Guiltless sweet potato fries...

As a child, I despised sweet potatoes.Well, to be honest, I despised them until about two years ago when I finally gained the courage to try them. To my surprise, I loved them and have been eating them ever since. Christmas and Thanksgiving are much more delicious now that I eat sweet potato casserole (I was missing so much all those years).

Sweet potatoes are great prepared just about any way, but one of my favorite ways to eat them is by slicing them in long shreds and baking them until tender on the inside and crispy on the outside.

I call them my "Guiltless Sweet Potato Fries" because it gives me the satisfaction of having French fries but without the guilt and extra mile on the treadmill. With just a little over 100 calories and approximately 2.4 grams of fat (according to caloriecount.com), these fries will definitely satisfy your taste buds and give you a feeling of indulgence.

They are super simple to fix and you probably have everything you need for them right in your pantry. Next time you're grilling burgers or needing an easy side dish, try these and feel good on the inside and out!

Guiltless Sweet Potato Fries

1-2 medium size sweet potatoes (1 medium potato can easily feed two girls...maybe slice up another if a guy will be present)
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground pepper
1/4 tsp. paprika (I like to use sweet Spanish paprika)
1-2 T. extra virgin olive oil (depending on how many potatoes you use)

Directions:

#1:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
#2: Slice sweet potatoes longways and place on baking sheet.
#3: Drizzle EVOO over potatoes to coat.
#4: Add salt, pepper and paprika.
#5: Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes and then crank oven up to broil for 5-8 minutes (watch them carefully here so you won't burn them).

Enjoy!