PUMPKIN LIME ROASTED SWEET POTATOES

The more I talk to people, the more surprised I am by the things they don’t know. For example, I was having a conversation with a friend of mine recently about pumpkin spiced things, and was surprised to learn she thought things that were commonly named “pumpkin spiced” like lattes and coffee creamers, actually contained pumpkin. I guess it’s not that bad of an assumption, given the name, but it took a minute for me to explain that it’s actually just a blend of spices that can be used year round, but it’s a blend that is actually really good for winter dishes.

Like this one. I like this recipe a lot because it has two wintery components — the sweet potatoes and the pumpkin spice — but then for a little brightness, some lime thrown in at the end. The lime makes it less heavy, a little zippy, and it’s just enough to take the winter blues away. I almost always add a bit of acid to my recipes, usually in the form of lemon or lime juice, for exactly this reason. It balances the flavor, and can make the difference between good and amazing. The lime here is especially amazing with the pumpkin spice. The blend from Ava Jane’s Kitchen is even better because it’s much fresher tasting than the generic blends that sit on your grocery store shelf for months on end, only to be sold at Thanksgiving to people buying last minute pie ingredients.

This is a super easy side that will go with whatever your favorite roasted meat or seafood is, or you can toss these in your fave raw salad. It will remind you that while winter is still here, spring is just around the corner.