At the top of the list, “gifts I regret buying my husband”, is a laser pointer. Mike keeps it in his truck or pocket and plays with it at the most peculiar times. We can be walking down the shopping mall and suddenly, on the second floor above me, I see a dancing green light. After meeting him for dinner after work, driving home with Mike following, there is a strange green light on my dash. In the middle of a quiet evening at home, suddenly light explodes in our den as he aims the laser at the crystal chandelier. I was already regretting the purchase, but then he named his toy. He is calling it the “Cat Remote Control!”

We were cat sitting for our grand kitten while my son and his family took a last hurrah before school began. This kitten is precious. They adopted “June Astrocat” about 2 months ago and she has really added joy to our lives.  However, kitty has learned there is an outside world and definitely wants to be part of it!

June has honed her “cat” skills and lies in wait for the front door to open. As Mike approaches the door he begins the light dance. Catching her attention with the laser light, Mike moves it back and forth until cat begins to follow. This keeps her busy while you sneak out the door.

I truly did think it was a clever strategy until the “dance of the two light sabers” appeared. Suddenly there were bright green lights everywhere and poor kitty didn’t know which direction to run! I would have found this act extremely cruel if it hadn’t been so darn funny.

I don’t believe Mike deserved a favourite dish, but I made him Sweet Potato Fries, anyway. The first time I ate SPF, I was walking around George Town, Grand Cayman. I always associated sweet potatoes with…well…sweet! The sugary, syrupy, marshmallow concoction of Thanksgiving feasts…this was not. The SPF’s were hot, crispy, savoury wand delicious.

Always on a mission to create dishes with less calories and more flavour, I bake instead of fry these potatoes. They are incredible. I am certain you will agree.

SWEET POTATO FRIES

Ingredients

3 large sweet potatoes

1 Tbls. olive oil

1 tsp. Cajun seasoning

(Add a little more oil and seasoning if needed)

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line baking sheet with aluminum foil, spray lightly with cooking spray and set aside.

Peel potatoes and cut into ½ inch thick fries.

Place sliced sweet potatoes into large bowl.  Add oil and seasoning.  Toss until thoroughly coated.

Spread fries in a single layer on baking sheet.  Bake 30-35 minutes turning once.  Remove from oven and serve hot.

(Variations:  1.Use seasoned salt instead of Cajun seasoning.  2. Try garlic flavoured olive oil and fresh rosemary finely chopped.  3. Stay sweet with canola oil and cinnamon sugar.)