Why does it have to be so hard to eat gluten free? Herbs and spices can be a source of trouble for allergy sufferers because mysterious ingredients show up in some processed brands that can contain wheat or other allergens.

 

It's great to have a trusted source where you know you are getting the best quality, both for the medicinal and healthful benefits and to be sure they are free from allergens.

 

A good guideline to go by is that if the manufacturer lists all the ingredients on the labels of their product line then the consumer should be able to trust that source, but if the ingredients list has vague, generalized descriptions, like 'herbs & spices' it's probably wise to avoid that product. Many times, single-ingredient spices, like chili powder or cumin are gluten free, but flavoring blends, including taco seasoning or grill rub aren't.

 

Zesty Oven-Baked Sweet Potato Fries

 

Low fat! Gluten Free!

Serves 4

Prep time: 10 minutes; Cook time: 35 minutes

 

Ingredients:    

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp chili powder

2 large sweet potatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds)

1 Tbs olive oil

3 Tbs reduced-fat sour cream

2 Tbs salsa

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400° F. Coat a baking pan with nonstick spray. Combine cumin, salt and chili powder in a small bowl and set aside.

 

Peel potatoes and cut each in half lengthwise and then into 6 wedges. You can make larger wedges or shoestring fries, depending on your preferences. Place potatoes in a large bowl and toss with oil. Sprinkle the spices in and mix well.

 

Arrange the potatoes in a single layer on the baking sheet. Do not overcrowd or they won't brown well. Bake until the edges are crisp and the potatoes tender. This will take from 20 minutes for thin fries to 35 minutes for wedges.

 

Mix the sour cream and salsa together in a small bowl and use for dipping.

 

Nutritional Information:

Calories Per Serving, without dip: 136,  Fat: 3 g  (0 g  Saturated Fat), Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 295 mg, Carbohydrates: 24 g, Fiber: 0 g

 

© 2008, Brookshire Grocery Co.  Nutrient counts are rounded to the nearest whole number.  All dietary and lifestyle changes should be supervised by a physician.

 

Published 10/10/08