Baked Sweet Potato Fries

A few weeks ago, I bought one sweet potato from the store with the intent of whipping up some yummy mashed sweet potato side dish for dinner. Well, a few weeks later, that potato remained untouched, so I decided to turn it into a lunch side dish of sweet potato fries! I love how simple and easy this side dish is, and how it automatically spruces up your simpleton meal into a bistro dish.

1. One sweet potato serves 2 people. Cut the potato into small fry-like wedges. You can make them thicker or skinner, depending on how hearty you like them. You can peel the potato or leave the skin on, it's up to you. (I like mine peeled) While you're prepping, go ahead and pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees.

2. Prepare the fry seasoning. 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, 1/2 tsp. minced garlic,  pinch or two of salt, pinch of pepper, 1/2 tsp. paprika, 1/4 tsp. ground cumin. You can also skip all the dry ingredients and use an all purpose seasoning, like Pappy's. (If you've never had Pappy's, then you haven't truly lived.) Toss the sweet potato fries with the oil and dry seasoning mixture until coated evenly. Spread out in one layer on a baking sheet.

3. Cook the sweet potato fries 20-30 minutes. Cooking time will vary depending on how thick you cut your fries, so check in at the 2o minute mark to see how they're coming along.

4. Take out of the oven once fully cooked (should be golden brown and crispy on the outside). Serve hot and enjoy!

I paired the fries with a turkey panini, and a phenomenal sweet potato fry dipping sauce, courtesy of Giada's recipe which is a very simple mixture: 1/2 cup mayo, 1/2 tbsp. lemon juice, 1/2 tsp. minced garlic. Of course, mix these and taste test...add more of anything you want to taste more of! I added my own twist to the sauce and added a little bit of mustard, BBQ sauce, and honey. Sounds strange, but the combo of flavors, plus having time to "marinade" in the fridge, really was the perfect combo.