simple kitchen

sweet potato fries

There is a restaurant in Houston that makes the BEST sweet potato fries.  I pretend like they are good for me, and I eat every last one (besides the ones stolen off of my plate).  They are delicious.  When we have our yummy grass fed burgers here at home, I like to make a version of the sweet potato fries.

First I peel and chop the potatoes.  I like them kind of thick, but not too thick.  If they are too thick they take too long to cook.

I place them on a lightly oiled sheet (either coconut or olive), and then sprinkle some oil on top.  Very little oil.  Then I place them under the broiler until they crisp up a bit.

My husband would want me to stop right here and tell you that they don't get nearly as crispy as truly fried potatoes would.  But it doesn't really bother me.  These are delicious!

To sweet potatoes!  God's crowning achievement in the root vegetable category!

simple kitchen: breakfast

 banana pancakes

While mine are cooking, I like to add chopped walnuts.  Yum!!!

We love banana pancakes around here!  I think you will too.  This 'recipe' is so seriously simple that I don't even measure anything.  I just throw it all in a bowl and call it good.  For this post's purpose I will try to come up with some measurements, but keep in mind that they are all round about.  If you find that you need more flour, add more.  Add another banana.  Shoot- leave the bananas out and add applesauce!  This is a versatile breakfast staple!

The How:

Put about 2 Cups of flour in the bowl (I usually use white whole wheat flour here)

Add 1/2 tsp of baking powder

sprinkle in some cinnamon

Whisk together

Put in one ripe banana and mash

Add 2 Tbsp of melted coconut oil

a splash of vanilla

Now for the liquid- I tend to add milk until it's a nice, runny 'pancake batter' consistency.  I add a little at first and just slowly keep adding.

Stir it up

Spoon out onto a hot griddle

Done and done!

Please let me know if you try this!  Also- if anything is too vague ask away and I'll try my best to answer.

simple kitchen

Here is a simple and fun lunch that my family loves!

I hope yours does too.

Green Chips


If your family is like mine and enjoys eating locally and in season, you are swimming in an abundance of greens right now.  Something we like to eat is "green chips".  Spread a small amount of olive oil on a pan, chop up greens (we used collard here but my favorite is kale) and spread on a pan.  Try not to overlap.  Sprinkle some raw cheese on top and a dash of salt.  Set the oven on the broiler and let the greens broil until they have some browning on some of the edges.  When you pull them out and they begin to cool they turn crunchy.  They are delicious!  Really- my children jumped up and down when I pulled these out of the oven.  They are great on their own or can be used as a topping for pretty much anything.

Whole Food Nachos
wherein I attempt to make nachos sound healthy...


On Sundays I like to make a big pot of beans that will last us for 3 or 4 meals during the week.  I make them in the crock-pot - so easy!

This week we had black bean nachos and the family was raving!  I mean, this was really easy.  If only they were as enthusiastic about the butternut squash and kale lasagna I make.  Now THAT takes effort.  I digress.

Our local supermarket (HEB) carries an organic corn chip with red quinoa and flax in it.  That is the base layer here.  Then I spooned on some beans, grated up raw carrot over them, added raw cheddar cheese and placed under the broiler.  When I pulled them out I added the green chips.  Then we put a spoonful of plain yogurt on top (you know- for a sour cream effect).

It was such a flavorful and filling lunch.  Go try it!