“You like potato and I like potahto
You like tomato and I like tomahto
Potato, potahto, tomato, tomahto
Let’s call the whole thing off”
Ella Fitzgerald.
Yep you’re right Ella let’s call the whole thing off, potato potahto, it’s time to break up with negative beliefs: fries are not always a nightmare for your health (and your hips) if you know how to prepare them, how to cook them, and of course if you don’t eat them every day…
Hello, young Padawan
It’s always the same when it’s time to go back to work after a nice vacation, there is a wee bit of anxiety in your heart. If I could add a little sound effect right now in this article it would probably be the music of Alien 1 with Sigourney Weaver, as she passes through the tunnel before the monster appears. Huge spoiler alert: Sigourney wins in the end. So no reason to worry (psychology for Dummies Volume 1, ed).
In other words, even if everything is planned we know when we go on vacation and when we come back, the apprehension is there but thanks god, the D Day the cheese soufflé of your anxiety falls on your daily #cookandpoet.
As Fall comes, the brightness of the days goes down but you get back to the rhythm of getting up early in the morning and turning into shiva multi-task again. Speaking of things that fall, don’t worry I will be careful not to go down that road, you can continue to read even if your children or granny are next to you: your energy begins to weaken (I know you are disappointed #Iknowwhatyouwant #naughtyjoke) … yes, you need to fill up with vitamins, and so do I indeed.
To satisfy your vitamins requirements, you must eat fruits, veggies and tutti quanti you know about it. But sometimes we want a bit of comfort food.
In France we don’t say comfort food, we say “Madeleine de Proust” thanks to the writer Marcel Proust and his favorite mini cake: the madeleine. Dear Mr. Proust, your madeleines (which is a small cake with lots of butter and sugar) are very good but lacks vitamins and I do not even talk about the carbohydrate rebound that you will have after eating it.
If you want no more vitality, listen to this writer and his madeleine. But if you want to recharge your batteries with good food to your body, mind, and soul I am your humble guide for this ride …
Sweet potato, one of your BFF …
Sweet potato is rich in vitamin A (beta-carotene) and vitamin C. Both vitamins A and C are powerful antioxidants that work inside the body to eliminate free radicals.
A single sweet potato covers your vitamin A requirements (it is not only the vitamin that gives you a nice complexion, in French, we say “fesses roses” pink buttocks, it is also the one who takes care of your beautiful eyes).
It is also rich in fiber which is excellent for your intestines, it contains copper, manganese, vitamins B6, B9 and has a low glycemic index.
It helps to reduce the risks of cancer, cardiovascular diseases and improves the functions of the liver.
So sweet sweet potato!
Why would you like to maintain a low glycemic index? To avoid to be tired just after your meal and help you to pick up the pace of course! We’ll talk about it again in more detail in a next article.
Baked Sweet Potato Fries
For 2 people.
2 sweet potatoes, or only one if it has a “king kong” size.
1 tbsp. olive oil (a little goes a long way)
2 tbsp. thyme
2 tbsp. strong paprika (we are not stormtrooper)
Madagascar pepper, or the pepper of your choice but believe me it is the best.
Salt
Recipe
Preheat the oven to 356°F (180°C-Th.6).
Peel the sweet potatoes with a peeling knife, or if you want to save time: a vegetable razor. (I told you a vegetable razor, do not borrow your hipster friend’s razor, it won’t work, ed).
Wash the sweet potatoes and dry them thoroughly. Cut them into the desired size, country fries for softness or classic french fries version if you prefer to have a little more firmness. (I like it when it is smaller but firmer… I’m talking about fries of course! 😇#nowyouhaveyournaughtyjoke).
Put the sweet potatoes in a large bowl with a round bottom so they can be easily stirred afterward.
Add the oil and all the spices in the bowl. Using a tablespoon, toss them from the bottom to the top as the spices tend to fall into the bottom of the container.
Once the sweet potatoes are well coated with the spices, put them on a non-stick baking tray or a baking sheet. Make sure to store them well so they do not touch each other because it is necessary that the heat is well distributed during cooking.
Bake for 20 minutes and watch from 15 minutes the first time. In fact, depending on the oven and the thickness of the fries, the cooking time varies between 15 and 25 mins.
PRESENTATION
Arrange the fries as a side dish into pretty ramekins or in a food-quality newspaper sheet for a bistro effect (it is easy to find those on Amazon but keep it for special occasions because it remains disposable paper that will end up in the trash needlessly).
I recommend serving your fries with a good Dijon French mustard, to counterbalance the slightly sugary effect of the sweet potatoes.
My chauvinistic friendship to the adorable Michiganders that I love so much: your mustard suits the Detroit coney dogs perfectly, but for the sweet potato fries try to step out of your comfort zone and you will thank and hug me for this new culinary experience. I saw some French mustard at Wholefoods Market in Birmingham, try and tell me what you think! XO.
Do you feel the treat in your bowels, heart mind and soul? And it will not be so chaotic that it could have been. Now you know it is possible to have a really good food (even #foodporn), without fretting your blood sugar rate, calories and tiredness accompanying it.
I’m leaving you to your tasting and counting on you to tell me what are your thoughts about it, here or on Instagram …
See you at the corner of the oven (or at the Nike store! ),
La bise! XO.
