Baked Sweet Potato Fries

I always have a hard time coming up with side dishes to pair with my meals. I feel like I am doing the same oven fries when I can't come up with anything else. These sweet potato fries are a nice change. They have so much flavor and they aren't fried!!

You will need about a pound of sweet potatos, salt, pepper, cumin, coriander, oregano, parsley and olive oil.

 Mix all or the seasonings together in a small ramekin 

 Cut up potatoes into even pieces, place on large baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil.

Toss with your hands to coat

Sprinkle with with spices and toss to coat

Bake for 15 minutes, flip then bake for 15-20 more minutes until crispy

Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Our Best Bites

1/2 tsp. cumin

1/2 tsp. oregano

1/2 tsp. coriander 

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. dried parsley

1/8 tsp. black pepper

1 lb. sweet potatoes peeled and cut into 1/4 inch pieces

1-2 tbsp. olive oil

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Mix salt, pepper, oregano, parsley, cumin, coriander in a small dish

Peel and cut sweet potato into 1/4 inch pieces and place on large baking sheet

Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat.

Sprinkle seasonings over potatoes and toss to coat again

Bake for 15 minutes, flip with a firm spatula and return to oven for 15-20 more minutes until crispy.

Jalapeno Popper Sliders

So here it is... my first one! I had to start out with one of our favorites. I discovered these amazing sliders this summer. We couldn't get enough of them. I made them on our houseboat trip, but I made them into burgers since we were feeding so many people. Boy were they a hit, everyone was fighting over they left overs. 

You will need 1 lb. hamburger, mini buns, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, salt, pepper, cumin, your favorite burger seasoning, cilantro, onion, garlic and jalapenos. 

Start by seeding and slicing the jalapenos and set aside.

Saute the jalapenos in olive oil until tender.

With a hand mixer, combine cream cheese, salt, pepper, cumin, cilantro garlic and onion. 

Season ground beef with steak seasoning, salt and pepper. Mix mix together with hands and shape into 8 patties.

My mother-in-law gave me this neat little slider basket. I love it because it makes cooking them so much easier. Since these burgers cook fast you will want to bring the cream cheese mixture and cheddar cheese  to the grill so you will be prepared.

Grill burgers over medium heat, about 3-5 minutes. Flip, add cream cheese mixture and top with cheddar cheese. Close grill, cook for a few more minutes until cheese is melted and sliders are done.

Assemble sliders and top them with jalapeno slices.... YUM! 

I served them with baked sweet potato fries... recipe to come!

Jalapeno Popper Sliders
Rachael Ray Magazine

4-5 fresh jalapenos

Olive Oil

8 oz. block of cream cheese 

2 tbsp. grated onion

1 large garlic clove grated or pasted

about a 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1/2 tsp. cumin 

8 oz. cheddar cheese sliced

1-2 lbs. ground beef

Steak seasoning

8-16 Hawaiian Rolls

Slice and seed jalapenos, then saute in olive oil until tender, set aside.

Combine cream cheese, cumin, salt, pepper, onion, garlic and cilantro with an electric mixer, store in fridge until ready to use.

Season beef with your favorite steak seasoning, salt, pepper and maybe even some worchestire sauce. 

Mix with your hands and form into patties. 

( I usually use 1lb ground beef and it makes 8 sliders... the recipe calls for 2 lbs since it makes enough cream cheese mixture for 12-16 sliders.)

Grill burgers over medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Flip and immediately spread cream cheese mixture on top of sliders, then top with cheddar cheese.  

Assemble burgers, top with jalapeno slices.

*I use 93/7 ground beef, 1/3 less fat cream cheese and 2% milk cheddar cheese and they are just as good with a lot less fat and calories!

Finally Getting Started

Well, I finally did it! I have started my food blog! I am exited to share my recipes with my friends and family. Hopefully one day, when someone asks for one of my recipes I can just say, "It's on my blog!"