17 February 2013

the best sweet potato fries ever, i promise~


Have you been to Outback and had their sweet potato fries?  They are a.m.a.z.i.n.g.  I'm not sure how much of our Christmas gift card I've used going there to have some.  They are the perfect mixture of sweet and salty.  I finally decided I needed to figure out how to make them since my gift card isn't going to last forever. Plus, I figured they were probably not the healthiest thing ever since they are super sticky.  But have I said they're good?  Oh yes, they are divine.

Now, I've bought a couple of those bags they sell at the store, but they are terrible.  I may try them again in the future and prepare them the following way just for the convenience of having them pre-sliced, but baked straight out of the bag leaves much to be desired.  So, courtesy of pinterest and a little doctoring-up, I present to you the recipe for perfect sweet potato fries.


Ingredients:
* sweet potatos
* liquid coconut oil - I imagine any oil would work
* salt to taste
* powdered stevia or brown sugar - I've used both and my kids can't tell a difference, and they are not stevia lovers

Directions:
* Preheat oven to 450 and line your baking sheet with foil.
* Peel your sweet potatos, or not, and slice into whatever thickness of fries you prefer.
* Toss in just enough oil to lightly coat the fries, they do NOT need to be super wet.
* Place on baking sheet.  Sprinkle generously with salt and amount of sugar/sweetner you think is good.    You can always add more, but you cannot take it back.  Trust me on this one.  A little stevia goes a long way.  One little packet was enough for two sweet potatos.
* Bake in oven for approximately 15-20 minutes.  This will depend on the thickness of your fries and how soft or crispy you like them.  We like the edges beginning to brown.  You'll probably want to stir them around at least once during the baking time so they don't stick.  The bottoms will get black if you're not careful, so keep an eye on them.
* Remove from oven, and this is important - sprinkle more salt on them while they are hot!  It kind of carmelizes and makes such a difference.

They are delicious.  They are not sticky like Outback's fries, but they taste almost identical.  Several of our previously skeptical kids declared their undying love for the new, improved sweet potato fries.

Happy Sunday!

11 February 2013

baby bear~



Because every baby needs a pair
of pants with a bear bottom.   :)

Everly
February 2012

because she's 14~




Anna and I in the airport on our DC trip to do the historical thing 
as well as help out with a rally for 





In case anyone wanted proof that my oldest daughter is not an unsocialized homeschooler a very normal teenager, well here you go.  Unless of course you think these actually prove the first point, then nevermind.  
"How can it be a large career to tell other people’s children about arithmetic, and a small career to tell one’s own children about the universe? How can it be broad to be the same thing to everyone, and narrow to be everything to someone? No; a woman’s function is laborious, but because it is gigantic, not because it is minute. I will pity Mrs. Jones for the hugeness of her task; I will never pity her for its smallness." ~GK Chesterton

2012 November

2012 November