FRIDAY FAVES: Sweet Potato Fries

There's nothing like a cheeseburger, fries, and diet coke.
Sometimes I just CRAVE it (even if it's from the $1 menu at McDonald's!).
Of course it is better from a sit-down restaurant...with ranch and avocado.

Being on a budget, we try our best to do all of our cooking at home, so we've been excited to have a weekly burger and fries night at home...just us and our trusty 'ol George Foreman grill :)

In working on getting my a1c down, losing weight, and being healthier
in general, I've traded in my cheeseburgers for salmon burgers
(Derek is still sticking with his weekly cheddar bacon burgers)
and instead of french fries,
we enjoy a healthy side of SWEET POTATO FRIES!!!!

I first experimented with Sweet Potato Fries this summer after reading about them on blogs.
I googled a recipe and got to work:
peeling, chopping,
seasoning (olive oil, salt, cinnamon, paprika...), and baking.

The results were tasty, but
after too many run-ins involving my fingers and the knife,
I knew there had to be a better way!

On a random trip to the Jewel, I spotted them...
Sweet Potato Fries,
already chopped, peeled, and seasoned,
in the freezer section!!!

From there, we branched out to other variations
found at Whole Foods
(Chipotle Seasoned, Crinkle Cut, Waffle Cut, etc...)

Prices range anywhere from
$1.89 (Aldi) to $4.39 (Waffle Cut, Whole Foods) per 1 pound bag.
And just when we thought it couldn't get any better,
they arrived at Costco!!!

For $5.89 for 4 pounds, we've found our best deal yet...and it will last us for a month.
That's right, 1 pound of french fries
shared between the 2 of us each week!
(That's for dinner 1 night and leftovers for lunch the following day).

These delicious sweet potato fries have filled me up at meals,
been gracious to my blood sugar, are easy to count out,
making carb counting quick and painless,
and have added health benefits, with wonderful nutrients, and vitamins.
And with Thanksgiving around the corner, sweet potatoes are in season.

Ladies and Gentleman,
please give it up for
my current Friday Fave....Sweet Potato Fries!!!

Happy Friday...
now go enjoy some Sweet Potato Fries!

IT'S A LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIP: BLOGS

While "Just another Manic Monday" plays through my head...I introduce you to a new segment on this blog: Love-Hate Mondays.

I previously wrote about my love-hate relationship with Whole Foods here...and in doing so, have realized that I have many of these love-hate relationships.

I figured Mondays would be the best time to confess these love-hate issues since I have my own love-hate relationship with Mondays.

 Who doesn't HATE Mondays...because, well, they're Mondays??? The weekend is over!!!
...but who doesn't LOVE a fresh new start to the week. New goals, new plans, a new start.

So, without further ado...my love-hate relationship with BLOGS.

Dear Blogs,

I love you and I hate you.

I love the inspiration I receive from the artsy blogs, the encouragement I receive from the DOC (Diabetes Online Community), the motivation I receive from the foodie/healthy living blogs, the inspiration I receive
from the marriage blogs, and the love I receive from my friends and family's blogs.

And I have you Blogs all organized in Google Reader, alerting me just like email when a new post is available to read.

But Blogs...I hate the time it takes to read you every day.

Over 100 blog posts on average to read every day. Yikes!

And Blogs...you make me jealous, especially when I follow the lives of people who get to blog for a living!!! Oh, what dream...to get paid to blog?!?!?

But Blogs, I keep on reading and I keep on writing...and life goes on...even though I can't decide whether I hate you more or love you more.

Blogs...it's not you. It's me! I hope we can still be friends!

Love, Jen

p.s... read about why I continue to blog here.