The explanation behind my absence is for both family medical reasons and a trip to Texas with Wade to hopefully help the both of us figure out where exactly we will be moving in together this Summer.
As for the bad news, my father's health has been getting worse. His body is under so much stress from the cancer, the treatments, and problems with a surgery that his and my mother's comfort have been of utmost importance to me. He could use all of the prayers, good vibes, and good thoughts sent his way. In the meantime, I hope you will understand and be patient if my blog posts become more irregular for the time being.
After visiting both Austin and Dallas, I definitely prefer Austin. It feels more like a home away from home to me and I could picture myself living there with Wade. It's an exciting time! I will definitely let you all know when we make our decision. It will be my first major move and the first time I will be living in a state other than Arkansas.
Fun fact: Whenever I peel apple skins off of the apples, I save them in a plastic baggy in the fridge and either myself or my parents scatter them out back for our local backyard deer. My father has a deer feeder usually stocked full or corn just feet from the back of our house and, as it turns out, the deer like apples too! I'm happy to be supplying the deer a nutritious snack. Just living the "reduce, reuse, recycle" lifestyle.
One thing I have to recommend: DO NOT over boil your potatoes to make them too soft. You almost want them to be not quite fork tender. Why? Because if you boil the potatoes until they are super soft, your hash will result in more of an applesauce once the dish is sauteed together in the pan.
Unless of course, you want more of a potatosauce/applesauce dish. I won't judge you! I just prefer my potatoes to have more of a firm texture to hold up to the sauteeing part of the process of this dish.
I am a blog ambassador for LoveGrown Foods but they do not pay me to post recipes for them or give them praise. I did that long before they even offered me the opportunity to become an ambassador. You may use any granola you may have handy, though! A couple of other options for this recipe would be adding some crumbled bacon or shredded cheddar cheese on top.
I enjoyed this recipe as a side dish to some turkey sandwiches recently with my mother, but it would be great even topped off with an egg for breakfast or a quick afternoon snack to hold you over until dinnertime.
Apple Potato Hash with Granola Topping
Ingredients:
1 large sweet potato, chopped into 1/2 inch cubes
2 medium potatoes, chopped into 1/2 inch cubes
3 small-medium apples, chopped into 1/2 inch cubes (I used golden delicious variety)
1 1/2 tsp. coconut oil
1-2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2. tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. paprika
1 1/2-2 tsp. cinnamon
3 Tbsp. maple syrup
1/3 cup LoveGrown Foods Raisin Almond Crunch Granola (or other granola)
Directions:
Wash off the potatoes and apples. Chop potatoes into 1/2 inch cubes. Peel the apples (*optional) and chop into 1/2 inch cubes. Put sweet potato cubes into a large pot filled with water until the water is just covering the potato and set to boil.
Once water comes up to a boil, boil the sweet potato cubes for 3 minutes before adding the rest of the remaining potato cubes and more water if needed. Bring to boil again and boil potatoes until just fork tender but not falling apart, roughly 3-4 minutes.
Drain potato pieces and set aside. Bring a large skillet up to medium heat and add coconut oil. Add drained potatoes and apple pieces to the skillet. Add in the salt, black pepper, paprika, cinnamon, and maple syrup. Stir gently to combine. Continue to stir occasionally over medium heat just until apples start to become soft and golden, roughly 3 minutes.
Top with LoveGrown Foods granola or other granola of your choice and serve warm.
Do you have a favorite brand of granola? Or do you make your own?