‘Dinner’ Articles at Sweetnicks, Page 3

Recipe: Sweet and Spicy Sweet Potato Fritters

May 19, 2015 · Narrative

Looking for a new way to make sweet potatoes? These light and easy fritters might be just what you’re after.

Sweet potatoes are one of those things that I don’t give a lot of thought to preparing. It’s either baked and served with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon…. Or roasted.

But how about we turn it on its ear and look at it in a completely different way?

Like a fritter?

And one that’s healthy to boot?

This is that.

And how about a healthy sweet potato fritter that takes ten minutes to make, start to finish?

I’m not sure it gets much better.

The process couldn’t be simpler, and is totally open to customization. Once you have the basic premise down … shred one potato, add an egg, and spices and pan fry … you can make many different riffs of it based on your particular tastes or cravings. To counterbalance the slightly sweet taste of the sweet potato, I stuck with smoky and spicy seasonings. Cumin and chili powder. But your add-ins are limited only to your imagination.

After a meeting last night, I wasn’t especially hungry, Maddie wanted waffles, and Nick had already eaten. So a few of these fritters, topped with a runny egg, made a perfect light and quick meal for me.

Hungry for more sweet potato recipes?
These fritters are slightly similar, but add zucchini and coconut flour to keep it this side of something different.
This Shaved Brussels Sprout and Sweet Potato Salad was another unusual twist, and delicious.
I haven’t had these Sweet Potato Fries in ages; they definitely need to come back into rotation.

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Recipe: Balsamic Grilled Flank Steak

May 12, 2015 · Narrative

‘Tis the season for grilling, and this flank steak is the perfect way to celebrate warm weather foods, and it’s quick enough that you can enjoy it even on the busiest day of your week.

Every two weeks, we have a Girl Scout meeting in the evening and the timing of it usually means take-out on the way home, or scrounging through the refrigerator for leftovers.

But tonight, I made an effort to get dinner done before we even left.

I also needed something quick and easy, healthy, and that the kids would eat.

This is that.

Well, almost that.

Delivering all the goodness of dinner cooked on the grill, this meal can be ready in thirty minutes, which includes the 15 minutes of marinating time.

That’s a movement I can get behind.

Once I started marinating the steak, I popped a tray of cherry tomatoes in the oven for roasting, and when the steak was done grilling, the tomatoes were done. The steak was then topped with the roasted tomatoes and torn pieces of fresh basil.

Super simple and super delicious.

Whether you’re following Whole30, paleo, primal, clean eating … or just an eat-all-things-grilled lifestyle, this meal works out perfectly. In half an hour, you can get a complete dinner that you can feel good about serving your family.

Which is pretty much my favorite kind of meal.

*I said this was almost the meal I was looking for, because it failed to meet the kid-friendly part of my requirements. Madeline ate enough to get by and Nick reminded me that he’s “not a fan of steak,” and proceeded to microwave his until it no longer resembled what I made. Kids.

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Recipe: Zucchini and Sweet Potato Fritters

May 7, 2015 · Narrative

Looking for a creative recipe for your vegetables? These vegetable fritters are just the thing.

I’m always looking for new ways to cook vegetables, just to keep it interesting.

And also to sometimes entice the kids into eating something they normally would shun.

This is that.

Zucchini, much like cauliflower, is a take it or leave it vegetable for me. I don’t go around craving it, so I’m always looking for new ways to keep me eating it.

Inspired by a picture I saw on Instagram, these fritters are a delicious way to stuff yourself silly with vegetables.

Without realizing that’s what you’re actually doing.

And because this recipe is so simple, think of it more like a guideline.

Which means that you can play around with the spices and add-ins without fear of messing it up. Use white potatoes. Or carrots. Or all of the above.

And that is pretty much my favorite kind of recipe.

And the best part?

You can be devouring this deliciousness in under fifteen minutes.

Which means it’s perfect for a busy weeknight, or those moments when you just don’t feel like being in the kitchen.

I topped one of mine with a runny egg, because runny eggs make everything infinitely better, and for the others, I dipped them in this buffalo aoili sauce.

Whether you do either of those options or you eat them naked, you can’t go wrong.

Hungry for more?
These kind of remind me of a favorite Jamie Oliver recipe. If you haven’t tried his Vegetable Bhajis, they are totally worth making as well.

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Recipe: Garlic Lovers Shrimp Over Zucchini Noodles

April 7, 2015 · Narrative

Tender flavorful shrimp over zucchini noodles … a delicious, healthy meal that only takes twenty minutes to make.

When I was telling someone about this meal last night, I said it was easily the best meal I’ve had in the last two weeks.

And I wasn’t exaggerating.

It’s amazingness was only compounded by the fact that it took less than twenty minutes to make and it is #Whole30 compliant … and eating clean. And gluten-free. And Paleo. And … as you can see, it fits most any eating lifestyle you may be dedicating yourself to.

I had noticed the picture on Flavor God‘s Instagram feed and went to the grocery store that day for the ingredients. I hadn’t had shrimp in awhile, and was craving it, and after seeing the picture, I knew that this dish would be packed full of flavor and I needed to make it asap. I was right.

The recipe is so simple that I made it while chatting with a friend and making a separate dinner for five kids. Just cook the shrimp, set it aside, add the other ingredients in the pan and cook that and then toss it all over zucchini noodles (made with a spiralizer). If you don’t have an spiralizer, you should totally get one, but this would also be delish served over angel hair pasta if you’re not avoiding carbs.

A slight crispy coating on the shrimp, the tiny tang from the pearl onions, and just the notion that you are eating something that tastes decadent … but isn’t … this one is a keeper for sure.

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Recipe: Mini Chocolate Chip Pancakes

July 3, 2013 · Narrative

On a busy weeknight, when we’re running off to a practice, meeting, or what have you, one of my favorite go-to dinner choices is breakfast for dinner.

It used to be spaghetti, but I gave up carbs in April and haven’t looked back since.

And yes, I totally miss tortellini.

The only problem with breakfast for dinner is that everyone likes something different.

Both kids will eat pancakes, but one banana and the other chocolate chip.

Both like toast.

Both like bacon.

Sometimes both like sausages. Depends on the day. And the way the wind blows.

Nick will eat eggs, most any way.

Madeline won’t eat them, any way.

So when it’s breakfast for dinner, I become a short order cook. I don’t mind, though, because no matter the choice, they’re all super fast to make.

Recently, when we came home late from the kids’ last evening track meet, it was chocolate chip pancakes for dinner. Nick took one for the team, and I made a quick egg white omelet for myself.

Madeline was in her element. Chocolate for dinner.

The recipe was simple to make and really drives home the fact that you DON’T need to buy pancake mix to make pancakes. I’ll bet you have everything you need in your kitchen cabinets. They were light and fluffy, with just the right amount of sweetness. And they made plenty. I ended up freezing half of the cooked batch, to save a little time the next time Madeline requests them.

Alright folks, I’m off. Happy Fourth of July! Tomorrow, Bedtime Math book review.

*If you didn’t enter the Coca-Cola giveaway, I bet you can snap the perfect picture for it during the holiday tomorrow!

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Recipe: Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo

December 8, 2012 · Narrative

It kind of makes me smile that the kids and I were watching the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show while eating Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo. I mean, the irony. I like the fashion show, no shame in admitting it. Fun music, live acts, and, well, sequins galore. It’s my jam.

The kids have never seen it before, and asked a million and one questions.

“Why are they all wearing their underwear?”

“Do they really sell those wings in the store?”

“And those costumes?”

“Gosh, there are a lot of sequins.”

“Wow, Bruno Mars is tiny. Is he a grown-up or just really, really small?”

And, of course, my favorite was the entranced look that came over Madeline’s face when Justin Beiber came on to perform.

She was completely and utterly silent.

And if you know Madeline, you know what a feat that is.

Mesmerized.

Pure adorableness.

*And we, of course, rewound the recording to watch his part twice.

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