Sweet Potato Cakes with a Peach Lime Salsa

This is the perfect recipe to make while entertaining for guests.  It's totally different than probably anything they would expect you to make and is perfect out on the patio!  The fruity and refreshing salsa compliments the sweetness and warm depth of the flavors from the potato.  Try using the peach salsa on top of grilled chicken or fish too! 

2 sweet potatoes

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 yellow onion, minced

2 tablespoons of olive oil

2 tablespoons of butter

1 pinch of nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves

1/2 cup of panko crumbs

Salt and Freshly Ground Potatoes

For The Peach Salsa

2 ripe peaches, with skins removed, diced

2 teaspoons of honey

4 mint leaves, chopped finely

1 teaspoon of chili pepper puree (the kind that comes in a tube)

1 tomato, diced

2 green onions, sliced thinly

1 tablespoon lime juice

1.  Take a fork and poke several holes in the sweet potatoes.  Microwave the potatoes for about 8 minutes or until tender and then peel the skins off of them.

2.  In a frying pan, add olive oil garlic and onions and saute for about 3-5 minutes or until tender.

2.  In a medium sized bowl mash the potatoes.  Then add the garlic, onions, butter, nutmeg and ground cloves.  Combine all ingredients and shape into pattys.  Put in a bowl in the refrigerator for about 15-30 minutes while making the salsa by combining all the ingredients.

3.  Heat the pan that you used to saute the onions and garlic.  Add the patties and cook for about 3-5 minutes on each side.  Place on a dish and then serve with the salsa.

Peach Coffee Cake Muffin Recipe

So, I went to the produce stand again and they had a huge brown paper bag of peaches for only $2!  Beat that Martin's, ha!  However, I now have more peaches than what I know what to do with!  So, I decided to get a little creative These muffins are light and moist unlike some coffee cakes that crumble.  The peaches in the middle provide a wow factor as soon as you take that first bite!  It's a perfect way to start your morning! 

1/2 cup of butter

3/4 cup of granulated sugar

2 eggs 

1 teaspoon of vanilla

2 cups of flour

2 teaspoon of baking powder

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

1 pinch of nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon of salt

1/2 cup of milk

1/4 of brown sugar

3 cups of sliced peaches, skins removed

1.  Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Cream the butter with the sugar until it is light and fluffy.  Add your vanilla and then add eggs, one at a time while continuing beating.  

2.  Start to add your dry ingredients to the batter, including the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.  Slowly start to add your milk while beating on low.  

3.  Grease a cupcake tin with butter.  Add a few tablespoons of batter into the tin.  Sprinkle with brown sugar.  Add about three slices of peaches.  Add more batter.  Sprinkle with more brown sugar.  Repeat this process, this will make 12 muffins in total.

4.  Bake for 25 mintues.  Before removing the muffin make sure it is cooled off, if not the top portion may separate from the base.  

Perfect Peach Margaritas Recipe

This is a super easy recipe to make and is sure to impress your guests.  It's made with fresh peaches, and you can certainly tell the difference compared to those sugar-loaded mixes.  I made a pitcher of this, poured myself a glass and sat out by the pool this weekend!  

2 tablespoons of sugar (I used Splenda)

2 cups of sliced peaches (skins removed)

3/4 cup of silver tequila

3 cups of ice cubes

2 splashes of citrus flavored soda

Fresh Mint (optional)

1.  Combine the first five ingredients in a blender and blend until all ingredients are well combined.  Top with fresh mint and enjoy!