My daughter is 8 and wants to make dinner with us and for us. She is at the perfect age for being able to use the tools around the kitchen. This is the lighter side dish that we have been working on this week. We make it with her once and then let her make it independently a few times afterwards so that the steps are still fresh in her mind and she gets to practice making it on her own.
This quick and easy sweet potatoes recipe allows her to cook (with the help of the microwave) and prepare a dish that is healthy and enjoyed by all!
Best of all – it uses two ingredients!
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How to Make Quick and Easy Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients for Quick and Easy Sweet Potatoes:
- 4 Sweet Potatoes (Local organic is preferred)
- 4 Oz cup of Pineapple (fresh or canned)
Directions for Quick and Easy Sweet Potatoes:
1. Wash the sweet potatoes well.
2. Fork the sweet potatoes in 6-7 places. Make sure to keep your hands away from the fork when you stab it in.
3. Set the sweet potatoes on a microwave safe plate. Hit the potatoes button for the amount of sweet potatoes you will be cooking. Allow the potatoes to cool for at least 15 minutes. They will be VERY HOT and may burn if you try to peel them too quickly. I “may” know this from personal experience.
4. Peel and place sweet potato and pineapple (undrained) in the food processor.
A food processor is a tool in the kitchen that can easily chop or puree food. Carl Sontheimer was the engineer who created the original Cuisinart food processor for home use in 1973
Want to avoid the food processor? Try these Sauteed Sweet Potatoes. This sweet and savory side is simply seasoned with salt, garlic powder, and cayenne for just a hint of heat.
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries are also a delicious and easy side dish that pair well with so many meals!
How to Use a Food Processor
This is the first time my daughter used the food processor. I took the time to explain to her
- All the parts and how they are put together.
- The s shape blade, that it is sharp, and how to handle the blade safely.
- How to put the lid on and check to make sure everything lines up.
- The buttons for pureeing and chopping.
- My rules for when she can use it.
I have the KitchenAid KFC3511ER 3.5-Cup Food Chopper, Empire Red
and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it. It is small enough to store in my kitchen, but big enough for almost anything we make for our family of 5. I like that it will only work when everything is lined up (a bonus safety feature!) It has also taken a beating (lots of nuts and oats) and is still going strong.
5. Puree until blended. We did 10 seconds, then scraped the edges with a spatula and 10 seconds more.
6. Scoop and serve warm. These quick and easy sweet potatoes also reheat well.
They make a great side to grilled chicken, spaghetti, and steak.
If you’re looking for something with sweet potatoes that dances a line between spicy and sweet, try these Roasted Spicy Sweet Potatoes.
Want a special snack with your friends? Make this tasty Sweet potato houmous with Zucchini Chips!
Literacy Connection to Quick and Easy Sweet Potatoes:
We always love to cook with a good book, Sweet Potato Pie, is a story about a family working together to save their family farm after a drought season. They all pitch in together to make sweet potato pie to sell at the local market.
Holiday Recipes
Lighten Up Your Holidays with these Really Easy, Healthy, Delicious recipes.
Drinks
- Lightened Up Eggnog by The Redhead Baker
- Low Calorie Pumpkin Pie Malted Milkshake by Kudos Kitchen by Renee
Appetizer or starter
- Gruyere Cheese Puffs by Sustainable Dad
- Lighten-up Sausage Rolls by Jane’s Adventures in Dinner
- Spaghetti Squash, Pears and Kale with Shrimp by The Wimpy Vegetarian
- Lightened Up Cornbread Stuffing by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Spicy Eggplant Dip by Cooking Chat
- Carciofi alla Trapanese by Manu’s Menu
- Fresh Salmon Carpaccio by Food Lust People Love
Main Dishes
- Holiday Beef Tenderloin with Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes and Corn by Family Foodie
- Mini Mushroom Shepherd’s Pies by Killer Bunnies, Inc
- Grandma’s Mac n’ Cheese by What Smells So Good?
- Lean Mean Cheeseburger Soup by The Foodie Army Wife
- Lightened-Up Fettuccine Alfredo by Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
Side Dishes
- Butternut Squash Orzo Pasta by Life Tastes Good
- Hearts of Palm, Artichoke, Avocado and Butter Lettuce by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Quick and Easy Sweet Potato by The Educators’ Spin On It
- Lentil & Mushroom Stuffing by Foxes Love Lemons
- Almond-Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Broccoli by The Texan New Yorker
- Tangy, Spiced Red Cabbage by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
- Honey Ginger Glazed Carrots by Ruffles & Truffles
- Cranberry Orange Glazed Green Beans by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
- Roasted Garlic Cauliflower Mash by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
- Green Beans with Rosemary Garlic Butter by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Mediterranean Lentil Stuffed Delicata Squash by The Little Ferraro Kitchen
- Leaner Green Beans by Noshing With The Nolands
- Spiced Tri-Colored Carrot Salad by Take A Bite Out of Boca
- Horiatki Salata by Peaceful Cooking
- Healthier Potluck Broccoli-Cauliflower Salad by The Weekend Gourmet
- Farro Stuffing with Cranberries and Walnuts by The Dinner-Mom
- Roasted Parsnip and Apple Soup by Curious Cuisiniere
Desserts
- Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip by Peanut Butter and Peppers
- Sweet Apple Bites by Mama’s Blissful Bites
- Individual Cheesecakes by Nosh My Way
- Light and Luscious Chocolate Cheesecake by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Pumpkin Pie Pudding by The Life and Loves of Grumpy’s Honeybunch
- Healthy Brownie Recipe | Applesauce Brownies by The Perfect Brownie
- Peanut Butter Coconut Mini Bars by Basic N Delicious
- The Blondie Recipe by Wallflour Girl
- Cinnamon Roll Granola Bars by Pies and Plots
- Skinny Ninja Cheesecake by NinjaBaker.com
- Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Pumpkin Blondie by Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
You may also enjoy these recipes for cooking with kids…
Never thought to whip pineapple into those, and as a fellow teacher I LOVE your writeup!
I've never thought to combine sweet potatoes and pineapple. How creative! I bet my little niece would love this!
Ooh, sweets and pineapple. Yummy!
I'm very impressed with your daughter, when I was 8 I had zero desire to cook anything, and when I was served mashed sweet potatoes I held my nose and got sent to my room for being disrespectful, lol! This sounds great to my adult self though. 🙂
And healthy!!!!! =)
Thanks Constance =) I do believe that parents can teach a LOT of the core academics in the kitchen beginning at an early age!
I love the educational spin you have with your recipes!
What a great idea!! This sounds delicious, and so easy!
Laura – I know they are sooo good when baking in the oven, but when push comes to shove and my family is ready to eat – the microwave is great!!!
Awe – thanks for such sweet words. I do wake up and try to be my very best every day!
What a wonderful mommy and educator you are Amanda =) And what a yummy way to serve sweet potatoes!
Great tip about cooking the sweet potatoes in the microwave!
Ours too! And my daughter will be an expert by then!
Agreed! No extra sugar needed!
We like to rotate between real maple syrup and pineapple!
What a delicious way to add a bit more sweetness and flavor to sweet potatoes! This would be terrific on our Thanksgiving table!
I LOVE pineapple with sweet potatoes…great flavor combo!!
I never thought about using pineapple! It sounds wonderful!!
Agreed! I also hope that getting them in the kitchen interacting with healthy foods will save them a lot of eating issues for the future as well. Healthy can be tasty!
Oh, wow! I've never thought to puree the sweet potatoes with pineapple. This is brilliant! Isn't it great to see children enjoying themselves in the kitchen? My girls are off and on their own now but the time we spent together cooking has really paid off for them. Roommate who can cook and bake? Most popular ever.
Ba ha ha… maybe just a thin slice. Everything in moderation!
Thanks Renee the classic brown sugar can sweeten it up, but the pineapple can too =)
Thanks for stopping by Chris – you will have to let the boys try this recipe and let me know how it goes!
Great way to include your daughter. I have twin 8 year old boys and they love "helping" out in the kitchen.
YUM, what a great recipe!! I want this with a big holiday ham! Okay not so lightened up anymore but delicious!
Oh wow. Sweet potatoes and pineapple? What a great flavor combination. I really need to try this!
Renee – Kudos Kitchen