Meatless Monday: Grilled Chili-Lime Sweet Potato Wedges with Cilantro

It's been quite a weekend, yet I have somehow managed to gather the energy to write this post. Mainly, because it was such a good weekend and I am still running on the high from it, as pooped as I may also be. Also, because the yams I made for the family BBQ I had here on Saturday came out so awesome, I couldn't wait til Sweet Saturday to share them!

A few weeks ago, I asked readers to post their favorite cook-out recipes for the big family gathering Paul and I had at our place this past Saturday (that kept me so busy, too busy to blog this weekend until now!). I received a lot of delicious-sounding and looking posts linked up here, but this one stood out to me, partly for it's simplicity that packed a lot of flavor, and partly because who can resist sweet potatoes?

The recipe I decided to try was Chipotle, Cilantro-Lime Sweet Potato Wedges from Angie at Rustic Feast. Angie was a new linker at Sweet Saturday, so kudos to her for making such a great first impression! Recipe is below; I made two slight changes, neither intentional, that's just how things go sometimes when you're trying to follow a recipe- you adapt! Since it's a bit altered, I changed the title for this purpose.

Grilled Chili-Lime Sweet Potato Wedges with Cilantro  
(Serves 20! Maybe more!) 

3 lbs. sweet potatoes
1/2 cup lime juice
1/2 cup olive oil
1 tbsp chili powder
Salt and pepper to taste
1 bunch of cilantro, chopped

Scrub and then boil sweet potatoes in large pot for about 20-30 minutes. Once soft enough to pierce with a fork, remove from heat and place into ice water to cool down and stop cooking. While they're cooling, mix lime juice, olive oil, and chili powder together in small bowl. Use Chipotle chili powder if you have it; I couldn't find any chili powder specifically called "Chipotle" chili powder. Chipotle has a much smokier flavor, so I highly recommend using it if you can get it!

Once the potatoes are cooled enough to handle, peel off skin then cut into halves length-wise, then into wedges. Spread wedges onto large serving tray, then drizzle with the olive oil, chili and lime mixture until covered. Top with a sprinkling of salt and pepper (use freshly ground if possible). 

Now, here is where the recipe got altered a bit once again: I was so busy hosting the big event, that I had to have Paul's dear uncle and cousin man the grill. They were kind enough to offer, in fact, and they did a far better job than I would have! The thing was I failed to mention to them to put the wedges directly on the grill so they'd get those grill marks, and they instead wrapped them in tin foil and turned them after on each side after 10 minutes to heat them through. 

   
They still came out spectacular, however they did not have that awesome smoky grill taste or cool-looking grill marks that they could've had. In order to do it that way, place wedges directly onto grill and turn after about 5 minutes or just until they clearly have the marks on all sides (or however you prefer!). You can do either way, they will taste awesome regardless, just don't forget to top with the chopped cilantro, that really made them special!

They were a hit! Almost every single one disappeared before the day was done. The flavor combination was just the perfect balance of sweet and sour, with just enough kick for everyone to enjoy, kids and adults. I will definitely make them again! Thanks, Angie!!

Chipotle chili peppers are pretty amazing, not only tasting, but health-wise as well. They are jalapeno peppers that have been smoked (to get that wonderful smoky flavor, of course) then dried, which helps to reduce the strong heat from fresh jalapenos, making them more palatable. They are chock full of vitamin a, vitamin k, and a chemical compound called capsaicin which has been found to help reduce heart disease, stroke, and lower high blood cholesterol and sugar.

Friday I will post more about how the cook-out once I go through all the pictures. I didn't take nearly enough, especially not of the food, but there were so many incredible dishes there! I'm talking edamame succotash, pineapple-coconut fruit dip, Indian-spiced chicken, gourmet cupcakes, pasta salad....I have such a talented family of cooks, clearly.

But, here are a few "teaser" shots from the big day, enjoy ;)

A peek at my niece raiding the dessert table

Lily playing with the slip 'n slide in her own way...

My favorite pic I took of Lily in the sprinkler :)

Now it's your turn to share your Meatless Monday dish below! No rules, other than please only link-up meat-free recipes. No other un-related links or I will remove them. Sorry to sound so harsh, but let's keep it true to what it is, ok? Link up as much as you want, and feel free to spread the word with the button below. Thanks, and have a great week! (hopefully I will have my act together for this week's Sweet Saturday, too!)

 

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Sweet Saturday #8: Sweet Shrimp Stir-Fry with Rice

Let me tell you. It has been a long week. I almost didn't post today, but then figured I really want to get consistent again with my little blog here, at least for as long as I can, so I shook my lazies out and got back on the iMac...

Today's post is sweet in a surprising way. Remember those shrimp kabobs I made for Memorial Day weekend? Well, I marinated a lot of those shrimp, and cut up more than enough peppers and onions (all the pineapple got used though), so I had a bunch of it sitting in my fridge days after the BBQ. I had to use those shrimp before they went bad, so I came up with a stir-fry version of those kabobs, sans-skewers. They came out extra sweet because the shrimp had been sitting in lime juice and Corona for about 5 days, to the point where they almost didn't even taste like shrimp anymore! I was mostly impressed that they hadn't gone bad by then! I hope you like this version too :)

Sweet Shrimp Stir-Fry with Rice
(serves 4-6)

Ingredients:

1/2 lb cleaned and de-veined large shrimp
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped red and green bell pepper
1 cup chopped pineapple (optional)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 chive, diced
1-2 tbsp chopped cilantro
2 cups rice, white or brown
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tbsp coconut oil

Marinade:

1/2 bottle of pale lager (I used Corona)
Juice of 1-2 limes
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp sea slat, course but small

Place the shrimp in large Ziploc bag or lidded container and shake up with the marinade mix. Allow to marinade over night or longer (I went for 5 days!). When they're ready, take out of the fridge and heat the olive oil in a large pot for about 1 minute, then add the rice. Saute stirring constantly for about another minute, then add 3 1/2 cups of water and the garlic powder, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and cook over low heat for about 11 minute or until done.

Meanwhile, it's time to stir-fry. Add the coconut oil to a frying pan and heat over medium-low heat until melted. Add the garlic, onion, peppers and pineapple if using, and cook stirring for about 2 minutes. Then add the shrimp and cook over medium heat stirring occasionally until the shrimp is cooked and no longer translucent. Add extra lime if desired.

Serve the shrimp and vegetables over the rice topped with the chive and cilantro. 

This dish did not go over well with Lily, I must admit, but Paul and I enjoyed it. You can serve this to older kids who like shrimp (3 and up is safe) or add some chicken or tofu if that is more appealing to them. Lily had the rice and veggies with chicken fingers the night we had this :)

P.S. The kabob version is featured on Simple Living today! Whoo-hoo!

This dish is filled with vitamin-loaded bell peppers, nutrient-rich shrimp, heart-healthy garlic, and lots of fiber if you use brown rice. This dish is tasty and healthy and I think you will really like it!

Now it’s your turn to share! Follow me if you aren't already, then link-up something sweet to share- a blog, an Etsy store, an FB page, Twitter page, Pinterest, whatever! Hop around and say hi. Grab a button to spread the word! Have a great weekend!

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Post-Memorial Day Highlights with Chili-Lime Shrimp

I just had a weekend full of cook-outs, drinking, swimming, live music, and too much sun. It was good though, and I got to try quite a few tasty dishes. I even got a new recipe for one I intend to share for the next Meatless Monday, so check back for that + recipe link up!


At my cook-out, I prepared chicken teriyaki skewers, chili lime shrimp skewers (recipe below), that sweet fruit salsa recipe I shared last Friday, jalapeno burgers, grilled asparagus, a basic green salad, and a pitcher full of a watermelon-Riesling cocktail (I just love Riesling) I came up with based on this recipe that was featured here last week. My dear friend Mikhail brought an incredible vegetable salad and I also served chocolate fudge cake in honor of my mother-in law's recent birthday. I think everyone honestly liked that best ;)


That was Sunday. On Monday we went to Paul's parents' little get together (where the pool was!) and were served grilled drumsticks, burgers, dill potato salad, and yummy macaroni salad. A cake was also served again for my MIL, this time a red velvet cheesecake! I made myself a fruity pomegranate, lime and Moscato cocktail. It was a good time indeed. I ended the day with a late visit to my bestie's party where a really good jam band/cover band was playing and a variety of beers were available. I tried a new beer that was really crisp and delicious called New Grist Gluten-Free from Lakefront Brewery. I highly recommend it if you are a beer drinker! I am honestly not a big fan of beer, but I do know a good ale when I try one!


Here is the recipe I came up with for the shrimp:


Chili-Lime Shrimp
(serves 12+)


Ingredients


1 lb bag of large de-veined and cleaned raw shrimp
1 large bell pepper
1 large red bell pepper
1 medium onion, red or Vidalia
1 medium pineapple
1/2 bottle of pale lager (I used Corona)
Juice of 1-2 limes (depending on just how limey you want it)
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp sea slat, course but small


Toss the shrimp in a large Ziploc bag or lidded container with beer, lime, chili, and salt. Refrigerate for at least one hour. Meanwhile, cut the peppers, onion and pineapple into pieces to fit onto the skewers. Once the shrimp is ready, pop those bad boys onto the skewers with a piece of fruit or vegetable between each shrimp. Grill for about 3 minutes each side over very hot coals (or until opaque), turning once during the middle of cooking time. Serve as is or with a favorite dipping sauce, such as mango salsa.

I was too busy hostessing to take any pics, but this shot from b is for bedstuy looks a lot like my end result

For the teriyak skewers I just used a store-bought sauce base and beefed it up with extra sesame oil, sesame seeds, and fresh garlic and ginger. Lily liked those best. That is about all she ate besides Stacy's Cinnamon Pita Chips (which I served with the fruit salsa). 

Cute pic of Lily my friend Em caught :)

The fruit salsa was really good, and quite possibly my favorite dish that day, besides the veggie salad my friend made, called Vinegret (vee-neh-GRET). Lily loved that salad  too, and it will be what's featured next Monday, so be sure to check back! Here's a teaser image below of Lily and I sharing some as leftovers yesterday at the park.

Trust me, this image does not do the beauty of those dishes justice. I truly regret not getting a good shot of them, I will have to make it up! They still tasted awesome nonetheless!

Now, I know I mentioned a bit about beers earlier, and I thought you might want to know there are actually quite a few health benefits to drinking a good lager every now and then that you may not know about. They contain bone-strengthening benefits, the hops can help fight kidney stones, and the healthy cholesterols found in beers can even help boost heart power! Something even more surprising I read is that it can even prevent dementia, which most people probably believe the opposite would happen from drinking beer. Of course, don't go running out to the bars just yet- always in moderation, people!


What did you do for Memorial Day weekend? What delicious meals did you have? Share in the comments or link up below! This is just for fun, no rules! 


Check back Friday for the next Sweet Saturday blog hop and then come again for Meatless Monday recipe link-up. Have a great day!


P.S. Forgive the weird spacing on here today, something is going on with the html and I can't figure it out so I hope it's not too distracting!

Sweet Saturday #5: Puckered Papaya Smoothie

First of all, I just wanted to share this picture of my perfect breakfast that I took this morning:

I thought it just looked too pretty not to share :) 

Now, enjoy this:

 
Puckered Papaya Smoothie
serves 2-4

1 cup chopped papaya
1 ripe banana
1/2 cup orange-pineapple juice
1/2 cup almond coconut milk
1 tsp honey
Juice of half a lime
Lime wedges for garnish

Put all ingredients except for the lime wedges into blender. Blend or puree until smooth. Serve in glasses with lime wedges. Tip: rub the lime wedge along the rim of the glass to get that puckered lime taste each sip!

Boosts you can add:

• aloe vera juice
• hemp seed powder
• coconut oil
• protein powder
• super greens powder
• ginger

Add about 1 tsp each per serving for maximum benefit!

The whole fam will love it! Make a big batch and share it at a party or gathering. This would be a hit at your Memorial Day weekend BBQ!  


I just love papaya, and I certainly don't eat it enough. They are technically in season June-September, but Paul came across this yummy smoothie recipe and I just couldn't wait! Besides being positively delicious, papayas are full of so much healthy goodness. They have high amounts of vitamin c, vitamin a, folate and potassium. They protect against heart disease and aid in immune support and digestion. 
They have also been found to prevent macular degeneration (primary cause of vision loss in older adults) and when combined with green tea, papaya can protect against prostate cancer! Papaya is considered by many to be a super food.

Now it's your turn to share something sweet with the return of Sweet Saturday Link Party! Link up a sweet treat, a sweet post, a sweet photo, a sweet Etsy shop or Facebook page- whatever you want! Just remember to follow your hostess and, if you'd like to, share the link on your page or blog with the button below. Whoever's link gets the most visits will be offered to co-host next week!
 

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Have fun and share as much as you'd like! Have a great weekend!


Oooohhh, I almost forgot- I FINALLY joined Pinterest, so be sure to follow me and/or pin this sweet little recipe. I'm new to it, so feel free to "show me the ropes" ;)

 

Meatless Monday Product Review: Gardein Chipotle Lime Crispy Fingers

This will mark my third product review. I didn't expect to write one so soon, but I felt compelled to after taking a chance on a new "meat substitute" product, something I didn't think I'd do ever again. Plus, it's Meatless Monday afterall...

Judging by the package, Gardein's Chipotle Lime Crispy Fingers™ look pretty darn tasty. Anything Chipotle is bound to catch my eye, so I decided to give them a try. On the package they really look like chicken fingers too! 

Now, as some of my readers who've been following my blog since the beginning may recall, I used to be a committed vegetarian. While I was a vegetarian, I was never too into meat substitute products that were made to taste like meat. I just never understood the point- I was vegetarian because I didn't want to eat meat, and I was not interested in eating fake meat either. Sure, I liked veggie burgers because they tasted like what they were called, but that was about it. I did try some "Tofurkey"-type stuff (is that what it's called?) and even vegan cheese, but it just was never the same, and usually tasted like plastic.

Gardein's Crispy Fingers are not the exception. They may not taste like plastic, but they do not taste very good either. The seasoning was pretty good and they were nice and crispy, and the texture of the soy protein and gluten combination did somewhat resemble meat, but I didn't care about it resembling meat as I have already stated. I was expecting hoping it would look more like the texture of classic tofu, but it looked like it had been specifically molded to look like chicken strips. The smell of them baking even fooled my dog, and he sat right by my chair begging for a bite with his puppy eyes while I ate them in a wrap.

Besides soy protein and gluten, the ingredients of the strips include "ancient grain flour", which also intrigued me. The "ancient grain flour" contains kamut®, amaranth, millet and quinoa. This awesome combination of grains did not save this product, although I do wish I could obtain this "ancient grain flour" on it's own. I can make it if I really want to, I suppose. The strips also contain an array of seasonings such as cilantro, chipotle pepper and lemon peel. Nothing too fancy, but it all still sounded very promising.


Here is what I prepared:

Ingredients
(makes 1 serving) 

3 Gardein Chipotle Lime Crispy Fingers™
1 whole grain wrap
2 full leaves of romaine
1/2 cup of red and green bell pepper strips
2 tbsp tahini dressing (recipe below)
1 tbsp fresh cilantro
1 tsp lime juice

Tahini Dressing

1 tbsp sesame tahini paste
1 tbsp water
1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp salt

Bake the strips in oven according to package instructions. While they're baking, mix the dressing ingredients together in a separate bowl, adding more water or sesame tahini paste as needed (I use Joyva brand sesame tahini). Optionally, you could also add some minced garlic to it. Have wrap ready to go by layering ingredients onto the wrap as desired. I put down the romaine, then the peppers, then the cilantro, then the lime and tahini dressing. When the crispy fingers are done, allow them to cool for a few minutes before placing onto wrap. I put extra tahini on it since I did not like the taste so much.

Now, you may be wondering- why bother providing a recipe if I gave this product a poor review? Well, I figure you may not want to take my word for it and try them for yourself. Let me know if you do and if you happen to come across a different flavor or product that you think is actually better.

Do you know a great product I should review, or a product you’re curious about but afraid to try? Let me know in the comments! Just please suggest a natural, organic, eco-friendly, or health or food-related product so it will at least coincide with my blog’s theme, thanks!

Note: I was not paid or asked to write this review, I did it by my own accord.

Have a happy Meatless Monday!