Friday, January 28, 2011

How to Make a Nutritious, Tasty, Fulfilling Snack

I have always been a big fan of sweet potatoes, but until recently I didn't realize just how nutritious they were. They are a natural source of dietary fiber, naturally occurring sugars, potassium, complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins A and C, iron and calcium. I also didn't know quite how to enjoy them without butter and brown sugar.

Well, a few weeks ago I found a recipe for baked sweet potatoes chunks with a bacon maple glaze (similar the sweet tater fries you find in some restaurants). Before baking, you coat the chunks in a little olive oil, salt, and pepper. I tested a piece to see if they were done baking and discovered that I LOVED the chunks even without the glaze. We ate it with the glaze that I made from maple syrup, but it gave me the idea to start making my own sweet potato fries with enough seasoning to make them delicious enough on their own.

You can cut your sweet potatoes into any shape you wish - chunks, fries, chips, etc. I would recommend baking them at 400 or higher. I've cooked them on a lower temperature for longer, but they don't get very crispy. I cook my chunks for about 15-20 minutes on each side, but that time would obviously decrese for thin fries or chips. You can use any kind of oil, but I think olive oil has the best flavor. I've also uses garlic and parmesan cheese on my sweet potatoes. I think I could eat these every day. It would probably make me a lot healthier!

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