Sweet Potatoes Two Ways

Thanksgiving is around the corner. If you are looking for some new sweet potato ideas, here are a couple of Mediterranean-inspired options from my new book — one sweet and one savory!

Baked Sweet Potatoes with Hazelnuts

One of my favorite ways to experience new cities is by staying with friends who are locals. While we were in Barcelona researching recipe ideas for The Forest Feast Mediterranean, we were invited by friends to celebrate Todos los Santos (All Saints’ Day) at their home. The meal included sweet potatoes with roasted chestnuts. For this version, I used hazelnuts instead, which are more readily available and also delicious!

BAKED SWEET POTATOES WITH HAZELNUTS

recipe from The Forest Feast Mediterranean

3 medium sweet potatoes

dollop of butter

1 t honey

sprinkle of cinnamon

chopped hazelnuts

Pre-heat oven to 375°F. Wash sweet potatoes and prick them several times all over with a knife & place on baking sheet. Bake for 45-60 minutes (when a knife goes in easily, they are done).

Slice potatoes in half lengthwise, then score them in a grid. Top each with a dollop of butter, honey, a sprinkle of cinnamon & chopped hazelnuts.

Note: When serving these on a buffet with several sides, I look for small sweet potatoes (or you can quarter them after they’ve been cooked) for individual-sized portions.

Sweet Potatoes with Feta Dressing

Here’s a savory Mediterranean-inspired recipe from the new book. It is easy to prepare in advance and can be served at room temperature, making it perfect for a gathering like Thanksgiving.

SWEET POTATOES WITH FETA DRESSING

recipe from The Forest Feast Mediterranean

4 medium sweet potatoes (no need to peel)

2 T milk

1/3 c (50 g) crumbled feta

1 T olive oil

2 T rice vinegar

pinch of nutmeg

scallions (chopped)

Cube sweet potatoes & lay out on a baking sheet. Drizzle generously with olive oil & sprinkle with salt & pepper. Roast potatoes at 425°F (220°C) for 30 min or until fork tender.

For dressing, use an immersion blender to combine the milk, crumbed feta, olive oil, rice vinegar & nutmeg. Drizzle potatoes with desired amount of dressing & sprinkle with chopped scallions.

Serve warm or at room temperature.

++++

Happy Thanksgiving!
xoxo

For more sweet potato recipes ideas, check out my…

• Sweet Potato Pizza

• Sweet Potato and Lentil Tacos

• Lentil & Sweet Potato Salad

Happy Hanukkah!

Today is the first day of Hanukkah! It’s one of my favorite Jewish holidays because you get to light candles every night. Here’s a little round-up of favorite Forest Feast Hanukkah recipes:

• Cauliflower Potato Latkes
• Sweet potato Latkes from The Forest Feast cookbook
• Sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts)
• DIY Citrus Menorah

Also, if you are in San Francisco tomorrow (Wed. 12/17/14), please join us for a Hanukkah party at Umami Mart SF (my favorite kitchen and barware shop) from 6-8pm. More info here, all are welcome! We’ll be serving latkes and lager and I’ll be signing cookbooks if you want to pick some up for holiday gifts!

Thanksgiving Appetizers in Santa Barbara

I’m always looking for easy, tasty holiday party hors d'oeuvres, and these Pesto Puffs were a hit last weekend at my family’s Thanksgiving celebration in Santa Barbara. 

Every year we head to my aunt and uncle’s beach house for a weekend of cooking, eating, and surfing. My job is always to prepare appetizers for everyone to sample as we cook all afternoon. These puffs were easy to make ahead and they work warm or at room temperature. The cheese has a tendency to ooze out a bit when they are baked, so use a baking sheet with a rim. A couple of my cousins were on cocktail duty: there was a big pitcher of spicy Bloody Marys in the morning, and at cocktail hour my cousin walked around with a tray of Manhattans and adorable Apple Cider cocktails garnished with cinnamon sticks. Before dinner, all the ladies take an annual walk to collect flowers, bark, leaves and vines to decorate the table, and then we eat at sunset. When I was in college, I lived just a couple blocks away…ever since then, I’ve decided it’s my favorite place on earth- can’t wait to go back!

View from the deck at my aunt & uncle's house

I have no idea how to cook a turkey (just pretending here!!) I stick to the veggies. Bottom right: my cousin Vanessa passes out Apple Cider cocktails.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Other holiday party appetizer ideas:

Guacamole Deviled Eggs

Cucumber Caprese Bites

Radishes with Butter

Spiced Pomegranate Apple Cider

On my recent trip to Spain, I bought these adorable Moroccan tea glasses in Granada, sold all over the city because of its Moorish history. I drink a lot of tea during the week, but when hosting a holiday party, I like to make a big pot of cider. It makes the house smell so cozy as guests walk in.

Did you know that the word granada means pomegranate in Spanish?! I learned this as I saw pomegranate trees full of fruit growing all over the Granada- so amazing. Because of this, I was inspired to add fresh pomegranates to cider. I simmered apple juice, pomegranate juice and spices, then garnished each cup with fresh pomegranate seeds and an apple slice decorated with cloves. I think this would be a fun after-dinner drink on Thanksgiving Day to cozy up by the fire with (plus, it can be spiked with bourbon for the adults!).

For the recipe, click on over to my full post (with more photos!) on the Better Homes & Gardens website.

Cheers…And Happy (almost) Thanksgiving!

Photos & Illustration by Erin Gleeson