You go to a friend’s house for dinner?” During the giveway, I had a few people ask this question so wanted to address it. Great question by the way! Thanks guys for asking it.
Oh, and I’ll get to the picture soon. It’s worth the wait, I promise!!
So if friends don’t know how we eat or we are unsure of the meal, we typically will eat just a little something ahead of time so we aren’t famished when we get there. I will also try to help the kids make good choices by talking to them about it on the car ride there so they are prepared. I don’t make it a big deal, but I want them to be ready to make good decisions. And of course, at the same time, we do have to try to balance that without being rude. More times than not, there is always something we can eat that works though. Eating this way really isn’t hard since more times than not, there is always some protein and/or vegetables around.
Something else you can do to help, and this is one you probably do anyway, but offer to bring a dish, or two! Bring a good appetizer or healthy side that your family can enjoy, as well as everyone else. Or if it’s the desserts that they will have that has you worried, it’s always easy to bring a pretty bowl of some fresh cut up berries or whatever fruit you guys like. Maybe even bring some dark chocolate to melt and make it a little more fun. Who doesn’t love fruit dipped in warm dark chocolate?? All you need is a cup and microwave so it’s simple to do. Or make some fabulous chocolate chip cookies. I’m always looking for an excuse to bake those things!
With that said, we aren’t always going to be with our kids to help them make these decisions though and that’s why it’s so important to teach them now. And as I’ve said before, if we don’t educate them, who will?
And of course, there are a few rare times when there’s not much we can do, so they’ll eat what is there, call it a special occasion, help them realize why they feel tired or less energetic or grumpy the next day, and chalk it up to a learning experience as well.
Okay on to the fun stuff!! So who doesn’t love or miss french fries? These were THE BEST paleo french fries, or just french fries for that matter. Crispy (yes super crispy!!), tasty, and good for you! My husband had these ready as a part of our dinner the other night when the kids and I got home from the beach. Sweet guy. Anyway, he made them better than I did (yes of course I made them again the very next day), but they were still so good. I think by the second or third time, I think I’ll be able to get them just right. Hope these instructions will help you. ..
You just need a few sweet potatoes and some arrowroot powder!
Wash, peel and then cut your potatoes but make sure not to make them too thick or too thing (these were a tad too thick). I think next time I’ll just make mine round using the mandolin so they will be more consistent.
After cutting the potatoes, put them in a bag (or big bowl) with water and let them soak for at least an hour (that’s all we did) or up to 5 or so hours (this is optional if you have time).
After they soak (optional), get out another freezer bag and scoop 2-3 tbsps of arrowroot powder. Then pat dry the spears off and put them in the bag (blow some air in the bag) and shake so they are evenly coated. Next, spray a cookie sheet with coconut oil. Then lay the spears out flat on a cookie sheet. Make sure they aren’t bunched up or they will just get soggy.
Oh and mine have way more arrowroot powder covering them than they do in this photo below. Turns out the more arrowroot powder, the crunchier they are!
Drizzle 1-2 tbsp(s) of olive or coconut oil across the fries. Then cook on 425 for 20 minutes, and then flip for another 5-10 minutes. Allow to cool, add some celtic salt and cinnamon (optional) and go crazy! I ate so many of these the first night, I gave myself a stomach ache!! Don’t go that crazy.
Enjoy!
GiGi Eats Celebrities - I do this with Butternut Squash! SOOOO yum! 🙂
Erin - These were wonderful! After 25 min, they were still not crunchy (could be I had other things in the oven too or pushed too closely together). So, I took the other food out and turned off oven and let them sit in there and they got much better. My tummy hurt as I finished off what was left in the pan after dinner!
landriav - Oh awesome Erin! So glad you liked them. And I promise, the more you make them, the better you get at it and the better they get!!
jill - I was SO excited to make these and eat them! but they turned out all mushy 🙁 do you think because I used yams instead of sweet potatoes it made a difference? i followed the directions exactly too
landriav - Oh no! You gotta really cook them well Jill. Cook them longer next time until crisp. Like I said, my were almost burned. Maybe that helped us?? The other option to get them crispier is one, turn the over off and let them sit in the stove for an hour or so. Just be sure to check on them so they don’t burn. The other thought is toss them in some arrowroot powder, then drizzle the oil. I do that all the time with my sweet potatoes and they are fabulous that way!! They taste like real fries…to me! I hope this helps for next time. Sorry they didn’t turn out the first time for you!
Kristin - I never really comment on recipes but I just HAD to. These fries are the VERY BEST!!! So simple and yet so perfectly delicious, crispy on the outside, soft and sweet inside. Mmmmmm the more I think about them the more I wasn’t to make another batch. Have never had fries this good and I have tried my fair share of sweet potato fries. Props to you!!!! Best paleo recipe I have had to date! Thanks for sharing 🙂
landriav - Aren’t they Kristin?! Thanks so much for telling me. And the more arrowroot you add, the crunchier. I’ve been using like 2 tbsp lately and not even soaking them in water like I mentioned before and they are still fabulous. So glad you are enjoying them too!!
robin - what can you use as a substitute for arrowroot? i don’t have any and i was really wanting to make these. thanks!!
landriav - Robin, I used to make these all the time without arrowroot. They won’t be as crunchy but are still good. Sorry I don’t know of another healthy sub for these!
Jenny - What if you cut them then boil them for 1-2 minutes? Thats what I do with all potatoes before making fries. Makes them crispy. But I dont know what arrowroot powder is. Will havta look up. I cook for 15 flip then put Parmesan cook for 15. Guess that would be a different recipe!! Sorry
landriav - Dont be sorry, that is a great idea. I can’t wait to try it Jenny!! Thanks so much for sharing!
Amanda - Would potato flour, potato starch, or tapioca flour work in place of the arrowroot?
landriav - I am not sure Amanda. Sorry for my huge delay. I JUST saw this!
Allison - I never comment on recipes, but made these for my husband the other day and there was not one single fry left. They are amazing!!
landriav - Thanks so much Allison! 🙂
Pam - I am eating these right now, and they are amazing!! And whole30 compliant. I have a new favorite side dish.
landriav - Ha, awesome Pam! They are addictive!!!
Hanna - Hi! I tried your recipe last night with burgers and they were great!:)
I had an inquiry, though. You could kind of feel the arrowroot powder on your tongue as you ate some of the them, and they were kind of mushy. I spread them out on the pan as well as possible, and didn’t take them out until some looked like they were starting to get burnt. How can I skip the powdery leftovers and get the crunch?
I didn’t get to soak them for 5 hours before, but I don’t know if that makes a difference. Also, I cut them kind of thin.
landriav - Hey Hanna! I don’t get to soak them that often to be honest so I wouldnt worry about that part too much. If they were a little floury then you could use a coconut oil spray, which is what I will use some times. Then you can make sure every area is covered with some oil and there are no dry spots left. As for the mushy, just either one cook them longer or two, if you have to turn the stove off, and they are not totally done, you can always just leave them in the stove for an hour or so and that should get them extra crispy. But, be sure to check on them to make sure they’re not burning, esp if they are thin. It takes a while to get them just right but once you do, they are SO SO good!
Hanna - Okay, so update, I’ve made these 3 times now and I’ve found that I really just wasn’t coating them in coconut oil evenly enough – I am going to invest in some spray! I love the CRUNCH! 🙂
landriav - So it worked for you Hanna? SO GREAT!! 🙂