Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

For the Sweet potatoes

4 small sweet potatoes
1/3 cup organic gouda cheese (shredded)
5 teaspoons fresh chives
1 teaspoon dried tarragon or 1 tablespoon fresh tarragon
2 teaspoon coconut oil

For the Mushrooms
2 teaspoons fresh rosemary
2 teaspoons fresh thyme
4 tablespoons French shallots
3 tablespoons organic butter or ghee
1 cup button mushrooms
1/2 cup shiitake mushrooms

Method:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit
Scrub the sweet potatoes and dry them off, then rub some virgin coconut oil and season each one with sea salt.
Bake them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for about 30-45 minutes. Keep checking them to see when they are tender to the touch.
While the sweet potatoes are cooking prepare the mushroom topping.
Wipe the mushrooms clean with a damp cloth and slice them into thin slices.
Chop your fresh herbs very fine and set aside.
Chop your French shallots into very small dice and set aside.

Heat a large sauté pan on medium heat with 2 tablespoons of butter
Sautee the mushrooms in batches (so not to over crowed them) with the butter or ghee and allow them to brown.
Add some of the the shallots and rosemary/thyme to each batch of mushrooms and season with salt and pepper.
Repeat with another batch of mushrooms until they are all beautifully brown.
Add all of your sautéed mushrooms back to the pan, and add the last tablespoon of butter and lather the mushrooms with it.
Remove the pan from the heat after it has melted.

Once your sweet potatoes are nice and tender, remove them from the oven, cut them in half and remove the insides, making sure you do not tear the skin.
Mash or whip the potatoes with the coconut oil, chives and tarragon in a bowl.
Season with sea salt and pepper and stuff the mash back into the sweet potato skins.
Add the mushroom topping to the top of the stuffed potatoes and then place the cheese on top.
Broil the potatoes under the broiler until the cheese has melted and has reached a golden colour.

Cook Outside the Box
These stuffed potatoes are not just for a yummy dinner, they are delicious for breakfast with scrambled eggs on the side.
Add some cooked organic chicken sausage instead of mushrooms if you prefer meat, or remove the cheese and just add the mushrooms for a vegan version.
These potatoes are great as an appetizer as well, serve one on top of a little green salad.

Beet and Walnut Salad

2 cups of cooked beets (sliced into circles)
1/4 cup soft French goat cheese (crumbled)
1/3 cup organic walnuts (lightly toasted at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for about 12 minutes)
Sprinkle of Maldon sea salt and fresh ground black pepper
Drizzle of balsamic cream (reduced balsamic vinegar)
Drizzle of organic extra virgin olive oil
Zest from an orange

Method:
Steam your baby beets until they are tender; about 40 minutes.
Cool them down and remove the skin under running water, (it makes it so much easier to remove the skin under running water)
Slice your beets into desired size circles and add them to a bowl.
Drizzle about 1 tablespoon of balsamic cream and 1 tablespoon of organic extra virgin olive oil on top of the beets
(you can add more if you like), add ½ teaspoon of orange zest, sea salt and ground pepper. Toss the beets in the dressing.
Place your beets in a pretty serving bowl.
Sprinkle beets with the toasted walnuts and soft goat cheese.
Garnish the salad with edible flowers for the LOVE.
Learn more about the health benefits of beets.

Bon Appétit!