Baked Sweet Potato Fries

I lovee french fries but hate how greasy and unhealthy they are!  Although I do have the unhealthy version from time to time, I like to make my own, healthier version at home.  It's a super easy recipe using Sweet Potatoes that are baked instead of fried.  Did you know Sweet Potatoes are rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C?? Yes, they're delicious and good for you!  Make these and you won't be disappointed!  Enjoy!


Ingredients:

1 Sweet Potato
Cooking Spray
Salt & Pepper
Cayenne Pepper (optional)



Directions:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees
• Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray
• Peel sweet potato, cut in half, then cut into 1/4" slices 
• arrange into a single layer on prepared baking sheet
• spray with cooking spray then sprinkle with salt, pepper and cayenne to taste
• Bake for about 30 mins, turning once at the half way point to ensure even cooking
• Serves 2

Club: Baked- Bananas Foster Fritters

The recipe for Bananas Foster Fritters is the most recent baking adventure for Club: Baked and is hosted by Stephanie of Ice Cream Before Dinner.  Be sure to check out her blog for the recipe!  The first time I tried frying a dessert was with Club: Baked's Farm Stand Buttermilk Donuts.  Although it was my first time, I followed the recipe (and my candy thermometer) very carefully and had a very successful result. I did the same for this one and was very pleased.  They had a very prominent banana flavor with a hint of cinnamon, a perfect combo in my book!  But I think what made this dessert really reach that wow factor was the rum dipping sauce!  Once the fritters were cooled slightly but still warm, a quick sprinkle of cinnamon sugar and a dip in the rum sauce gave them a perfect finish!  (side note: The rum sauce would probably be amazingg on pancakes, french toast or even waffles!)

I have to add that I don't typically like the taste of fried anything, so I made an attempt at baking some of the fritters.  They came out as a dense, chewy cookie.  Of course, the cinnamon sugar and rum sauce helped out them out a little, but I just couldn't get past how dense they were.  The fried fritters were definitely amazing and much better than my attempt at making cookies, but I think it was worth a try!  Don't forget to check out Club: Baked to see all of the member's fritters!  Enjoy!

Club: Baked-Boston Cream Pie Cake

I can't think of a better way to start off September than with a delicious recipe from Club: Baked!   This time we were to make Boston Cream Pie Cake, chosen by Brooke of Brookes bountiful kitchen.  I actually made this cake back in July when my family came down to Florida for a visit.  A four layer sponge cake filled with vanilla and chocolate custard enrobed in chocolate ganache would have been too much to have in the house for just my boyfriend and me to eat!  Good thing I decided to make it while having a house full of guests because I really could've eaten the whole thing myself, it was that good!

This might have been the first time I ever made a cake that tasted better than it looked.  The thickness of my layers were pretty uneven and the outside had some not-so-nice divots in it.  I usually cut my layers with a large bread knife, but since I had so much difficulty cutting this cake even, I finally purchased a cake slicer to use in the future.  Never again will I have a cake with uneven layers!  I also found this cake to be pretty time consuming and I took some of the extra steps suggested in the book.  I put the cake in the freezer for several hours (to ease slicing, but that didn't help much!) and I made the rum soak, which I think did add an extra kick of flavor to each sponge layer.  I thought the ganache was divine, and probably one of the best tasting I have ever made or had.  I also really liked the pastry cream which tasted like it was straight from a bakery.  Overall, the cake was absolutely delicious and worth making at least once.  I have plans to eventually make this one again so I can perfect the imperfections and make it just a little prettier than my first attempt!  Don't forget to check out Brookes boutiful kitchen for the recipe and the Club: Baked site for all of the other's pics and comments.  Enjoy!