Sweet Potato Sausage Skewers with Lemon Garlic Mayonnaise

Here's a great skewered appetizer that's tasty and easy!

First: The Lemon-Garlic Mayonnaise...
Ingredients:
1 C mayonnaise
2 T chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
2 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp lemon zest
2 T fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp salt

Directions:
Stir all ingredients together.
*Can store in an airtight container for up to 7 days.

 

Skewers' Ingredients:
2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into 32, 1" cubes
2 T olive oil
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 lb smoked sausage* cut into 32, 1/2" pieces
32 wooden picks

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450.  Place sweet potato cubes on lightly greased pan.  Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Toss to coat.
2. Bake at 450 for 15-20 minutes, turning cubes twice.
3. Cook sausage over medium/high heat 3-4 minutes to brown.  Drain on paper towels.
4. Place 1 sasauge slice on 1 sweet potato cube on a wooden pick  Serve with Lemon Garlic Mayo.

* For the sausage, I used one I found at Costco.  It was an herbed mozzarella herb chicken sausage.  Amazing!

Yams with Bleu Cheese and Bacon

This is a relatively simple appetizer that you could customize however you'd like.  The only note is that it needs to be served straight out of the oven.  It cools and becomes greasy quickly.  It reheats well, but you don't want to play with it too much, so you don't interfere with the overall taste and texture.

Ingredients:
3-5 large yams (or sweet potatoes), sliced thinly
Season to taste with: Garlic Salt, Black Pepper, Paprika, and dried Thyme
Olive oil (to lightly coat yams)

For the topping (or substitute at will):
8 oz cooked & crumbled bacon
8 oz Bleu Cheese crumbles
Chives for garnish.

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425.
Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Toss yams in seasonings and olive oil.
Arrange in single layer on prepped baking sheets.
Bake 25-30 minutes until golden or softened.

Remove yams.  Kick up the oven to a low broil.
Top each round with bleu cheese and bacon.
Broil until cheese is melted and bubbly.
Take out, garnish, and serve immediately.

Unfortunately, I don't have a finished product photo of this one, but I promise you that everyone loved them.  One batch makes about 48, depending on how thinly you slice the yams.  I made a double batch and had only about 10 left.

Awesome sauce, for reals!