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Spicy Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Spicy Mashed Sweet Potatoes | Well and Full | #vegan #recipe #fall #autumn

These Spicy Mashed Sweet Potatoes are the perfect cozy fall side dish! This easy, healthy recipe is vegan and gluten-free.


THIS IS MY FIRST FALL POST OF 2019!!! I’M SO EXCITED ABOUT IT!!! It’s been seriously feeling like fall here in Connecticut, the mornings have been crisp and the nights have been chilly. I’m all about it! I’m so excited to be breaking out all my cozy sweaters, pumpkin candles, and apple cider!

But to be honest, I’ve had a bit of delay in posting recently because I have been greatly struggling with my health. I’ve been sharing a little behind-the-scenes on Instagram, but things have been more intense than I’m letting on. I had a slew of testing last month and I’m getting closer to figuring out what’s been wrong the past couple of years, but I’m still waiting for a formal diagnosis.

I wanted to take this opportunity to clarify why I’ve been sharing details of my health on social media and online. Being a person on social media – whether you have a blog or not – is incredibly tricky if you have an invisible illness. (An invisible illness is a medical condition that is not apparent just by looking at someone, examples of which can include mental health conditions, certain autoimmune diseases, endometriosis, etc.) If you post a photo of yourself doing something normal, people will say: “Look, she’s at the beach! She’s fine! She’s just being dramatic when she says she doesn’t feel well.” But then if you share details about what you’re going through, people are like, “Look, she’s asking for pity! She wants attention! She wants people to feel bad for her!”. So it’s a pretty intense catch-22, and especially since my entire business and world is on social media. I don’t really have the luxury of abstaining from this particular cultural outlet. (Don’t get me wrong, I love blogging and wouldn’t trade it for anything, but it does get me into tricky situations like this!) 

It’s been difficult figuring out how to handle how much to share of my medical issues online. There’s a couple different factors at play. First, I NEVER want to be someone who goes out on social media and makes it seem like she has the perfect life. I feel this way because I’ll see celebrities or influencers on Instagram and be like, “Wow – I feel jealous of their life.”. The absolute last thing I want is for someone to go onto my feed thinking that my life is perfect or better than theirs. Sure, I have struggles, but so does everyone else. I’m not here to make myself out to be better than everyone. I’m a real, human person, and I want my social media to reflect that.

But second, even though I have communicated to the people in my life that I’ve struggled with my health, there are some friends and family members who have felt hurt when I’ve missed out on things due to my illness. I understand where they’re coming from, and feel terrible about that. I’ve never wanted to hurt anybody because of what I’m going through. At the same time, I feel a desire to share what I’ve been through so the people in my life can understand where I’m coming from. There is definitely a part of me that is hoping for empathy and support during this difficult time. I think it’s pretty universal that anybody who struggles looks for those things.

At the end of the day, I want to get to the point where I can be like any other person in their mid-twenties. Where I don’t have to explain to people why I missed that party or event. I want to get to a place where I can finally enjoy my life. Thanks for listening.

Spicy Mashed Sweet Potatoes | Well and Full | #vegan #recipe #fall #autumn

Spicy Mashed Sweet Potatoes

These Spicy Mashed Sweet Potatoes are the perfect cozy fall side dish! This easy, healthy recipe is vegan and gluten-free.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course Side Dish

Ingredients
  

For the Roasting

  • 6 Cups Chopped Sweet Potatoes about 4-5 potatoes
  • 2 Tbs Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1 Tsp Salt
  • 1 Tsp Paprika
  • 1 Tsp Black Pepper
  • Pinch Cayenne

For the Mashing

  • 2 Tbs Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1/2 Tsp Salt or more to taste

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F.
  • Peel and cube your sweet potatoes. The final yield should be about 6 cups (but if you have a little over or under, that's fine).
  • Toss the sweet potato cubes with the olive oil, salt, paprika, black pepper, and cayenne.
  • On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, roast sweet potatoes in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork.
  • Once sweet potatoes are out of the oven, let them cool slightly.
  • In a mixing bowl, add in the roasted sweet potatoes, plus an additional 2 Tbs of olive oil and an extra 1/2 tsp of salt. Using a hand masher, mash the sweet potatoes until they are the consistency of your liking (I like mine a little chunky!). Taste, and adjust salt levels if desired.
  • Serve with fresh-cracked black pepper, if you like.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

For a vegetarian spin on this recipe, add 2 Tbs of melted butter at the end instead of the olive oil, and stir in about 1/4 cup fresh-grated vegetarian parmesan cheese. 

Spicy Mashed Sweet Potatoes | Well and Full | #vegan #recipe #fall #autumn

P.S.

If you make these Spicy Mashed Sweet Potatoes and post them on Instagram, be sure to tag me @wellandfull and #wellandfull so I can see! I love seeing your takes on my recipes :)

7 Comments

  • Reply
    Katya
    September 11, 2019 at 1:42 pm

    Oh hell yeah, it’s a cool fall mash :D I love mashed veggies! (I generally love food) Spicy sweet potatoes seem the perfect combination of sweet and hot :)

    I can relate really well to what you’re saying about dealing with a disease and putting it out there for people to see. Even though I’m not on social media, I find it difficult to decide whether to share that I suffer from a chronic disease and if I share – how much I should say. But the sad truth is that you will never be able to please everybody because there will always be someone who misunderstands your intentions–that’s why I think it is better to focus on those people who DO understand you and your struggles. As for the rest of people, I believe that you shouldn’t be apologetic in any way. You don’t live to please people on social media, you live to be the best and happiest version of yourself :)

    • Reply
      Sarah
      September 16, 2019 at 9:31 am

      Hi Katya, I love your words of advice!! It’s been a huge lesson for me over the past two years that you can never please everybody. I was a chronic people-pleaser growing up, and I’ve always struggled finding the balance of asserting my identity vs. accommodating the people in my life. But I’m more at a point now where it’s increasingly important to live life on my terms ;)

  • Reply
    Traci | Vanilla And Bean
    September 12, 2019 at 3:54 pm

    Yes to sweet potato mash! SO comforting and delicious for Fall, Sarah…

    I’m not on social much, except for posting food and the occasional story, but I’m sure it’s a struggle. You just gotta be you and share what you feel most comfortable with sharing. :D I know there are people who can relate. And I hope your docs are able to nail down what happening. All the testing can be so draining. Sending hugs my dear.

    • Reply
      Sarah
      September 16, 2019 at 9:33 am

      The struggle is so real!! I never know how much to share on social media. Sometimes I feel like putting on a smile and making an Instagram story about my lunch would be inauthentic to what I’m going through. But at the same time, my blog is meant to be about food and I don’t want to lose sight of that. I hope I’ll figure it all out soon!!

  • Reply
    Jess
    September 19, 2019 at 12:11 pm

    This is perfect for thanksgiving or a fall side!! Nothing better than sweet potatoes :)

    • Reply
      Sarah
      October 27, 2019 at 4:42 pm

      For sure! They’re the perfect fall food :)

  • Reply
    15+ Great-Tasting & Healthy Vegan Recipes with Sweet Potatoes - Lifesoever
    December 9, 2019 at 9:15 am

    […] Try this Spicy Mashed Sweet Potatoes by Sarah from Well and Full for the perfect cozy side dish to enjoy this fall. This easy and […]

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