We’ve lived in Oregon for a full year now and I realize that fall is definitely my favorite season. Beautiful leaves, perfect running weather, great food, two fun fall holidays before the big Christmas/New Year’s whiz-bang finale. This “Falliday” season also brings some of my favorite festive eats, which I’m sharing in this new series:
Favorite Falliday Recipes
To make my fall spice girls (Ginger, Nutmeg & Cinnamon) really shine, I started using flavored Balsamic Vinegars and Ginger Juice or Syrup.
I consider it a bit of a shortcut to add instant Falliday Spirit to salad dressings, hot beverages, and even baked goods. Therefore, most recipe ideas in this series feature a favorite Balsamic Vinegar which I purchase from a local vendor, Third Street Oil & Vinegar. However you can find these flavors on Amazon as well or better yet, your local oil and vinegar purveyor.
Sweet Potato Crumble
WITH CINAMMON PEAR BALSAMIC VINEGAR
At 18 weeks pregnant I’m thinking a lot about food. I’m also thinking about how I want to create family food traditions that are healthier than I remember. Take for example the marshmallow bake, I mean sweet potato casserole. I’ve never met a version I didn’t think was too sweet.
How do you think Sweet Potatoes got their name? Exactly! I love the natural sweetness. So why start adding brown sugar and then cover it all up with more pillows of sugar? I want something that less sweet that still feels special for the holidays (in other words, more than a lump of baked sweet potato with a butter square on top).
My new tradition: The Sweet Potato Crumble
It’s really the crunchy crumble topping that makes this dish a festive holiday treat. While my version does add 1/4 cup of ginger syrup to the crumble topping, it’s not so rich and sweet that it can’t be plated alongside a savory roasted bird.
Ingredients:
4 Sweet Potatoes – baked and peeled
2 Tbs Cinnamon Pear Balsamic Vinegar
—-Crumble Topping—-
1/2 Cup Oats (I use Coach’s Oats)
1/2 Cup Flour
1/2 Cup Chopped Nuts (Pecans or walnuts taste great)
1/3 Cup Softened Butter
1/4 Cup Ginger Syrup
Optional: Add 1 tsp nutmeg and/or other spices you like.
Steps:
- Bake sweet potatoes until soft. I put them in a foil lined dish at 350 degrees for an hour or so.
- Peel back the skins, scoop out the goodness, then mash with Cinnamon Pear Balsamic.
- Spread sweet potato into a oven safe dish. I used a pie dish.
- Mix crumble topping ingredients together and dollop it on top of the sweet potato. Spread loosely to get an even coating.
- Put dish under the broiler (on low if you have that setting) for about 5 minutes, or until the topping starts to get crispy and caramelize.
PIN THE RECIPE!
More Falliday Recipes
- Sweet Potato Crumble
- Pumpkin Ginger Muffins
- Ginger Apple Cider
- Fall Fruit Salad
- Dirty Pear Toddy
What are your favorite Falliday food traditions?
Thanks for letting me share my favorite fall food ideas and if it inspires you, I’d love to hear about it! There are so many great fall foods, and I haven’t even touched on pumpkin (but I’ll leave that to the rest of the internet which is bleeding pumpkin right now)!
That looks amazing!! I’m all about sweet potatoes and this just takes them up a notch. YUM!
Nicole @ Fitful Focus recently posted…Just Beet It! – Skoop Ignite Beet Blend Review + GIVEAWAY!
Thanks so much, Nicole! 😀
I love making (mostly) savory dishes with sweet potatoes. Despite growing up in the south, I was never a huge fan of the marshmallow-covered sweet potato souffle or pie. I like letting the natural sweetness of the sweet potato shine and this sounds right up my alley.
Becki @ Fighting for Wellness recently posted…Will Phone Apps and Websites Replace Therapists?
Could not agree more!
Mmmm…. my favorite ingredient – sweet potatoes – and my favorite spices, too. Looks great!
Elle recently posted…Clean Lean Protein
Thanks Elle!
ooh that does look yummy too. I bet that balsamic is amazing. I love the flavored balsamics they really up the cooking game don’t you think?
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Skinny Sweet Potato Casserole
Yes! They’re just fun to play with, too. The Gravenstein Apple balsamic paired with an Herbs de Provence olive oil is crazy good.
Oooh this looks super yummy!! I love sweet potato anything 🙂
Liz @The Clean Eating Couple recently posted…The Clean Eating Couple takes on Italy: Part 1
This looks really good! I actually have those same flavored balsamic vinegars but I rarely use them in my cooking – now I’ve got good reason to do so!
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets recently posted…Weekly Meal Plan for 11/8/15
Oh, sweet!
Oh wow that looks so seasonal and delicious. I’ll bet it smells amazing when it bakes too.
Marcia recently posted…Running and Coffee and Pizza Oh My!
Thanks Marcia! I love when the kitchen smells of fresh oven goodness. 😀
This looks delicious! My husband and I are both huge fans of sweet potatoes!
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…2015 Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon Recap
It’s always nice when the husband likes it too!
BREAK ME off a HUGE HUGE HUGE piece of THAT tummy lovin’! 😛
GiGi Eats recently posted…Stuff Everything But The Kitchen Sink, In Your Mouth
Oh, yum, that looks delicious! I’m looking for something new with sweet potatoes this year, so I think I’ll give this a try. I bet fall in Oregon is amazing (I can’t believe it’s been a year!).
Debbie recently posted…Gardein for the Holidays: Holiday Roast and Pumpkin Pie
I also saw a sweet potato streusel online somewhere that looked fun. Yes a whole year!
So many sweet potato recipes this week! Which will I make for Thanksgiving? Hmmm!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Planking, sweating, tweaking….and a giveaway!
Make a new one each week from Thanksgiving to Christmas! Lol.
So true about the traditional sweet potato casserole. With all of the added sugar it’s TOO sweet! This looks awesome!
I love sweet potatoes! They are like desert to me and this is no different. I will be saving this.
Hollie recently posted…Stop the Food Shaming
yum! I love sweet potatoes! I have really only had them as plain sweet potatoes though, so I clearly need to try more recipes! Pinning 🙂
Patty @ Reach Your Peak recently posted…Random Monday Thoughts
I love sweet potato! I’ll have to try this!
Carmy recently posted…Monday on the Run #34
Yum, this healthier sweet potato recipe looks delicious. I love that you avoided marshmallows – I actually am not a huge fan of the ‘mallows for Thanksgiving!
Celia at Chicago Jogger recently posted…Chicago Hot Chocolate Race + Weekly Workouts
Sweet potato crumble sounds amazing! I love sweet potatoes year round. 🙂
Jenn – a traveling Wife recently posted…What You Need To Know About Sponsored Content As A Reader
I LOVE flavored balsamic vinegars and this sounds absolutely amazing. I think I’ll be making this for T’day!
MCM Mama Runs recently posted…Celebrate good times, come on!
That’d be awesome!
I love sweet potato. Even more than I love pumpkin 🙂
jill conyers recently posted…6 YouTube Videos That Inspire
me too!
This looks amazing! I love sweet potatoes and they really don’t need any extra sugar they are great on their own!!
Toni recently posted…NYC Marathon Weekend with #TeamASICSNYCM Day #1
Very true. 😀