Sweet Potato Salad

I came up with this one day while attempting to be much healthier than I normally am. I tend to loathe salads with a passion but I find this one bearable.

It's pretty simple, low-maintenance and quite yummy.

Serves 1.

Ingredients:

• 1 medium or large sweet potato (depends on how hungry you are)
• 50g baby spinach leaves, washed and spun dry
• 1 tablespoon pine nuts
• 1/2 tablespoon sesame seeds
• 20g mozzarella, cubed
• 1 tablespoon chopped dried cranberries
• Balsamic vinegar
• Olive oil
• Tuscan seasoning (salt, rosemary, garlic, thyme, mixed Italian herbs) - I think it's a Masterfoods mix
• Paprika
• Cayenne pepper
• Salt
• White pepper

1. Toast the pine nuts and sesame seeds (over medium heat, no oil) until lightly golden. Set aside to cool. Pre-heat the oven to 180-200 degrees celcius.
2. Scrub the sweet potato. Quarter the potato lengthwise. Slice the quarters into 1/2 pieces. Rub or spray the potato pieces with olive oil and season with the Tuscan seasoning , cayenne pepper, salt, paprika and white pepper.
3. Line a small baking dish with aluminium foil. Place the sweet potato in it and cooked for approximately 30-35 minutes or until tender.
4. Layer the spinach leaves on a plate, followed by followed by the sweet potato, toasted nuts, cheese and cranberries.
5. Serve with a dressing made of 1 part balsamic vinegar, 3 parts olive oil.

Ideas:

• Add grilled/poached sliced chicken
• If you're a pescatarian and want more protein, add some sardines or smoked salmon
• Add herbs or lemon to the dressing
• Add 1/2 cup cooked mushrooms
• Add other vegetables, lightly steamed/boiled and refreshed in cold water (asparagus, broccoli, beans, etc)

Comfort Food

We love food...and comfort food best of all (who doesn't??). So this might be a long list:

Elle:

Lobster with cheese, cream, onion and mushroom (it's a bastardised Thermidor but oh my god Good)

Cheese (Melted on bread, with crackers and fruit or on its own - yes, I like eating cheese for breakfast)

Homemade Mac and Cheese (noticing a theme?)

Creamy Mash with lots of butter (self-explanatory, really)

Chinese Herbal Chicken Soup - if I'm feeling rundown and on the verge of illness I eat this - miracle cure!

Thick rice porridge with pickled lettuce and ba hu (pork floss) - I eat this when I'm sick and particularly as my first solid food post-food poisoning. I'll often have it when I'm missing home.

Watercress and pork meatball soup (yummy, healthy and nourishing)

Really, when it comes to comfort food, for me it has to be either rich and unhealthy or light, brothy and nutritious.

Andrea

I have to admit that when I'm stressed or sick, I often stop eating altogether instead of eating comfort food. Yes, I am an anorexic stresser. During exams periods, if I eat something I feel like I could throw it all out again (I know, TMI). But sometimes, the Boyfriend some people force me to eat, and then I get picky. So, here are my comfort foods (after reading Elle's I know this is a shame, but it's all about being honest) :

Kinder Delice (two layers of soft dark chocolate cake with a creamy kinder milk layer between, covered in chocolate).

Apple or Apple/Pear compote. In very large quantities. The Boyfriend buys me about 3kg during test weeks.

Chicken soup straight from the Tetrapack. Okay, I do put it in the microwave for 5 minutes so it's boiling hot.

Carbonara pasta. The greasiness of the cream+lards+gruyère is just magnificent when sick.

Sour candy.

And let's not forget... PASSION FRUIT SORBET STRAIGHT OUT OF THE CONTAINER.

So, that means that my anorexic stress is easily compensated by eating a combination of the most fattening things ever.