Sweet Potato Fries (Oven Baked)

I love sweet potato fries. I must admit that my first time making them wasn't successful, they came out mushy and burned:). Now, I can proudly say that I perfected the art of making oven baked potato fries thanks to all of the hit and miss trials. They are healthier than regular fries since they are oven baked, they are crispy and they taste wonderful. Best of all, you can serve them with almost everything.

What You'll Need:

1 large sweet potato
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp cayenne pepper
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp cayenne pepper

What To Do:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Peel the potato, cut in half lengthwise, and cut each half into 1/4 inch strips. My secret: For extra crispiness, soak strips in hot water and some vineagar for 2-3 min.
3. In a bowl, combine oil, cayenne pepper, cumin, salt, and pepper. Add the potato strips and coat them throughly. If you soaked the potatoes, dry and pat them before coating.
4. Spread the potatoes in a single layer on greased baking sheet.
5. Bake for 20 min, flipping frequently to crip evenly.

Enjoy!

Sweet Potato Fries (Oven Baked)

Moroccan Chicken Tajine with Rice

I made up this tajine recipe on a complete whim, suprisingly enough, it came out delicious, full of flavor; and it soon became one of my favorites. It can be served with bread, rice, or plain couscous.
And on a side note, I will be featuring a variety of Moroccan tajine recipes, whether with chicken, lamb, or beef. So stay tuned.

What You'll Need:

2 chicken breasts and 2 chicken thighs.
1 big yellow onion cut lenghtwise into 1/2 inch strips
5 garlic cloves, minced
4 Tbsp olive oil
2 cups beef or chicken broth
3/4 cup green olives cut in half
3/4 cup golden raisins
2 fresh bay leaves
2 tsp cumin
3 cinnamon sticks
1/3 cup cut preserved lemons or juice of 1 lemon.
2 tsp saffron powder (or large pinch of saffron threads)
Salt and pepper to taste

What To Do:

1. Sprinkle the chicken, generously, with salt, pepper, and cumin.
2. Heat oil in a tajine or heavy bottom skillet/saucepan. Brown the chicken on both sides for 5-6 min over medium heat.
3. Stir in the onions, garlic, saffron, cinnamon sticks, lemon, olives, raisins, and bay leaves. Season with salt and pepper to taste and pour in enough broth just to cover the chicken.
4. Cover and simmer gently for 30-45 min.
5. Serve immediately. If served with couscous, you can garnish with toasted almonds and fresh mint.

Enjoy!

Moroccan Chicken Tajine with Rice

Zucchini Stuffed with Ground Beef

Yummy, easy, and healthy way to cook zucchinis. This dish is great as a summer barbecue side dish or for an elegant dinner.

What You'll Need:

3 medium zucchinis halfed lenghtwise
1 pound ground beef
4 Tbsp olive oil
1 can diced tomatoes, drained
3/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced or crushed
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp ground saffron (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup cheddar or parmesean shredded cheese or any other cheese of your liking

What To Do:

1. Sprinkle zucchini halves with salt and pepper. Heat 2 Tbsp oil in a large skillet, sautee the zucchini halves for 3-4 min on each side over medium heat. Drain on paper towel and set aside.
2. Add the remaining oil to the skillet, sautee onions and garlic until golden, stir in ground beef, parsley, and all the spices. Cook for 5-6 min or until meat is brown.
3. Add diced tomatoes and let simmer for 10 min.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
5. Place zucchini in a baking pan and fill or spread them with the ground beef mixture (about 2 Tbsps of mixture on each half)
6. Top with cheese and bake for 20 min or until zucchini is tender.
7. Serve warm or cold.

Enjoy!

Zucchini Stuffed with Ground Beef

Cabbage Salad

This particular recipe is delicious, served as an appetizer to accompany other salads and dips.

What You'll Need:

1 cabbage
1 tbsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced or crushed
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
Juice of 1 lemon
5-7 green olives, for garnishing
Fresh parsley finely chopped, for garnishing

What To Do:

1. Cut the cabbage and put in boiling water for 20 min.
2. Drain and set aside.
3. Heat oil in a heavy bottom skiller over medium heat. Add the cabbage and mash it with a fork or potatoes masher (3-5 min).
4. Stir in the seasonings and half the parsley, combining thoroughly and mashing for another 15-20 min, until you get a smooth mixture.
5. Stir in the lemon juice and garnish with the remaining parsley and couple greens olives.

Enjoy!

Cabbage Salad