Appetizer : Sweet Potato Patties

This recipe is a great way to use leftover sweet potatoes and corn. It's a really quick and delicious appetizer, it can also easily be used as your carb in your meal. I served mine with homemade spicy cilantro mayo.

Ingredient
1 sweet potato, cooked, peeled and cooled
1 corn cob, cooked, cut and cooled
1 Thai pepper, finely chopped
1/3 cup (80 mL) fresh cilantro, finely chopped
1 egg
1 pinch salt and pepper, each
3/4 cup (180 mL) breadcrumbs

Method 
1. In a bowl, mix everything together.
2. Heat up some oil in a pan on medium heat.
3. Form your patties, about 6, and cook them in the hot pan. About 3-5 minutes, then flip and 'squish' them with a spatula to about 1/2 inch. Cook for another 3-5 minutes. You'll know they are ready because they are slightly firm to the tough in the middle and they hold together when you pick them up.
4. Serve hot with a dipping sauce. Enjoy!

Makes 6 patties.

Meal: BBQ Pork and grilled pineapple

I'm back! And now that I have a barbecue, I can help you fully enjoy summer! This recipe comes from me trying grilled pineapple for the first time, and now integrating it in everything I eat. To help balance out the sweetness, we had a side of sauteed bok choy from my mother's garden (thanks to our barbecue side burner), and some reheated leftover quinoa from the night before.

Ingredients
5 Pork chops
1/2 tbsp (7.5mL) Paprika
1 tbsp (15mL) Garlic powder
1 tbsp (15mL) Onion powder
1 pinch Chinese five spice
1 pinch Salt
1 large pinch Chili pepper
1/2 tbsp (7.5mL) Pepper
1 tsp (5mL) Ground thyme
2 tbsp oil (high burning point such as grapeseed, walnut, safflower, etc)
5 slices of pineapple, 1 inch thick

Method
1. Coat the pork chops with the dry spices and the oil. Marinate for 1-8hrs.
2. Turn on your barbecue to medium heat. Cook your chops on one side for 8 minutes, then flip them for another 8 minutes.

3. After you flip the chops once, add your pineapple. Cook for 4-5 minutes, then flip them.
4. Your chops and your pineapple should be ready at the same time. Serve then with a side of veggies and your favourite BBQ sauce.

Serves 2 with 2 leftovers lunches.