happy thoughts, happy tots.: Sweet Po-tater Tots!

Tot this, Tot that... yes, anything Tot, I'm all in!

I am a huge fan of sweet potatoes as well as tater tots...I mean c'mon now. Best of both worlds right here! Plus, add the perfect dipping sauce and you're set!

Sweet Potatoes are not only tasty, they have so many great benefits! They are simply a great source of Iron and are high in Vitamin B6. A little fact on Vitamin B6: it helps reduce the chemical homocysteine, which has been linked with degenerative diseases, including the prevention of heart attacks.
It's also a great source of Vitamin C as well. I actually didn't know this about Vitamin C until I did some research but, it's important to help fight off cold and flu viruses. It also produces collagen which helps us maintain the elasticity in our skin to stay looking youthful! I'll take that ;)
One last benefit about sweet potatoes that I found important especially for children, is that it contains Vitamin D which, plays an important role in our energy levels, moods, and helps build healthy hearts, bones, nerves, skin and teeth.

Now, wheres this recipe?!
Just a note: This recipe is slightly time consuming and would be great to make when the kids go to bed or you have an hour or so of free time :)

Ingredients:

2 large sweet potatoes

1/4 cup whole wheat flour (I used Bob Red Mill's flour)

1/4 cup all-purpose flour (I used Bob Red Mill's)

1 cup panko breadcrumbs (I used regular bread crumbs, which worked fine. Panko is a thicker breadcrumb and would be delish too. Trying that next time around :))

1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 egg, whisked

Cooking spray

Directions:

1: Pre heat oven to 375 degrees
2. Peel your potatoes and cut into fourths.

3. Boil sweet potatoes in salted water in a pot for about 13 minutes. Make sure you poke with a fork before you stop boiling to see how soft they are. You do want your potatoes soft but no too soft for when you grate them.

4. Drain and let cool.

5. Grate your sweet potatoes into a bowl.

6. Place both types of flour, breadcrumbs and cinnamon into a separate mixing bowl.

7. Place your whisked egg into a separate bowl.

8. Take a small amount of your grated sweet po and shape into a cylinder/tot with your middle finger and thumb.

9. Roll the tot into your whisked egg then, into the breadcrumb/flour mixture. Make sure to cover it on all sides

10. Place onto a sprayed baking sheet (repeat for each tot). Once all placed onto baking sheet, coat evenly with cooking spray. (So your breadcrumbs look not as dry, this makes that crisp tot texture.)