We had a great party at Pump It Up, and he has been telling anyone and everyone he sees (no matter if they care or not) that he is 5 and just had a birthday! 
Last year, I made a very simple, almost no-cook, impromptu sweet potato dish when friends came over, and the dish has been a favorite of ours ever since.
That night, the dish was really an afterthought and experiment. I don’t remember what else we had for dinner, but I remember seeing some sweet potatoes on the counter and just playing with them. The funny thing is that our guests at first didn’t react too excited when I described the smashed sweet potatoes, but it ended up being the favorite dish of the night!
Smashed Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 5 – 6 sweet potatoes
- Earth Balance spread, about 1 – 2 tablespoons
- Cheddar cheese (or any cheese you like), about 2 tablespoons (more if you feel particularly “cheesy”)
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- Wash the sweet potatoes and poke them with a fork several times.
- Put the potatoes in the microwave and cook them until they are soft. (Three medium sized potatoes cook in the microwave in about 6 minutes.)
- Once the potatoes are cooled a bit, peel the skin and cut the potatoes into small pieces.
- Smash the warm potatoes with a potato smasher.
- Add the Earth Balance spread and the cheese and season with salt and pepper.
- Enjoy!
Questions: What’s a favorite simple, almost-no-cook meal of yours? What’s your favorite way to eat sweet potatoes?
Be well,
Andrea
Happy birthday to your grown up baby! :) what a fun party!
ReplyDeleteMy to-go meal is stir fries, with any combination of veggies and protein.
Favorite way to eat sweet potato: oven baked with the skin.
I love stir fries. We actually took a little break from the, so I'm really looking forward to some soon!
Delete5 is such an awesome age! I can't tell you how many parties we had at Pump It Up, good times!
ReplyDeleteYes, 5 is great! :)
DeleteHappy Birthday, Kiddo! Wow, time flies :)
ReplyDeleteYes, it does... I can't believe how big your little man is getting. Turning over and all... :)
DeleteI LOVED FIVE.
ReplyDeleteI love six.
this is all going too too fast :-)
Yes, it does go by super fast. :)
DeleteHappy 5th birthday to my favorite toddler, EVER! I love that picture of him looking in the crazy mirror. That's classic!
ReplyDeleteThe mashed sweet potatoes sound great, and I love your addition of cheddar cheese. Smart. Tonight we're having Imagine Foods Sweet Potato soup, but I think I might add some grilled chicken and extra veggies. I love soup this time of year.
Thanks! :)
DeleteThe additions to the sweet potato soup sound good!
Your son is growing up so fast! I love the age 5 too. It will be fun teaching him how to read. I always loved teaching my kids to read.
ReplyDelete:-) Marion
Yes, learning how to read is fun.
DeleteHappy Birthday to the cutest 5 year old!!!!! Have a wonderful week Andrea!
ReplyDeleteThanks! :)
DeleteHappy belated birthday to the kid!! It sounds like he had a "smashing" party ;) I just love that he had to tell EVERYONE about it, lol.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it funny how people make up their minds about food before they even try them? I'm glad you were able to change their minds with such a fun smashed potatoes dish! I think I would be in the "cheesy" mood pretty much all the time ;)
Hope all is well, Andrea!
Yes, the kid went through a terrible phase when he didn't "like" food before trying it. Luckily, he got over it (knock on wood that it won't come back...). The "funny" thing is when adults are the same way...
DeleteCongratulations to your big boy. Looks like he had a great birthday party.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Fran! :)
DeleteHe's so big! My daughter worked at Pump it Up for 3 years, such a fun place.
ReplyDeleteI never even tried sweet potatoes until I started my blog in 2008 - now I don't like them all by themselves, but mixed in I am okay with it - I made spicy sweet potato wontons with an asian dipping sauce - nice balance of sweet and heat!
http://mybizzykitchen.com/category/vegetable/sweet-potato-wontons-with-spicy-asian-dipping-sauce/
I remember that you mentioned before that Hannah used to work at Pump It Up, and I always think of you guys when we are there! :)
DeleteThe spicy sweet potato wontons sound great!
What a sweetie! I loved sweet potatoes baked with butter!
ReplyDeleteThanks! :)
DeleteCongratulations for your baby turning 5...so cute the pictures.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of mashing the sweet potato...need to try with cheese next time :)
Hope you are enjoying your week Andrea!
Thanks, Juliana!
Delete5 years, still little and so cute. Sweet potatoes- love them roasted, love any veggie roasted. The slow cooker always feels like a cooking cheat- some protein, seasonings and let it cook.
ReplyDeleteYes, roasted veggies are awesome! And when the kid went through a very picky phase, he ate most veggies roasted...
DeleteHappy 5th to your sweet little boy! These smashed sweet potatoes look delish-love the sweet and savory combo. I made some roasted cream of tomato soup recently with only a few ingredients and it was delicious. Of course the key is making it with super sweet tomatoes. Have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteThanks, EA!
DeleteHappy birthday to your little guy! Mine turned 30 this past summer. It's true that time flies. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! And, yes, time does fly... :)
DeleteHi Andrea! I was thinking about you lately and hope that you are doing well, and your family too. Hopefully, you're just really busy.
ReplyDelete:-) Marion
Sorry for the late reply. Things have been very stressful over the past few months, but it's better now. Thank you so much for checking in, and, again, sorry for not replying sooner!
DeleteHope things are going well!
A very belated Happy Birthday to your little Big man. That exciting for him. It's crazy how fast they grow. My oldest is turning 7 this week which seems weird because i was 20 something just last week, but apparently not any more. Not sure what i'll do when he's 16 and want's to drive =]
ReplyDeleteThanks! :)
Delete