BAKED SWEET POTATO FRIES

INGREDIENTS
2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled

2 tablespoons good olive oil

1 tablespoon light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus extra for sprinkling

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS

1.  Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

2.  Halve the sweet potatoes lengthwise and cut each half into 3 long spears. Place them on a sheet pan and toss with the olive oil. Spread the potatoes in one layer. Combine the brown sugar, salt, and pepper and sprinkle on the potatoes. Bake for 15 minutes and then turn with a spatula. Bake for another 5 to 10 minutes, until lightly browned. Sprinkle lightly with salt and serve hot.

EASY TURKEY MEATBALLS

INGREDIENTS

BASIC
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 (20 ounce) package ground turkey
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs

EXTRAS
Parmesan cheese, grated
Fresh basil
Italian seasoning
Fresh Garlic
Red pepper flakes

DIRECTIONS

1.Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with the olive oil, and place it in the oven while preheating.

2.In a medium bowl, mix together the ground turkey, egg, bread crumbs, and any "extra ingredients" using your hands. Form the meat into golf ball sized meatballs. Place about 1 inch apart in the hot baking dish. Press down to flatten the bottom just slightly.

3.Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven, then turn them over, and continue baking for about 5 more minutes, or until somewhat crispy on the outside.
 
4.  Optional:  let simmer in your favorite tomato or BBQ sauce

Baked Cod Fillets

INGREDIENTS

4 cod fillets, thawed

1/4 cup bread crumbs

3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 teaspoon garlic

1 teaspoon oregano

1 teaspoon basil

1 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

egg white, lightly beaten

DIRECTIONS

1.  Preheat oven to 450 degrees F

2.  In first mixing bowl, mix together bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, garlic, oregano, basil, black pepper, and sea salt together until all dry ingredients and olive oil are mixed thoroughly.

3.  In a second bowl, lightly beat the egg white until frothy. Spray baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray. 4.  Dip each cod fillet in egg white, coating well.

5.  Place cod fillets on baking sheet. Spoon bread crumb mixture in equal amounts onto each cod fillet, spreading to cover the top of the fillet.

6.   Bake cod fillets for approximately 10 minutes, depending on size of fillets

Salmon Fish Sticks

I made this recipe for Gwen and I.  They came out delicious.  Gwen ate a ton and loved the fact that her fish sticks were pink.  It's a great way to get her to eat more fish.  The recipe comes from Giada De Laurentiis, 2008.

INGREDIENTS

1 (18-ounce) center-cut salmon fillet, about 9 by 4 inches, skinned

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

3 egg whites

1 cup grated Parmesan

1 cup seasoned bread crumbs

Olive oil, for drizzling

DIRECTIONS

1.  Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
2.  Rinse the salmon fillet and pat dry with paper towels. Cut the salmon into same size pieces.
3.  Place the flour in a medium bowl and season with the salt and pepper. Place the egg whites in another bowl and beat until frothy, about 30 seconds. Combine the Parmesan and bread crumbs in a third bowl.
4.  Coat the salmon pieces in the seasoned flour and pat to remove any excess flour. Dip the floured salmon in the egg whites and then into the Parmesan mixture, gently pressing the mixture into the fish. Place the breaded salmon pieces on a liberally oiled baking sheet. Drizzle lightly with the olive oil.
5.  Bake for 10 to 20 minutes until golden brown (time depends on the size of your fish stick).

MAC, CHICKEN, & CHEESE BITES

INGREDIENTS
1/2 Lb. Macaroni
2 Tbsp Butter
2 Tbsp Flour
1/2 Tsp Salt
1 1/2 Cup Milk
1 Cup White Cheddar
1/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese, divided
1/4 Cup Bread Crumbs
1 Cup Cooked Chicken, diced

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Cook pasta until al dente, according to package directions (the pasta I used said to cook for 9-12 minutes, so I cooked it for 10 minutes).
3. Drain the pasta and set aside
4. In a small heavy bottomed saucepan melt 2 Tbsp of the butter.
5. Whisk in the flour and salt and cook for 2 minutes.
6. Add the milk in a slow stream and whisk to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 3 minutes stirring occasionally .
7. Add the white cheddar and 1/4 cup parmesan cheese and stir until melted.
8. Pour the cheese sauce and chicken over the pasta and stir to combine.
9. In a bowl, combine the 1/4 cup parmesan cheese and bread crumbs.
10. Grease mini muffin cups.
11. Pour about 1/4 cup of the macaroni mixture into the muffin cups, sprinkle the top with the bread and cheese mixture and bake for 15-20 minutes (I cooked mine for 20 mins) or until breadcrumbs are golden brown.
12. Cool in muffin cups, remove and serve.

Apple Turkey Sticks

INGREDIENTS
1 lb ground turkey
1 whole egg or 2 egg yolks, beaten
1/2 C pureed carrots
1/4 C applesauce
1/4 C unprocessed natural wheat or oat bran
1/4 C bread crumbs
pinch of basil
pinch of garlic powder

DIRECTIONS
1. Place ground turkey in a large mixing bowl
2. Add the egg, carrots, applesauce, spices, bread crumbs and bran
3. Mix well- if this mixture appears too dry, add more carrots or applesauce. If this mixture appears too wet, add more brand and/or bread crumbs
4. Place mix into lightly oiled loaf pan and bake at 350F for approx. 45 minutes or until an inserted knife comes out clean. **cover with foil to prevent top from burning**
5. When finished baking and cooled, remove from pan and slice into finger food slices.