Thursday, April 9, 2015

Potato Nirvana! GF, V & Paleo

Behold.

The Great.

Potato.




Youuuuu Guyssssssss. This is by far one of the most insanely delicious things ever. Literally, ever.



Have you ever had one of those days where you'd just rather skip dinner and just go straight to dessert? Or rather, have dessert for dinner?

Like everyday? Okay yeah, me too :)



Well, this recipe is the best of both worlds. You get dinner and dessert in one! How? Because it's so friggin tasty, and deceptively healthy!

I'd call that a #win!



Now, potatoes are a little tricky. They're not on the Specific Carb Diet. Period. Sweet Potatoes are on the Paleo diet, and Red potatoes are on the Body Ecology Diet. So, do with this what you will.



Before I dive in, I promised yesterday to give you a quick update on our trip to Florida.



It was amazing -- we stayed right on the water and we spent the week on the beach,



taking walks,



watching the sunset,



and enjoying delicious Tiki Bar drinks:)






Ok...back to the spuds.



For this recipe I used a Japanese Sweet Potato. There are all different types of tubers -- sweet potatoes, yams, japanese sweet potatoes, etc. But I choose the Japanese variety because I like the texture of it. The flesh is actually white, not orange, like we're used to at Thanksgiving. But the texture is almost gummy, and creates this beautifully thick, paste-like consistency that I found really enjoyable. ((It doesn't sound that appetizing from that description, but believe me, it was splendid...Think cookie dough))




Also - to "up" the nutrition factor, and intensify the color, I added steamed carrots to the flesh. Aren't I tricky ;)



Here's what you need. (Serves one -- although, I guesssss you could split it)

1 massive Japanese sweet potato, baked
1 1/2 cups carrots, chopped and steamed
pinch of salt

Drizzle:
3 Tbsp peanut butter or almond butter
2 Tbsp honey
1 tsp cinnamon
pinch of salt

Garnish
pecans, roasted and chopped

Optional: (to be blended in)
1 Tbsp almond butter
1 Tbsp honey

Preheat oven to 375. Prick your sweet potato all over with a fork. Rub the skin with a little bit of oil - I used grapeseed. Bake for about 1 hour, turning every 15 minutes with an oven mitt. (I placed a cookie sheet underneath the potato to catch any sugary drippings that might ooze out of the spud.)

While the potato is baking, I made my almond butter drizzle. In my food processor, I mixed the peanut butter, honey and cinnamon until it was nice and smooth and drizzly. If the consistency is too thick, you can add either a splash of water, or a little bit of oil. I used a touch of almond oil, but another flavorless oil would be fine too.

Transfer your sauce to another bowl, and try to refrain from eating all of it. ((I made 4x the amount listed in the recipe to keep on hand for yogurts, cereal, smoothie additions, fruit dip, etc.))

*You don't have to clean your food processor just yet. Any remaining sauce left of the sides/blade will just mix nicely in with the flesh.

Also while your potato is baking, steam your carrots either on the stove or in the microwave. I just used the microwave and a Pyrex measuring cup.

Lastly, toast some pecans in a skillet over low heat until fragrant. This doesn't take very long - about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. But watch them, because they can burn quickly!

Once the potato is finished baking, cut a slit in it lengthwise, but not all the way through. Then, carefully (with oven mitts because it's hot) push the two ends together.

Then, spoon out the flesh of the potato and place into your food processor along with the carrots and a pinch of salt. Don't scrape all of the flesh out of the potato -- you still need the potato to be sturdy and able to stand on its own.

While the flesh of the potato and the carrots are still hot, process them until combined and smooth. (The steam given off helps facilitate this.) I also added about a Tbsp of almond butter, 1 Tbsp honey, 1 pinch of salt and 1/8 tsp cinnamon to the food processor to be mixed in. That is optional -- but highly encouraged :)



To assemble, generously spoon the potato/carrot mixture back into the skin and pile it high! Then, liberally smother that baby with your almond/peanut butter and honey mixture. Garnish with pecans if desired.

DIG. IN.



Was this bigger than my face? Yes. Did it weigh roughly the same as a large cat? Yes. Was it one of the most delicious things in the entire world? Abso-friggin-lutely!



Ladies and gentlemen, this potato. This potato. This potato. THIS POTATO! I kid you not....it was nirvana. And I got that word, because Webster told me that it meant utter bliss. Ecstasy. Pure joy. Yep - that about sums it up.



It was like eating pumpkin pie flavored cookie dough. It was sweet and nutty and had a kiss of cinnamon.



And the texture was marvelous. Like I mentioned, Japanese Sweet Potatoes have a tacky and thick texture that makes it so you almost have to chew it. It was so good.

But the drizzle. OH THE DRIZZLE! In the words of Uncle Jesse,


Seriously, though...it should be illegal. It is so rich and nutty and sweet, and combined with the sweet potato and carrot mash, it is just out of this world. 

Lastly, the color is just outrageous. That orange color is not enhanced, nor from a can, my friends. No filter here! It's all from some good old beta carotene found in Bugs Bunny's favorite veggie. Not only do carrots intensify the color, but they also up the nutrition factor too!



This was a ten. Nay -- an eleven. If you feel like giving yourself a hug through your stomach, make this dish.

It's "Din-sert." "Desse-ner." It's healthy dessert for dinner. It's Potato Nirvana.


PS: You can thank me later ;)


51 comments:

  1. So did you like the Potato? I cant tell.

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  2. wow! is that even possible! Looks amazing! Sweet potaotes plus more sweets things? Win-win! P.S. Florida looks great- as usual!

    www.allnnothing.com

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    1. Thanks so much Joanna! I appreciate that:) Yeah, florida was heavenly! Glad you stopped by! Have a great day!

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  3. Hi from a new reader! Sweet potato and nut butter is one of my all time favorites! I'm going to try your recipe for a new twist on an old favorite. So happy to have found your blog.

    I'd love to have you share your recipe with Fitness Friday! If you're interested you can find it here http://jillconyers.com/2015/04/10-ways-to-de-stress-when-life-is-busy/

    Have awesome weekend!

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    1. Hi Jill! Welcome! Thanks for stopping by! Oh, I'll have to check that out! You too! Hope to "see" you again soon! :D

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  4. Never would have thought of pnb on a potato! Looks good though. Maybe you will join us for Meatless Monday sometime with a recipe :)

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    1. Thanks Deborah! I'll be sure to check it out this week:) Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!

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  5. OMG! I need this potato in my life immediately! It looks incredible. I feel like it would be great for breakfast. Definitely going to try this sooner rather than later ;)

    Looks like you had a great trip! What beautiful pics, thanks for sharing!

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    1. hahah thank you so much Sarah! :D oh yeah, this for breakfast would by the start to an incredible day:) haha Thanks for stopping by! I hope your Friday is fabulous :D

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  6. I am sitting here thinking... Have Mercy lol. I used to LOVE Full House. And just look at this dish, there are no words... delish.

    Kay of Pure & Complex
    www.purecomplex.com

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    1. Haha thanks Kay! I know. Full House was the best. Thanks for stopping by! Have a great weekend!

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  7. YES! I'm always down for a good baked potato and this one looks perfect!

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    1. Thanks Barb! there's something so comforting about a baked spud:) hehe thanks for stopping by! enjoy your Friday!

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  8. Okay, seriously, I want this for dinner every night! It has my mouth watering. I love that I crave food that is good for me (most of the time ;) )

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    1. hahaha thanks Laura! Oh yeah, this is totally classified as a health food:) but seriously...it's full of nutrition! :D thanks for stopping by! have a great weekend!

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  9. BAHHH HA HA HA HA HA HA AH AH AHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AN ODE TO THE BELOVED STUFFED SWEET POTATOOOO! ;)

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    1. hahah thanks Gigi :D Yes, I couldn't contain my enthusiasm either hehe:) thanks for stopping by! i hope you have a wonderful weekend!

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  10. Anything with sweet potatoes is a winner with me! :)

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    1. Thanks Marcie! These were pretty special:) thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!

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  11. That looks stunning! I NEED one too.

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    1. Haha thanks Angie! Glad you stopped by! Have a great weekend!

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  12. I made your divine recipe yesterday afternoon & my husband & I totally loved it! It was just perfect! MMMMMMMM! I think it was fabulous even! xxx

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    1. Oh yay! That makes me so happy:) im so glad you both enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by, Sophie! Enjoy your weekend!

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  13. I need to hunt down some Japanese sweet potatoes! Great recipe!

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    1. Thanks Liz! I found these at a health food store. Thanks for stopping by! Happy Saturday!

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  14. What an amazing dish I love all types of sweet potato!

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    1. Thanks Emma! :) me too! Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!

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  15. Holy moly- That potato right there? Pure food porn, no joke! I would eat this for breakfast, lunch, dinner, AND dessert if given the chance!

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    1. hahaha thanks Hannah. Yeah, it was pretty dang tasty:) Glad you stopped by! Enjoy your afternoon!

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  16. Mmm, this sounds delicious! I've never thought to add nut butter to sweet potatoes, but it sounds amazing.. I love Japanese potatoes too! Your trip to Florida has me longing for the beach..this potato on that beach would be heaven;-) Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thanks Jocelyn! haha oh yeah...the beach was definitely a wonderful escape:) Thanks for stopping by! Have a terrific rest of your weekend!

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  17. I love sweet potatoes! They are one of my very favorites!! And that nut butter drizzle ... gah looks so good!

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    1. Thanks so much Ashley! :D So glad you stopped by! have a great night!

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  18. This looks amazing- totally dinner and dessert in one! And that drizzle...YUM!

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    1. hah thanks! yeah, it definitely qualified as both! thanks for stopping by! enjoy your evening!

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  19. Wow, I never thought of putting carrots on it! This looks to die for--Japanese sweet taters for life!

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    1. thank you so much! :D glad you stopped by! enjoy your evening!

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  20. That is one tall tower of roots! Glad you liked it so much. :-)

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    1. hahah yes it is! thanks:) glad you stopped by! have a great night!

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  21. This looks amazingly delicious! I have 2 big sweet potatoes that I was thinking of baking into fries tonight but after stumbling upon this recipe I think this will be our dinner. Very excited, thanks for sharing!

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    1. haha thanks Hannah! oh i hope you and your family enjoy it as much as i did! thanks for stopping by! happy cooking!

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  22. Bahaha! This looks awesome...and that little video clip...ha!! I totally want to watch a marathon of Full House now.

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  23. Simply damn delicious!!!
    Dedy@Dentist Chef

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  24. This potato looks like a volcano or something! Amazing, I need to incorporate more sweet potato into my diet!

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  25. Where can i get a Japanese sweet potato?

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  26. I wanted to share this recipe with others, but it will not share on my facebook. :( it gose to a blank white screen after i push share.

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    1. I got it to go, i had too go back then hit share again.

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