend investing in one. enjoy!


Ingredients:
NOTE: this recipe only serves 1
1 Medium-sized sweet potato (rinsed and dried)
1 T. vegetable oil
1/2 t. paprika
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. garlic powder
1/2 t. pepper
1/4 t. cumin
Sprinkle of cayenne (optional)


Directions:
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees
Cut the potato into 1/4" thin strips

Place the strips in a bowl and toss with the remaining ingredients (oil and spices)until the strips are evenly coated

Then spread the potatoes evenly on a baking sheet that is covered in parchment paper or a silicone baking sheet. Make sure you don't over crowd the strips so that they roast properly.

Place in the oven and cook for 20-30 minutes, turning the fries once or twice during that time to make sure they cook evenly.
Remove once they have turned golden brown and begin to crisp.

Carmelized Onions will be featured in the near future

As seen in Gimme Some Oven!

cilantro-honey glaze

a balanced diet calls for 3-5 servings of vegetables everyday. you will have no problem getting in your daily vegetables with this recipe. roasting your veggies with this cilantro-honey glaze will have you wanting more. the chili powder gives it a slight kick, while the honey creates a sweet caramelized texture. this is definitely a recipe to record in your recipe book. 

Ingredients:

1 1/4 lb. cleaned and cut butternut squash
 (i used sweet potatoes and carrots)

1/4 C. honey


Juice of 1 lime (about 1 Tbsp.)


2 T. extra virgin olive oil


1 t. chili powder


1 t. sea salt


1/2 t. fresh ground pepper


1/3 C. coarsely chopped cilantro leaves

Directions: 

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees

Clean and cut your vegetables into 1 inch pieces

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl until smooth (add cilantro last)

Place vegetables in the bowl until coated

Cover the entire baking sheet with foil

Evenly distribute the vegetables on the foil covered baking sheet 

This is what the vegetables look like prior to cooking.

thai honey peanut chicken

we all have nights when creativity and inspiration are just not happening. yes, the typical grilled chicken, bbq chicken and lemon chicken are great, but sometimes switching it up is much needed. last night all “the girls” came over to try this Asian inspired dish…and it was a hit! it is sweet and creamy with a little kick (if desired). i mean who doesn’t like an recipe involving peanut butter. this meal takes less than 20 minutes to prepare and get on the table! enjoy.  

Ingredients: (serves 3)

1 lb. chicken

¼ C. soy sauce

1 t. minced garlic

1 T. peanut butter

2 T. honey

½ t. curry powder

1 T. lime juice

1 t. siracha (optional)

Directions:

Start cooking rice according to directions then defrost and cube the chicken.

Mix all the ingredients into a medium size bowl.

Cook chicken and the sauce over medium-high heat for approximately 7 minutes or until chicken is done.

Serve over a scoop of rice and garnish with crushed peanuts and cilantro.

Cooking Tip: using the marinade as the sauce- even though it came in contact with raw meat- is safe because it will get to the necessary 160° when you cook it with the chicken. 

happy birthday bethany!

thanks to Bethany turning 21 (happy 21^st birthday Bethany!!)- and a lot of leftover beer from the celebration- we have had all sorts of fun experimenting with beer recipes. our favorite has been the beer bread. the best part about the recipe, it only requires 5 ingredients! 5 ingredients that most college students keep on hand.

Ingredients:

1/3 C. sugar

3 C.  bread flour (substitute below)

12 oz. of beer

1 t. of salt

1 T. butter

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375° F. 

In a large bowl combine sugar, flour and beer. If the dough looks too dry add more beer until the dough is a sticky texture. Add the salt last because it will bring the dough together.

Butter the bottom and sides of a pan (8X8) and place dough inside. Bake for 55 minutes. 

Pour 1-2 T. of melted butter on the top and bake for another 10 minutes.The top should be golden brown.

this recipe is great for the winter months. eating a warm slice of fresh bread paired with a bowl of steamy soup is perfect on a rainy day in the northwest. surprise a friend, roommate, or family member with a tasty treat.

Substitute for Bread Flour- One cup self-rising flour equals: 


1 cup all-purpose flour, plus 


1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder, plus 


1/8 teaspoons salt

Cooking Tip:

For ease of cleaning wash the bowl using cold water to prevent flour residue from becoming sticky