(Tania’s Favorites: 1. Burt’s Bees hand cream, 2. J. Crew tee, 3. J. Crew scarf 4. Neil Diamond Gold, 5. Chanel sunglasses)
Who she is: Tania Boughton, single mom of two boys, cook, author of Eating Light Done Right, and associate at J. Hilburn Men’s Clothier…Suffice to say she’s a (supremely) busy lady.
Why we love her: Let us count the ways…We’re smitten with this frank, funny, powerhouse mom who used some tough personal experiences as a catalyst for major life change and a second fulfilling career.
Herewith a peek into Tania’s world (plus the recipe for her amazingly yummy sweet potato fries…thanks Tania!).
On her iPod: Everything from Andrea Bocelli and Neil Diamond to Rihanna and Notorious B.I.G., but right now I’m especially loving Swedish House Mafia. Eclectic I know…music keeps the spirits up and is always playing in our home.
What she’s reading: The Middle Place (again) and my son’s book on Teddy Roosevelt. (3rd Grade book reports are fun!)
Always in her handbag: A Canon Powershot, portable first aid kit, Nivea lip balm, Liplicious Strawberry Daquiri lipgloss, favorite Chanel sunglasses, Burt’s Bee’s Almond Milk Beeswax hand cream, and (don’t laugh) an air pump… I’m a boy mom! I never know when a ball or a tire will need air!
Her go-to outfit: Jeans, a great pair of boots, J. Crew tee, sweater, and a scarf.
Her mealtime haunts: Date night? Believe it or not, The Old Monk has great food and t.v.’s to watch sports (Ed: Tania, I believe it…let’s just say the staff of D is very fond of The Old Monk and leave it at that…). We also love the caprese salad at The Loon. For a “serious” date night, we frequent Coal Vines, they have amazing salads. Family Dinner is Pei Wei, as the ability to order healthfully is key. Brown rice and steamed entrees vs. wok fried in oil makes all the difference!
Her tip for balancing work and family: Be prepared, whether it’s your work, home life, or in the kitchen. Along with being a mom, author, and cook, I also have a full time career with J. Hilburn Men’s Clothier. My fabric samples and measuring tapes are with me at all times! As for the boys, their shoes, coats, and backpacks are at the door so we aren’t running around at the last minute looking for a shoe gone rogue. Grocery shopping for the entire week is done on Saturday morning, using the previous week’s coupons. This prevents the “What’s for dinner” panic that ends in the drive thru and prevents battling the Sunday crowds at the market. Some of my friends think I run a tight ship, but upon closer inspection, it’s really just very organized chaos.
Simply Sinless Sweet Potato “Fries”
By: Healthy Pantry Girl, at Eating Light Done Right
Try these baked “fries” for a healthy alternative to the “real deal”… I eat mine with a smidge of ketchup and avoid the drive thru all together!
Ingredients:
- 2 – 3 large sweet potatoes
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Chili powder
- I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Spray
- Fat Free cooking spray (Love the olive oil varieties!)
- Large Ziploc Bag
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 385-400 degrees. Cut sweet potatoes lengthwise. Sweet potatoes can be difficult to cut so make sure to choose a couple that aren’t too thick (or make sure you have a strong arm around to help you, creating “fries” or wedges).
- Place the cut sweet potatoes in a large Ziploc bag and spray generously with I Can’t Believe It’s not Butter, shake vigorously in the closed bag.
- Open the bag and douse with canned, reduced fat Parmesan and chili powder. This is one of the very few recipes that I don’t use any measuring cups or spoons… I eyeball it! I like mine spicy, so I’m generous with the chili powder. Close the bag and shake vigorously to coat.
- Spray a non-stick baking pan with fat free cooking spray and place coated sweet potatoes in a single layer on the pan. Bake at 385-400 degrees for 30-35 minutes; make sure to flip them about half way through cooking. After 30 minutes, check for crispness. Bake an additional 5-10 minutes if needed.
- Remove from oven when desired crispness is achieved and serve immediately. Enjoy!
