Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries

When sweet potato fries are on a menu, it's seriously hard for me to resist ordering them. I also crave super crispy fries! When my family asked me to make a side dish for our dinner this weekend I knew exactly what I wanted... Sweet Potato Fries

Ingredients:

Sweet Potatoes or Yams 

Salt & pepper

Optional: Extra virgin olive oil

Optional: lemon, rosemary, thyme 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Spray a cookie sheet with Extra Virgin olive oil.

3. Peel yams 

4. Thinly slice yams, in to "fry" shaped strips.

5. Spray& toss yams with olive oil and spices.

6. Bake for 15-20 minutes (20 minutes+ for crispy fries) 

Brian's Grilled Corn & Edamame Salad

My cousin Brian (@brian_wagner) is a total foodie. He works for Nugget Market, and in his free time outside work explores cool food spots and likes to cook. We were at a family reunion this weekend, and I almost died when I saw something bright and fresh in the kitchen! I told Brian I had to try his salad, and once I did I knew it had to be on my blog. Here it is!

Brian's Grilled Corn & Edamame Salad! 

Ingredients:

4 Grilled corn on the cobs or pan roast

1 Diced red onion

1 bunch chopped cilantro

2 bags of frozen edamame

Olive oil 

Rice vinegar

Sweetener of choice - stevia, agave, honey

Directions

1. Throw all ingredients into a bowl! 

2. In a smaller bowl whisk together dressing items. Brian says, "I always make the dressing to taste."

Prep time 20 minutes. 

Serve chilled.

It's that simple! I tried it, it really is delicious!

FOLLOW BRIAN ON INSTAGRAM: @BRIAN_WAGNER

My Favorite Multi-use Raw Dip/Spread

If you know me or have read my blog I am sure you are aware of my sweet tooth. I seriously love making clean treats! Today I made, what may now be my favorite "condiment". I am going to put this sh** on everything, and I can't even wait!!!

This dip/spread can go on so many things!!

 

Ingredients:

1Tbsp. Raw Almond Butter

1 Tbsp. Raw Coconut Butter

1 Tbsp. Raw Cacao powder

2 Tbsp. Unsweetened Almond Milk

1/2 Tbsp. Stevia (optional)

 

USES:

• Spread on ezekiel bread, rice cakes, or crackers
• Spread on your favorite Protein Pancake, Homemade Protein Bar, or egg whites.
• Dip (dates, banana, apple slices)
• Blend with protein powder!

What do you think?

 

 

Thea's Mango Avocado Salsa

This is an UBER quick recipe that is definitely multi-use. I love mango salsa, especially fresh.

Some uses:
On top of omelets
Baked on fish as a relish
Dip
On tacos
In stir-frys
Salad Dressing

Ingredients:
2 mangoes
2 tomatoes
1/2 white onion
1 avocado

1. Slice and dice all 4 ingredients.
2. Mix in a bowl.
3. Serve.

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

I am in love with fries, but let's get real I am not trying to eat a ton of fried food! I love yams and sweet potatoes because they are rich in potassium,Vitamin A, Vitamin B, and Vitamin C. Yams are also great, because they are lower on the Glycemic Index so they don't effect your blood sugar levels as much as say a white baked potato! Try out this recipe, and see if you can switch in the fried foods for this deliciously baked treat!

Ingredients:
Peeled Yams (I cooked in bulk and used 3)
Sea Salt
Pepper
Spices (I used Chili powder, and garlic)

1. Preheat oven to 450
2. Spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray
3. Cut thin slices of yam then lay them on baking sheet.
4. Spice your yams however you'd like, heavy or light!
5. Bake for 30 minutes or until done, sometimes I like mine extra crispy and keep them in longer!

You can enjoy these as a snack, or pair them with a meal!

Quick Kale Salad

This is a super quick uber-healthy delicious kale salad recipe. Kale is like the god of greens and if you make the effort to stick it in your diet it will repay your health! This veggie is filled with nutrients, vitamins, and fiber. It helps aide with cleansing and detoxing the body! Start mixing salads like this in to your diet to see a BIG change in your mood, energy, skin, and maybe even weight!

Quick Kale Salad

4 cups cut organic kale
1/2 lemon juice
1 tbsp minced or finely chopped garlic
1/2 avocado

1. Wash kale then cut.
2. With clean hands Massage kale for a few minutes so it's leafy ends soften.
3. Massage in avocado.
4. Add in garlic and lemon and mix.
5. Let marinate in fridge overnight.

Thea's Baked Curry Sweet Potato Chips

Always searching for a yummy munchie like me? I made this delicious recipe after thinking about eating a bag of chips (weird craving for me), so I looked around my kitchen and saw a big yam staring at me. Time to get creative! I love sweet potato fries, but I remember my amazing friend Kate tell me about how she made veggie chips. I decided to start slicing my yam and creating a clean and healthy smack!

Ingredients:
1 large sweet potato or yam
Curry powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Extra virgin olive oil (spray or light drizzle)

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Peel skin off yam.
3. Start slicing yam in to very Thin round slices.
4. In medium bowl toss slices with evoo spray or drizzle.
5. Sprinkle curry powder on yam.
6. Toss and sprinkle sea salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste.
7. Place in oven for about 30 minutes turning at 10 minutes.

Enjoy by itself of you can make a little dip for it!

1/3. C. Fat free plain Greek yogurt
1 tsp. Garlic
1/2 tsp. Turmeric

Use this as a snack to go!
Use this as a side with lean protein and greens!
Trick your friends to thinking it has to be bad for them!!

Thea's Clean Eating Caesar Dressing

Caesar dressing is just amazing and mouthwatering isn't it? I can't remember the last time I had it due to the high calorie/high fat content. Restaurants make it with heavy egg/oil/mayo based recipes. I went to BOA Steakhouse the other day http://www.boasteak.com/balboa/ and they made my friend a fresh Caesar salad dressing right in front of us. I decided to mock a healthier version inspired by their presentation at BOA.
This recipe is guilt-free but tastes like heaven. I am now going to be using Caesar dressing all the time!!

Ingredients:
1/3 Fat-Free Cottage Cheese (or fat-free Greek yogurt)
1 1/2 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Juice of one lemon
1 Small can of anchovies (finely mince 1/2 can)
2 Tbsp. Garlic
3 tsp. Worcheshire sauce (low sodium)

1. In food processor or blender, add all ingredients.

2. Blend until extremely smooth.

3. Mix with salad, or use as a veggie dip and enjoy.

(I had it with mixed greens, beets, and Blackened Cod.)

Thea's Pistachio Butter Recipe

MMMMMmmmmm. Don't we all love nut butters?! I love peanut butter (as you all know), almond butter is super tasty, and I thought making pistachio butter would be just as delicious. A simple recipe I was curious to try, became a hit! I LOVE pistachio butter now:) Enjoy with some whole grain crackers, on whole wheat toeast, paired with cheeses, or even on fruit!

Thea's Pistachio Butter Recipe

Ingredients:

1 Cup pistachios
1/4 C. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 C. Lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste

1. In food processor mix pistachios.
2. Slowly add in oil and lemon.

3. Add salt and pepper to taste.
4. Enjoy!

Thea's Irresistable Black Bean Dip/Spread

HOLY MOLY! I am not going to lie, I hit the jackpot with this recipe! My roommate was making hummus, and I really wanted to try it with avocado. Then I realized instead of garbonzo beans I wanted to try black beans. From there my ideas came coming, and I whipped up a deliciously amazing creation.
This is perfect for SO MANY occasions. It can be used as any other condiment, on sandwiches, to dip veggies, pita bread, or on top of your lean meat (sort of as guacamole).

Thea's Irresistible Black Bean Dip/Spread

Ingredients:

1 Can black beans (washed and rinsed)
1/2 Avocado
1/2 Onion
2 Tbsp. Greek Yogurt
Handful Jalapeno chopped
Bunch of cilantro washed and chopped
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Salt & Pepper to taste
Garlic to taste

1. In food processor or blender add onion, jalapeno, lemon juice, cilantro, and greek yogurt. Mix on high.

2. Slowly add in black beans, garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix on high!

3. Pour in small container, and enjoy!

Thea's Cinco De Mayo Mexican Style Hummus Dip

I am someone who loves salsa! BUT usually I don't want to fill myself up on chips before I eat a meal (because when it comes to chips I won't stop eating them, so I try to ignore them all together). I usually find veggies to dip in salsa, but the salsa doesn't stick to the veggies:( I decided to make a hummus, with the mexican inspired flavors.

Thea's Cinco De Mayo Mexican Style Hummus Dip
Ingredients:
1 Can garbonzo beans (rinsed and drained)
1 1/2 Tbsp. Organic Tahini
Juice of one lime
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 tsp. cumin
1/5 Red onion
1 Jalapeno
1 Tbsp. Olive oil

1. In a food processor or blender add garbonzo beans, chopped and diced onion, chopped and diced jalapeno, juice of lime and lemon, olive oil, tahini, and cumin.
2. I blended it on puree. It took about 4 minutes.
3. Put in dipping bowl and serve with fresh veggies.

You can even spread this on toast, sandwiches, tortillas, rice cakes, on your chicken, egg whites; whatever your little heart desires!

Cauliflour Popcorn

ingredients:
1 head cauliflower
1 1/2 tbsp. Mrs. dash table blend seasoning
1 tsp olive oil

1. set oven to 450 degrees.
2. chop cauliflower very small and add to bowl
3. drizzle olive oil mix, and gradually add seasoning.
4. bake in over for about 45 min until golden brown.
5. broil in oven for 2 min.

ENJOY!