Baked Sweet Potatoe Fries

Do you want to hear something gross? When I was younger (like 12-ish) I used to get the extra large fries from McDonalds (Think an extra large soft drink cup filled with fries) and a large milkshake and call it lunch. Isn't that awful? I didn't realize at the time that was like 6000 calories but to be honest I probably didn't care. Oh, young/fast metabolism. Come back to me. Anyways, I still LOVE fries and splurge occasionally  However, these sweet potato fries easily fill that craving and are the perfect side dish for sandwiches/burgers/etc. Because some things just NEED  a side of fries and no salad can substitute that. So here's my go-to recipe for fry emergencies.

1. Preheat oven to 400 Degrees.

2. Peel one large sweet potato and chop into (somewhat) equal strips. I have a horrible time trying to make the strips equal. Sigh.

3. Coat with sea salt and 1 tbsp. EVOO. You can experiment with different seasonings here, like rosemary or chili powder or pepper. I prefer the classic way, though. Because some things are fine the way they are, okay?

4. Place on a cooking sheet and spread out so that the fries aren't overlapping.

It's pretty embarrassing when you state not to let the fries overlap and then you post a picture where some fries are in fact overlapping. Just try to get past it.

5. Bake about 10 minutes (or until soft)

6. Broil on low for 2-3 minutes or until crispy. Be careful they don't burn!

7. Enjoy! This made about 3 servings.

Nutritional information: 100 calories, 4g fat.

Turkey Burgers

Sometimes I really want a hamburger, you know? While nothing could ever REALLY be a substitute for a good hamburger, this turkey burger comes pretty close. It's definitely a nice hearty lunch option that actually tastes good. And that's all any of us could really ask for, isn't it? By swapping out turkey for that fatty ground beef and using sandwich thins instead of carb bombs hamburger buns, you get a much healthier version of a hamburger but with much of the same satisfaction-- especially if you make some sweet potato fries to go alongside it.

First, you'll need some patties. Look, mine are on sale!  Now your meal is healthy AND cheap. Win, win. Make sure you look for patties that say lean because, surprisingly, a lot of ground turkey options have a ton of fat, which I didn't even know was possible because I thought turkey was like 98% fat free? Mysteries. 

Now we need some "buns." It's also helpful if you warms these up over a grill or in the oven before serving. Gives it a little somethin' extra.

Now, grab some EVOO and put it in your skillet on medium heat. While that heats up, season your patties with salt, pepper, garlic, onion powder, & paprika. You can change any of these or add others if you prefer. I just had a brilliant idea of using actual burger seasoning but it's too late now. Ugh.

Put the patties in the skillet and let cook 12-15 minutes, turning occasionally. It looks like I poked holes in these patties, but I swear that I didn't. They just came that way.

You'll be able to see when they're done. If you're feeling fancy, use your meat thermometer. I don't have one so I can't help you with that. Turn heat to low and add a slice of provolone cheese on top till melty. My spell check is saying saying "melty" isn't a word but there's just no other way to describe it.

Garnish with 1 tbsp Light Mayo made with Olive Oil, spinach, pickles, sweet onions, & whatever other veggies you like! Some people don't like Mayo (how?) so feel free to use mustard or whatever your little heart desires. Toast the sandwich thins if you want to make them extra yummy. These go great with baked sweet potato fries, recipe coming up next!

Nutritional info: 395 calories, 30g protein.