Recently, I have been obsessed with adding crispy sage to everything.  Sage has that sweet yet savory flavor, which I love!  Quickly frying this herb, brings out it’s rich flavors and fills your kitchen with a pleasant scent.  The sweetness of sweet potatoes combined with a salty Parmigiano-Reggiano creates a magical fall dish!

Always save your bacon grease—your grandma’s secret to the best apple pie and biscuits.  Bacon from pastured pigs is nutrient dense in Omega 3 fatty acids and CLA.  Lard, or bacon grease, is a highly stable saturated fat that can be stored for long periods of time and can handle high cooking temperatures.  Frying in bacon grease is great for your health and smells delicious!

Chilly weather calls for comfort foods bursting with fall colors, like sweet potatoes.  Colorful foods not only contain many live nutrients but also add cheer to your plate.  Anything sweet or higher in carbohydrates should always be consumed with a quality fat and protein as it will slow down the glucose entering your body.  The fat and protein found in parmesan, bacon, and crème fraîche combine to create a satisfying meal.

Bon appetit!

Makes 10-12 medium fritters

• 4 cups shredded sweet potatoes* (about 2 medium sweet potatoes)
• 6 oz finely shredded parmesan* (about 1 cup)
• 2 eggs, whisked
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• fresh cracked pepper
• bacon grease for frying (about 1/4 cup)

Toppings

• 4 slices bacon, cooked, crispy & crumbled (…or bacon ends work well too)
• 1 tbsp fresh sage, chopped
• Crème fraîche

Directions

• Heat a nonstick skillet to medium-high heat.  The pan should be very hot to quick fry these fritters.
• Combine shredded sweet potatoes, parmesan, whisked eggs, sea salt and pepper to create the batter.
• Using about a tablespoon of bacon grease, melt the grease in the hot pan. It should sizzle.
• Use a cookie scoop or spoon to scoop batter in to the skillet.  Flatten into thin pancake rounds using the bottom of a spatula.
• Fry for about 1 minute per side, about 2 minutes total, or until crispy.
• Transfer cooked fritters to a cooling rack while making the remaining fritters.
• Repeat the process, adding bacon grease to the pan each time you add new batter.
• To make the crispy sage, briefly sauté in left over bacon grease once you are done making the fritters.  Sage quickly turns into crispy crumbles.
• Serve with a dollop of crème fraîche and crumble with bacon and sage.

*To measure shredded sweet potatoes and parmesan, lightly pack into a measuring cup.  Do not stuff or pack tightly to measure.  Please note that sweet potatoes are very moist and their natural liquids will contribute to the batter.  Shredded sweet potatoes and cheese is difficult to accurately measure, so please take that into account when making this dish!

Nutritional Information—all about sage

Sage is Mediterranean herb, belonging the mint family along with other great cooking herbs—oregano, basil, rosemary & lavender.  Recognized by its fuzzy sliver-green leaves, sage not only contains many nutrients, but also adds rich flavor to your food.

The herb sage contains rosmarinic  acid (named after rosemary) that acts as a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.  Its unique nutritional components can also stabilize and prevent oxygen based damage to the cells—this neutralizes free radicals and helps eliminate toxins.  Adding a sprinkle of sage to season your food can greatly help those with inflammatory conditions—rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and atherosclerosis to name a few.

Sources

• http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=76
• http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266480.php