sweet potato + pasta + kale

i had some sweet potatoes hanging out in my cupboard for awhile.  i tried (and was unsuccessful) to make some baked sweet potato fries (i'm gonna try again).  i still had one HUGE sweet potato.  then one day when i was hungry, i was looking at food blogs (natural thing to do when hungry) and saw a recipe for sweet potato cream pasta with roasted kale.  andddd i just happened to have all the ingredients (or something similar to substitute)...

sweet potato pasta with roasted kale (modified from this recipe):

makes 2-3 servings

ingredients:

1 large sweet potato, cooked & mashed

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 shallot, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced (use this!)

1 tablespoon flour

1 1/2 cup non-fat milk

1 cup freshly grated parmesan

whole wheat spaghetti - i'm not exactly sure how much i used... enough for two plus a bit left over

2-3 cups kale leaves, coarsely chopped

salt

pepper

step 1: cook your sweet potato - i baked it like i was making a baked potato.  oven was set at 375. 

step 2: prep all your ingredients - i bought the pre-washed and chopped kale from trader joes which makes life so easy.

step 3: in a bowl add kale, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/4 cup of cheese and some salt & pepper.  toss to coat.

step 4: place on a baking sheet and roast (in oven) for 10-15 mins, tossing  once about halfway through roasting.

 

step 5: remove the skin from the sweet potato & mash.  set aside.

step 6: boil a pot of water & add spaghetti. 

step 7: heat 1 tbs oil & 2 tbs butter in a pan over medium-low heat.  add the shallots & garlic, cook for about 5 mins.  

step 8: turn heat up to medium and add flour, whisk until the roux is a golden brown.  

step 9: add the sweet potato mash & the milk.  whisk to combine.  cook for a few mins until the mixture has thickened. 

step 10: add the remainder of the parmesean cheese.  whisk to combine.  

step 11: drain pasta and add into the pan with the sweet potato mixture.  stir to coat the pasta.

 step 12: top with roasted kale & enjoy!