Honey Cinnamon Sweet Potatoes

4 medium sweet potatoes
3 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons cinnamon
salt and pepper to taste

1. Peel and dice sweet potatoes
2. In large bowl, whisk honey, olive oil, cinnamon, salt and pepper.
3. Add sweet potatoes, toss to coat.
4. Bake in single layer on baking sheet for 30 minutes at 375.

Mushroom Zucchini Chicken

1.5 lbs chicken, diced
4 tablespoons cornstarch
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup mushrooms, stemmed and quartered
2 medium zucchini, quartered and sliced
1/2 medium brown onion, quartered and sliced
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon seasoned rice vinegar
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1 inch ginger, peeled, grated with microplane

1. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in large skillet. Dredge chicken with cornstarch. Cook in skillet until golden.
2. Remove chicken from skillet. Add 1 tablespoon oil to skillet and cook mushrooms, zucchini and onion about 4 minutes.
3. While vegetables are cooking, combine remaining ingredients in small mixing bowl.
4. Add sauce to vegetables, toss to coat. Add chicken back into skillet, combine. Serve over steamed rice.

Salted Caramel Cookie Bars

Crust

2 cups butter, softened

1 cup white sugar

1.5 cups powdered sugar

1 Tablespoon +1.4 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 cups floor

Caramel Layer

1 bag caramels (~40), unwrapped

1/3 cup heavy whipping cream

3/4 tsp vanilla extract

Coarse Sea Salt to taste

1. Heat oven to 325. 

2. In a stand mixer, combine butter and sugars until creamy. Add vanilla to sugar mixture. Slowly add in flour. 

3. Line cake pan with parchment paper. Press half the dough into the bottom of the pan Put the other half in the fridge). Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.

4. In medium bowl combine caramels, whipping cream and vanilla. Use a double boiler or microwave to melt the caramel and combine the ingredients. Once melted pour evenly over the cooked crust. Sprinkle sea salt over caramel layer. Crumble the remaining dough evenly over the caramel.

5. Bake and additional 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely before cutting into squares.