MMMmmm.. Bacon!

I LOVE BACON!

Ok.. I will calm down now :)

I only buy nitrate free bacon, which is hard to come by here unless I travel 40 minutes to an hour to the nearest Target or Whole Foods.  So, between the travel time and it being pretty costly,  its kind of a luxury around here.

We went to Whole Foods the week prior and I picked up a pack.  It sat in my fridge all week staring at me... just waiting for me to do something delicious.  So, for my bible study group, I figured I would make a yummy appetizer.  Ever go on pinterest and put "Bacon Appetizer" in the search engine???? Yeah, don't do that unless you want to be starving on the spot... for bacon!! lol

After tons of searching nothing was really reaching out to me besides some Bacon covered sweet potatoes.  That and a desire to have some blue cheese made me think of my newest appetizer.

Bacon Covered Chipotle Sweet Potatoes with Blue Cheese Sauce.

OHHH It was good, and pretty easy to make too!

Oh, and my potatoes are white because I used Japanese Sweet Potatoes 

Bacon Covered Chipotle Sweet Potatoes with Blue Cheese Sauce

For Potatoes:

2 Medium Sweet potatoes

1 Lb of Bacon 

2 TB Butter

1/2 TSP chipotle Chili Powder 

2 TSP Salt 

For Blue Cheese Sauce: 

1/2 c. Coconut milk (not canned)

1 TB Butter

1 TB White Wheat Flour 

2 Oz. Blue Cheese 

Dash of salt

Optional:  Honey

Directions: 

- Preheat oven at 350

-  Cut potatoes into bite size chucks. I quarter my potatoes into quarters length wise and then those quarters into fourths.  

-  Cut each strip of bacon into fourths. 

-  Melt butter in a sauce pan and stir in the chipotle powder and salt.

-  Toss potatoes in the butter mixture and then wrap bacon around potato, laying on the cookie sheet seam side down.  

-  Place in oven for 20 minutes

- Take out and flip over also placing a tooth pick through each of them to secure bacon from coming off (Sweet potato is too dense to stick the tooth pick in before you put them in the oven). 

-  Cook for another 20 minutes or until bacon is crispy and potatoes are tender.  

- While potatoes are cooking make blue cheese sauce.  Melt butter in a sauce man and whisk in flour. 

-  Cook the flour for 1-2 minutes stirring constantly.  Whisk in coconut milk until it is blended through. 

-  Simmer the mixture until it is thickened.  Take off heat and whisk in blue cheese until it has melted into the mixture.  Serve along side the potatoes.  

Optional:  Drizzle honey over the bacon wrapped sweet potatoes when serving 

Let me know if you make it!! :)  

Don't forget to check me out on Facebook for more recipes, motivation, and clean eating tips!! 

www.facebook.com/acleanappeite 

Potsticker Meatballs Please!

I have probably the best hubby out there.. 

I was in NO MOOD to cook.. but was having a hankering for asian food and I found a pin on pinterest for some potsticker meatballs and I was sold!  So, I batted some puppy dog eyes at the hubby and asked him if he would make them for me.  :)  He did, with no whining.. he's awesome! 

These suckers are AWESOME and were so great for my 10 month old which right now only has 2 bottom teeth.  I just pinched off little pieces and he gobbled them up, along with the baked sweet potato.  My 4 year old daughter also found them yummy! 

I adapted my recipe from  Saving Dinner since I didnt have everything for it.  

This is my version :)  

Potsticker Meatballs 

1 pound ground turkey
2 small carrots, grated
2 tablespoons Mrs. Dash Onion and Herb Seasoning 
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons Gluten Free Soy Sauce
1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger root
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Pinch red pepper flakes
1/4 cup almond flour
1 egg, beaten
3 tablespoons coconut oil

The original recipe calls for cilantro, and I was sad we didnt have that, cause it would have made a great addition! 

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a medium bowl, mix together all the ingredients except for the coconut oil. Scoop out a little of the mixture at a time to roll into medium sized meat balls. Lay the meat balls out on a clean sheet pan.

In a large skillet, heat the coconut oil over medium-high heat. Brown the meat balls in batches on all sides. Remove the browned meatballs with a slotted spoon and place back on the sheet pan.

Once all the meatballs have been browned place the sheet pan in the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through. Remove from the oven and serve.

I served ours with baked Japanese sweet potatoes and steamed snap peas!

ENJOY!  

Wine and Cheese Please!

I have recently started a bible study group at my house.  Its a great "mommy's night out".  The hubbies take the kids and we get to chat, relax, unwind, and get a little closer to God.  I love my Friday nights!  The first time we met we did a Dessert and Wine theme and this time we did Cheese and Wine theme..  See a trend here?  ;)  I really think I could do a cheese theme every time!  I LOVE CHEESE!! Yes, its not paleo, but its ok to indulge now and again.. even if its going to bloat me to where I feel like I look like Im 5 months pregnant! lol  Its worth that yummy goodness!

We all picked a cheese and I went with goat cheese!  After searching pinterest awhile, I came across several recipes that looked great and easy (Simple is the name of the game with 2 kids) so I combined the different ingredients I liked out of them and made my own!

I introduce to you, Baked Goat Cheese with Toasted Walnuts, Honey, and Thyme! 

Absolutely delicious and there was NONE left by the time we ended!  

5 oz of Goat Cheese 

(I got the spreadable kind but thats not necessary) 

Walnuts

Honey

Fresh Thyme 

Preheat oven to 400

• Chop the walnuts until they are in smaller pieces.  Place them in a frying pan over medium heat stirring frequently until the walnuts are toasted.  Usually when you begin to smell them.
• Place the goat cheese in an oven safe dish.  Place the dish in the preheated oven.  Take out when the cheese is warmed through.  I had it in for about 15-20 min.  (times vary) 
• Take the cheese out and sprinkle with the fresh thyme leaves, toasted walnuts, and drizzle honey.  YOU'RE DONE! 

I served with toasted baguette slices.  Just slice, bread drizzle with EVOO, and rub each slice with a garlic clove that has been cut in half.  Place on baking sheet and broil till edges are lightly brown. 

Let me know what you think!