Super Simple Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Now that I have a small child, being able to take an afternoon and cook is pretty much a thing of the past. I am always looking for ways to still eat healthy and well but also save time. I would much rather be hanging out with my kid instead of standing over a stove top all day. I do love the therapeutic mind-space cooking puts you in, but my life is taken over by smashed bananas and baby bottles. When it's nap time, I cook. 

I have been making a batch of these sweet potatoes about once a week. I put eggs on top of them for breakfast. I place them in salads. I eat them just by themselves. I add a little bit of cheese and greek yogurt for a loaded baked potato. 

Also, if it's your sort of thing, these are paleo. I go back and forth with eating paleo and I hope to commit to the Whole30 after the holidays. Cheese, man. I miss my cheese! 

I added some mushrooms to this batch as well because I needed to eat them up before they went bad in the black hole that is our fridge. 

Ingredients: 

3 or 4 large sweet potatoes

I added mushrooms this round 

Coconut Oil

Ghee (I use this one) 

Sea Salt

Red Pepper Flakes

Freshly Ground Pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Scrub sweet potatoes and peel

Cut into bite size pieces

Warm a few spoonfuls of coconut oil and Ghee

Mix coconut oil and Ghee into a bowl with the sweet potatoes

Sprinkle see salt, pepper flakes, and ground pepper generously

Spread out sweet potatoes on a cookie sheet

Bake for 45-50 minutes

About half way through, toss potatoes

Let cool, enjoy! 

Baby Marin | Week Forty Three (10 Months)

As of today, Marin is ten months old. I feel like this week has been super crazy and I have been running all over the place for work and the holidays. Lots of parties, events, meetings. All good things, but I am very glad to have a Thursday at home with this little gal. She is currently napping like a little champ.

She is extra drool-y today and we are still awaiting the arrival of a tooth. Someday it will happen. Someday.

Marin discovered the kitty door today that is in the door in our kitchen that leads out to our garage. That is not a place for babies and she knows that she isn't allowed out there. That realization makes it even more a part of her little baby agenda. Any chance she gets, she crawls as fast as she can to reach the kitty door. Geoff the cat just kind of looks at her like, "Hey, that's my room!"

She has surprised us lately and has been sleeping in later than usual. We didn't roll out of bed until after 8am today. The days of waking up at 3am or 5am have left us, at least for now. It has been a nice, welcomed change.

(A gal and her kitty buddy.) 

I can't wait for this time next week when Marin gets to experience her very first Christmas. I think she will enjoy the wrapping paper and boxes almost more than the gifts themselves. She was totally entertained with tissue paper for a very long time while I was wrapping gifts the other day. Simple distractions.

Week Forty Three. Ten Months.

Baby Marin | Week Forty Two

Well, I'm late in posting this, but I must show you this adorable little baby girl that we get the amazing chance to call our very own. We have been blessed with an amazing little gal and I can't help but realize how many ways she has changed our lives for the better. She makes everyday a new, wonderful experience. She has helped me learn more and more things about myself every single day. She helps me understand my weaknesses and my strengths as a mother and a wife. I am forever thankful for this little gal. She is my reason, for everything. 

I guess I'm feeling pretty sentimental lately. This time last year, I was very pregnant and all of the unknowns of parenthood and finding who I am in motherhood weighed heavily on me. Now I get to wake up everyday and be greeted by Marin's little smile. She makes all things new. 

I am so thankful that I get to be her mom. 

Baby Marin | Week Forty One

Marin had her 9 month well-check yesterday afternoon. The nurses and doctors just can't get enough of her. They say that she is very bright and doing very well. Of course, my mommy heart just about bursts when they say that, but I agree with them. She is one smart cookie. One smart, feisty cookie. 

Marin now weighs 16.5 lb. and is almost 27 inches long. She still measures in the petite range but is growing like a weed. We also didn't need to get any shots of any sort yesterday, which was a nice change of pace. We are not a big fan of shots, pretty much ever. 

The next time we will take her to a well-check appointment, Marin will be one year old. Where is the time going? Where? 

Week Forty One.