Summer's End is Days Away, But we Welcome a New Season of SPF
The Fall Equinox is upon us! Spray tans are in full force, and I'm saying farewell to my trusty SPF. Well, sort of. This weekend we're welcoming superfoods like these homemade sweet potato fries with open arms, and wide open mouths. All good things must come to an end, but luckily here in Denver we're spoiled with heat through October, so I'll still be holding on tight to some classic summer salads. I will however be taking advantage of fall's best roasted produce including the sweet potato. Sweet potatoes can often raise a lot of conflict because of their higher content of sugar and starch than many other veggies, but they have tremendous benefits to our mind, body and spirit. If you're feeling confused, don't worry because you're not alone. Sweet potatoes may have more calories than your leafy greens, but they also have an immense amount of natural benefits that are authentic to our needs as we enter a new season. What you'll come to find is these sweet potato fries and the SPF you're storing away for hotter temps have more in common than you may think.
SPF: Sweet Potato Facts
Sweet potatoes are sweet vegetables which can soothe your organs and energize the mind. Because sweet potatoes are a root vegetable, they are also energetically grounding. This may explain why potatoes might be a comfort food for you, especially this time of year. Because they have natural sugar, sweet potatoes specifically are a great option to eliminate sugary sweet cravings too. Listening to cravings like this is important for your body to gain the appropriate nutrients it needs. Adding in sweet potatoes helps to crowd out less healthy foods in your diet. Lastly, sweet potatoes are high in fiber, potassium, Vitamin A, B5, B6, and C. These nutrients are particularly important for keeping you full, your energy high and your immune system healthy as we enter the colder months.
If these benefits align with your bio-individual needs, I suggest you give this recipe a try. Like the SPF we use in the summertime, these powerful potatoes protect us against nature's seasonal impacts.
Sweet Potato Fries with a Superfood Garlic & Turmeric Greek Yogurt Aioli
The SPFs
You will need:
2 pounds of purple sweet potatoes
1/4 cup of EVOO
4 cloves of garlic, minced
2 teaspoons of garlic powder (yes both)
2 teaspoons of paprika
1 teaspoon of sea salt (I'm very generous, but use your own taste buds)
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
1 - 2 tablespoons of honey Chopped green onion for garnish
Directions: Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Slice sweet potatoes in quarter inch slices. In a glass mixing bowl mix together EVOO, minced garlic, paprika, sea salt and lemon juice. Thoroughly coat the potatoes with the oil mixture in large bowl. This will allow your fries to cook evenly, with a crunchy outer layer while absorbing each individual flavor. Place the sliced SPFs on baking sheet with generous breathing room. If you need to use two baking sheets, please do. Roast for 60 minutes, turning the SPFs every twenty minutes. Cook times vary by altitude, so if you're at sea level, you may need to take them out slightly sooner. Add the garlic powder on top of the fries about 5 minutes before they are complete. Notes: Make sure you cut these at a quarter inch for that perfect crunch and texture. The fries pictured above were cut slightly bigger. It's also important to emphasize that purple sweet potatoes are dryer than regular sweet potatoes, which explains the longer cook time. If you choose to use traditional sweet potatoes, you may only need to roast them for 20 minutes.
The Superfood Sauce
You will need:
One half shot of the Turmeric BALANCE the Superfood Shot (info where to buy in notes below)
2 cups of fat free greek yogurt
2 tablespoons of EVOO
2 cloves of garlic1 teaspoon of garlic salt (yes, again I use both)
2 teaspoons of white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
1/4 cup of green onions, chopped
Directions: Mix ingredients together until smooth in a food processor or blender. Add salt and pepper to taste. Notes: Use code: Courtney50 if you would like to buy Balance, The Superfood Shot online here: https://superfoodshot.co/collections/balance-the-superfood-shot. These shots are great additions to more than just this recipe. They have 2.5 servings of your daily vegetables while also being an incredible supplement for flavor without any excess oils or added sugar.
Serve sweet potato fries together with sauce, and enjoy as an appetizer or compliment to another summer salad. Cheers!
Potatoes are one of the most contaminated vegetables, so when you can buy these grounding tots in an organic form its beneficial to do so.