Chipotle Sweet Potato and Quinoa Cakes

The last post of the year is taking a bit of a different approach. You see, my feeds from various social media sites are clogged with sweets and indulgent foods galore. The problem is I'm full. Honest to goodness full. I don't want to see another cookie until next fall...or at least next Wednesday. I decided to end the year with a healthy post because I know y'all will come scrambling, looking for something healthy to start your year off with. My simple sweet potato and quinoa cakes are a great base for anything: eggs Benedict, a burger, eaten plain, etc. They also help you get all sorts of protein, fiber and vitamins, which, given how you partied on NYE, you will probably need to restore as soon as possible. 

All you need is a medium cooked sweet potato, a 1/2-2/3 cup of cooked quinoa (I like Trader Joe's tri color), a teaspoon of garlic powder and 1/2 a teaspoon of chipotle powder. Mash everything together in a bowl like so,

Shape them into patties and place them on a lightly oiled tray

Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Dunzo.

Of course I made an eggs Benedict out of mine. If you back up a couple of steps and add in some cooked onions and peppers you could probably call this a burger. Well, a vegan burger.

The greens you see happen to be the Kale and Broccoli Slaw Salad from Trader Joe's. It's got sunflower seeds, dried blueberries and a light buttermilk type dressing that doesn't strip the salad of all its benefits. Told you this was a healthy post.

Wishing you all the best for a happy, healthy, and of course tasty New Year! Until the next dish, ciao!

Oscar Wild Weekend

After a three and half hour drive north I finally see the faded, familiar flag that marks my aunt and uncle's house set amidst the golden leaves. The dogs come bounding down the stairs as I fight my way up with a bottle of wine and an overnight bag. I greet my family and take a look around the Adirondack style house. Same as ever, it brings a smile to my face to be somewhere so peaceful, so beautiful and surrounded by family and the great outdoors. It was a quick one night stay but being in the middle of the wild Adirondacks works wonders to calm my overactive mind and my growling stomach.

The towns in the Gore Mountain area all seem to blend into one another. The large swathes of land and the winding Hudson River make it difficult to draw boundaries but that's never stopped me from finding good food. Basil and Wicks in North Creek has been around for ages pleasing both locals and visitors. Conveniently set on the way towards the mountain is the lodge style building that has burgers, salads, steaks and the best crispy duck wings in a sweet chili sauce. There's also O.P Fredrick's  with a surprisingly seafood heavy menu but I swear by all things duck here. The duck burrito and half roasted duck are house favorites for a reason. 

This weekend though I had been craving the Korean barbecue wings from barvino on the "main drag" in North Creek. The menu stresses local and fresh ingredients meaning the menu changes daily. There are a few more permanent items such as the mussels, the frites, and the wings. I am not ashamed to say that between my sister, cousins and I we have demolished four to five plates of wings a sitting. Supremely crunchy (they're fried) and drenched in sauce with a gentle toss of sesame seeds and scallions these wings are the stuff dreams are made of. During this past visit I got a plateful as well as the salad with preserved lemon and lavender honey goat cheese. The salad was a welcome bite of bright, floral flavors to counter the wings. Sadly, the gnocchi with brandy, cream, bacon and almonds (I know, right?!)  was not on the menu, which means I'll just have to come back, oh drat.

Any trip up north wouldn't be complete without a trip to Oscar's Smokehouse . The deli counters are full of plain and marinaded meats, various sausages, and deli style salads and cheeses. It's hard to exercise self control but when it comes down to it there are three must have items: bacon, maple breakfast sausages, and smoked chicken salad. The bacon is thin cut and simply awesome. The maple breakfast sausages are unlike any other I've had; the flavor legit explodes in your mouth. And the smoked chicken salad never gets old and I now have people placing orders with me for the next time I go up. Oscar's does ship certain items but the chicken salad isn't one of them...which means I'll just have to come back, oh drat. Noticing a theme are we?

Oscar Wilde said, "I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best." and the best is exactly what this area of upstate New York is. Whether it's scenery, food, or recreation, it is sure to be a wee bit wild. Until the next dish, ciao!