Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Everyone loves having the classic side of fries with their meals once in a while, and making them at home isn't the most difficult thing in the world. But knowing a few key steps for preparing and cooking your fries will leave you with restaurant quality sweet potato fries.

Ingredients:

1 large sweet potato

2 tbsp olive oil

1/2 tsp sea salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 F and rinse sweet potato in water. Being peeling the skin off your sweet potato. 

2. Depending on how large your potato is, start by cutting lengthwise into sections, then into sticks.

3. Transfer all your fries into a bowl, and toss with sea salt. Set the bowl aside for 15 mins. to allow the salt to soak up excess moisture.

4. Next you want to lay out two sheets of paper towels, and transfer fries onto them. Take another two sheets, and blot the fries to ensure the fries are completely dry (this is what makes them crispy!).

5. Place all your fries back into the bowl and toss with olive oil, making sure the fries are completely covered.

6. Lay out a sheet of parchment paper onto a baking sheet, and arrange fries onto it keeping some separation between each. This will help bake each fry individually.

7. Place baking sheet in oven for 15 mins. Once time is up, flip them over and put them back in for another 10 minutes.

8. Remove and serve!

Paleo Taco Salad

Combining the deliciousness of a taco with a fresh bed of lettuce has always been a personal favourite for me, and by making some minor changes to the ingredients used in the typical dish, I present to you the paleo friendly version of the taco salad. Since paleo doesn't "allow" for cheese due to it containing dairy, this dish can be made entirely paleo by excluding the cheese. But what can I say, I'm not lactose intolerant, and eating cheese has shown no negative effects on me. Plus, I just really freakin' love cheese!

Ingredients:

1/2 lb Grass-fed ground beef

1 large sweet potato

1 red bell pepper

1 large tomato

1/4 red onion 

1/2 lettuce head

3 in. block aged cheddar* (optional)

Cajun seasoning

Salt & Pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat over to 350°F and a large skillet on medium.

2. Peel skin from sweet potato, and cut into 1/2" slices.

3. Season slices with cajun spice, place on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and place in oven for 20 mins.

4. While waiting, dice the pepper, tomato and onion and begin cooking ground beef in pan until browned throughout.

5. Once the beef has browned, turn the heat to medium-low, and add vegetables, salt & pepper, and cajun, and let sit until potatoes finish.

6. Cut your lettuce head into bowl and toss with a little olive oil and salt. Once the potato slices are done, add them into the skillet and mash entire mixture together.

7. Once a constant mix of hash is reached, turn off heat and add pan ingredients to bowl of lettuce, mixing everything together.

For a little extra "oomph", top the salad with some hot sauce or any other desired dressing/seasoning.