Cinnamon Baked Sweet Potato

Trust me. You're going to want to try this recipe. Even if you aren't a big sweet potato fan (like me). Hubby is doing the Whole Life Challenge, so he's been on a strict diet. Me, not so much. We both have sweet tooths, or would that be sweet teeth? So he's been on the prowl for 'desserts' that follow his diet rules.

He's mainly been eating frozen bananas with almond butter, or pineapple with cinnamon, but he's been experimenting with other combinations. A couple nights ago, he came up with this-

Cinnamon Baked Sweet Potato

• 1 sweet potato
• 1/2 pat of butter
• dash of salt
• sprinkle of cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 400. Pierce sweet potato with fork, and place on baking sheet into pre-heated oven for 45 minutes.
2. Let cool for 5 minutes, cut open and scrape out flesh of sweet potato into a bowl.
3. Mix in butter, salt and cinnamon.
4. Enjoy!

Despite the amount of cook time, this dessert is so easy and ridiculously delicious. That's saying something coming from me. I omit sweet potatoes whenever possible from my Thanksgiving meal plan. This recipe is definitely going on the menu this year!

Best of all, I plugged the info into my 'lose it' app, and it comes in at only 120 calories!! Plus, sweet potatoes are actually nutritious, unlike most 120 calorie 'desserts'.

I apologize for the lack of a pic. Hubby eats it too quick, so I haven't been able to get a pic yet. I'll try to add one later.

Hugs,
-J

Black Bean Turkey Chili

One of my family's all time favorite recipes, this black bean chili is perfect for a fall (or winter) day. Hubby loves it so much, I end up making it in the middle of the summer, too. I prefer to cook mine in my slow cooker, and I can't say enough about what a difference the proper slow cooker makes. I was so frustrated with things always burning to the sides in my old slow cooker, but this one is a lifesaver! Also, I usually use fresh basil, since it grows in my garden, but I don't have oregano yet.

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 onion, diced

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1.5 pounds of ground turkey

• 1 tablespoon ground cumin

• 3 (15 oz) cans black beans (regular, not low sodium), undrained

• 3-4 diced Roma tomatoes*

• 1-2 jalapenos, diced and seeds removed*

• 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste

• 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder

• 1 tablespoon dried oregano

• 1 tablespoon dried basil leaves

• 1 bay leaf

• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

Slow cooker method-

Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook onion and garlic until onions are translucent. Add turkey and ground cumin and cook, stirring, until meat is brown. Transfer turkey/onion mixture to crock pot.  Stir in beans, tomatoes, jalapenos, tomato paste, chili powder, oregano, basil, bay leaf and vinegar. Cook for on low for 4 hours or more, until flavors are well blended.  Remove bay leaf before serving.

Stove top method-

Heat the oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat; cook onion and garlic until onions are translucent. Add turkey and ground cumin and cook, stirring, until meat is brown. Stir in beans, tomatoes, jalapenos, tomato paste, chili powder, oregano, basil, bay leaf and vinegar. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 60 minutes or more, until flavors are well blended.  Remove bay leaf before serving.



Enjoy!!

*Time saver substitution- for tomatoes/jalapeno use 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes and 1 can Rotel tomatoes with green chili.

Hugs,

-J