Ancho Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes have a great nutrition reputation, often touted as a superfood. They’re full of good stuff like complex carbs, fiber, vitamin E and beta carotene. Sweet potatoes are also a powerful food in the kitchen- delicious in everything from soups, breads, side dishes and even desserts. One of the simplest ways to enjoy the tasty superfood is to simply roast sweet potatoes. Here’s an easy roasted sweet potato recipe flavored with ancho chile pepper, lime juice and a touch of honey.

Ancho Roasted Sweet Potatoes
2 pounds sweet potatoes
2 tablespoons canola or safflower oil
2 teaspoons ancho chile powder
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat a 13 x 9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray. Peel and cut sweet potatoes into bite-size pieces (1 1/2-inch chunks); place in baking dish. Drizzle oil over sweet potatoes and stir to coat. Sprinkle with ancho chile powder, salt and black pepper; stir to evenly distribute seasonings. Bake 40 to 50 minutes until potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally. Transfer potatoes to a serving dish. Drizzle with honey and lime juice; stir gently to coat.

Makes 6 servings

Tip: Ancho chile powder is simply ground dried ancho chiles. If you don’t have ancho chile powder you can substitute a chili powder blend. If your chili powder blend contains salt, omit or reduce the amount of coarse salt called for in the recipe.

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Watermelon Cucumber Salad

Watermelon and cucumber make the perfect pair in this refreshing summer salad.

Watermelon Cucumber Salad
4 cups seedless watermelon cubes
2 medium cucumbers, peeled, seeded and cubed
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh basil or mint leaves
1 teaspoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon coarse salt
1 fresh lime

In a large mixing bowl combine watermelon, cucumber and basil. Sprinkle with sugar and salt; stir well. Cut lime in half; squeeze juice of one lime half over watermelon mixture. Cut remaining lime half into wedges; set aside. Cover and chill salad at least 1 hour before serving. Serve salad with lime wedges.

Makes 6 servings

Lemon Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas

Cool summer salads are my go to dinner in the heat of summer. Here’s one of my favorites, a chickpea and vegetable salad with quinoa. (I used red quinoa, but you can use whatever quinoa variety you can find.) Be sure to use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor.

Lemon Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas
1 cup uncooked quinoa
1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained
1 pint (2 cups) grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
2 medium cucumbers, peeled, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves or cilantro, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Coarse salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Cook quinoa according to package directions. Place cooked quinoa in a large mixing bowl; cool slightly. Stir in chickpeas, tomatoes, cucumbers and basil. For lemon dressing, whisk together lemon juice and olive oil. Pour dressing over quinoa mixture; stir to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Can be served immediately or covered and chilled for several hours. Store in refrigerator.

Makes about 9 cups (6 servings)

How to Cook Quinoa
1 cup uncooked quinoa
2 cups water

Place quinoa in a fine mesh strainer. Rinse and drain quinoa. Combine quinoa and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to boiling. Cover and reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Cook 10 to 15 minutes until the water is absorbed and the quinoa is tender. Makes about 4 cups cooked quinoa.

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Simple Roasted Potatoes

Roasted baby potatoes are a simple and satisfying dish. Just toss potatoes with oil and seasonings, then roast until browned and tender.

Simple Roasted Potatoes
2 pounds baby potatoes, halved
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon canola or safflower oil
1/2 teaspoon sea salt or Kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place potatoes in 3-quart rectangular (13×9-inch) baking dish. Drizzle potatoes with olive and canola oil; stir to coat potatoes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; stir. Bake 50 to 60 minutes until potatoes are tender and browned; stirring occasionally. If desired, sprinkle with fresh chopped herbs such as basil or Italian parsley.

Makes 6 servings

Tip: I like to use a blend of healthy oils when roasting potatoes, 1 tablespoon each of olive and canola oil. If you don’t have both oils on hand, use 2 tablespoons of your favorite cooking oil.