Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

We have recently become lovers of sweet potatoes, and I find myself baking them for my family 2-3 times a week! We wanted to mix things up tonight, and if you love sweet potatoes (or even if you don't), then you will LOVE these! We honestly felt like we were eating dessert, and my husband suggested freezing them, topping them with whipped cream, and eating them that way. Who knows...we just might try it! ;)

Ingredients:

2 large OR 4 small sweet potatoes

2 Tbsp. brown sugar

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 cube butter

Directions:

Scrub potatoes and poke all over with a fork. Place on tinfoil and bake at 400* for about an hour. Take it out of the oven and cut off the top 1/4 of the potato (length wise). Scoop out insides (leave enough around the edges to help your potato stand up) and mix with remaining ingredients--I did this in my blender. You could use a food processer, hand mixer, Ninja, whatever!--until smooth. Scoop mixture back into potato skins and bake at 400* for another 10-15 minutes. That's it!

These were honestly more like a dessert than a side. We all (kids included) LOVED them! Let us know if you do too!

Kara's Black Bean Dip

This recipe is straight from my sister-in-law (the one who named this blog), Kara. The family has been talking about it for months, and apparently it's a staple, but we have somehow been in the dark about it. Until today! I tried it tonight and it took my boring quesadilla to a whole new level! I dipped tortilla chips in it and snacked while I was cooking, I smothered my quesadilla with it, I fed it to my 3 year old with his avocado, and then I fed it to my baby with a spoon. Win, win, win, and win.

Ingredients:

1 can black beans (drained but not rinsed)

1/4 C salsa

1.5 tsp crushed garlic OR 2-3 cloves

Directions:

Blend ingredients until smooth in a blender, Magic Bullet, Baby Bullet, Ninja, or whatever blending device you have. So simple, so easy, so good, and good for you! Let us know if you try it?

Salted Caramel Cookie Bars

The only thing I know about football is that once a year there is a Super Bowl which means loads of good food. I tried this recipe this year, and they were a hit! Also, I did a good enough job arranging them on the plate that my guests from didn't know I'd already eaten half the pan before game time. Win win!

Ingredients:

3/4 C butter melted and cooled (I just stuck it in the freezer for a few minutes)

1 C brown sugar

1/2 C sugar

1 egg

1 egg yolk

1 tsp. vanilla

2 C + 2 Tbsp flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1.5 C chocolate chips

11 oz caramels 

3 Tbsp milk or cream

1/4-1/2 tsp sea salt

Directions:

Combine butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla, blend. Add dry ingredients and mix until combined.

Press half of the cookie dough into a Pammed 9x13 baking dish. Sprinkle half of the chocolate chips on top of dough.

In a microwave safe bowl, cook caramel as and milk on high for 30 seconds. Stir and continue to microwave in 20 second intervals until caramel is melted. Pour caramel over dough. Sprinkle with half of the sea salt.

Stir the rest of the chocolate chips into the cookie dough, and drop by spoonful onto caramel as evenly as possible. Sprinkle with remaining sea salt.

Bake at 325* for 25 minutes (edges should be slightly golden brown).

Remove from oven and let cool before cutting.

I think these would be even more awesome if served with some vanilla ice cream. Yuum!

These were super easy and extremely delicious. Let is know what you think!