Flax-Encrusted Sweet Potato Balls and Lottery Daydreams

on June 2, 2009

I had a delicious lunch today! I’ve been tweaking this recipe in my head for a while, and I’m quite pleased with how it came out.

I based this concept on my Bean Balls recipe, but the crispy flax crust really made these babies stand out!

Flax-Encrusted Sweet Potato Balls

Ingredients (serves 1):

1/4 cup black beans, drained, rinsed, and patted dry
1/2 medium baked sweet potato, mashed
3 tablespoons salsa
Generous amount of ground flax seed
Mustard or sour cream for garnish

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350.
Mash together salsa, sweet potato, and black beans.
Form mix into five balls.
Spread out ground flax in a low bowl and roll each ball in the flax, coating completely.
Place balls on greased cookie sheet.
Bake for 350 minutes at 30 degrees, rotating once.
Garnish with mustard or sour cream and enjoy!

I had my balls (that’s what she said!) with a side salad.

It was a delicious meal and you WILL be seeing these again on the blog VERY soon! 🙂

Lottery Daydreams

I’m feeling a little down lately (sorry to be such a Debbie Downer on the blog!), so I gave Maggie a good, long hug earlier. She liked it. 🙂

Pets are such good stress-relievers!

During my lunch break, I also played the lottery daydream game, which ALWAYS makes me feel better. 🙂

If I won the lottery, I would…

Travel the world.
Buy a home in Napa Valley.
Go on a series clothing shopping spree.
Buy a really cool bike.
Give lots of money to charity.
Keep blogging. 🙂
Buy another dachshund.
Buy another dachshund.
Buy another dachshund.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

{ 68 comments }

SuperDots June 2, 2009, 8:36 am
Awwwww, such a sweet picture of you and Maggie! Pets really are excellent stress relievers!

If I won the lottery:

I would buy:

iPhone
Road bike
new digital camera
a house
pay off some debt

donate to ANIMAL charities 😉
Neely June 2, 2009, 8:37 am
Holy, Holy God. I must make these for Jeremy this weekend. He may flip out; he loves all things sweet potato.

If I won the lottery I would give my parents a ton of money for all the crap they have dealt with and hire the best financial advisor I could find so as not to end up on the next E True Hollywood Story of “Curse of the Lottery.” Seriously has anyone seen that? Made me feel better for being mad po’.
Melissa June 2, 2009, 8:38 am
Hi Caitlin,
Sorry that you are feeling a little down. Pets do help though. I wanted to let you know that I attended the greatest cycling class the other night. I just invested in my first road bike two weeks ago and wanted to know how to properly care for it (lube chains, clean my bike, change tires). REI puts out a monthly activities calendar and each month they do a bike maintenance 101 class for free. It was about 1.5 hours long and made me feel so much more confident and like I can now better protect my investment. I am assuming that you have REI in your area and thought that you may be interested!
Erin June 2, 2009, 8:42 am
haha.. INVEST! i’m so wild. well maybe at this point not invest, but lock up somewhere.

buy a house. travel WHEREVER i wanted (ie. everywhere).

buy my one brother a car! and the other one nothing because he is a meanie 😛

take my best girls on a shopping spree.

give lots to my parents!!

a group of 13 (the ‘Lucky 13’ they call themselves) just won 49.8 mil here in Canada. could you imagine!!! especially if you DIDN’T pool with 12 other co-workers?!!?!
Sam June 2, 2009, 8:58 am
Ooh I like this game. I would:
– travel the world
– buy a house in London
– buy a house in LA
– buy a swanky car
– invest in some designer clothes
– buy organic produce and shop in Whole Foods as much as possible!
Amanda June 2, 2009, 9:03 am
If I won the lottery, I would get out of debt, help my mom with her bills, and buy a horse farm here in Kentucky 🙂
Julie June 2, 2009, 9:04 am
I would pay off mine, my parents and sister debt, but us all seperate houses and maybe some cars, then travel the world!
healthyfitmama June 2, 2009, 9:04 am
If I won the lottery, I would pay off my school loans, go on a loooong vacation, and then promptly go back to school to study something I really enjoy!
Dori June 2, 2009, 9:06 am
Your balls look yummy. Maggie is so adorable, I wish I had a pup to hug. One day! I like that your list consists of buying more Maggies!

If I won the lottery…

Buy a townhouse in NYC
QUIT MY JOB and never look back
Give to charity and volunteer my time since I won’t be working
Buy an adorable hypoallergenic puppy (boyfriend is allergic)
Buy my mom a beautiful house wherever she wants
Amanda's Eats June 2, 2009, 9:07 am
I would pay off all my debts and my car. Buy a house (not sure where though), travel, put some in savings. I would also totally make like a pet shelter or something because I am so against killing animals because the shelter has run out of room.
jenngirl June 2, 2009, 9:12 am
What a creative AND delicious looking lunch dish!

Lottery? Hmm, travel!! maybe buy a house somewhere, AFTER making sure I’d paid off ALL of my school debts…
sloank June 2, 2009, 9:14 am
Don’t you love hugs from pets?? I swear my cat knows just when I’m feeling a little blue and jumps right up on my lap for a hug.

If I won the lottery I would…

buy a new road bike
VISIT napa valley
buy a house on the ocean
and fill that house with doggies
buy my parents the boat they want 🙂
And probably save as much as possible!!!
recipesforcreativity June 2, 2009, 9:22 am
You’re having a sweet potato day, aren’t you? Can you fit it into dinner, too? Those look delicious and I am going to bookmark this page for the recipe.

If I won the lottery I would travel, travel, travel. And buy a new vehicle, and a bigger house, and some new clothes and shoes!
K from ksgoodeats June 2, 2009, 9:25 am
Those SP balls look GOOD! Thanks for the recipe, I love that it serves one!!

If I won the lottery, I’d go on a big vacation!
Jennifer @ His N' Her Health June 2, 2009, 9:26 am
I always cry to my dogs and hug them when I am down. It totally helps but they think I am crazy 🙂

If I won the lottery I would:
Buy a big house with a huge huge yard so I could have all the doggies I want. Pay off my parents debt, Get a new car and get Patrick a new Camaro, Travel, open a dance studio!
Kori (All Things B.) June 2, 2009, 9:26 am
Maggie is so cute! I’m a huge pet lover and your pics of Maggie make me miss my Brittney hotdog that died almost 4 yrs ago now 🙁 Dachshund’s are such lovebugs! If I won the lottery I would buy a working farm and rescue unwanted animals, grow my own veggies and have bees! It’s a silly dream, but it’s one I’ve had for SO long!
Stacey June 2, 2009, 9:31 am
Amen sista! I always give Trixie a good ol bear hug when I’m feeling blue 🙂
Ha, I like how you drizzle the mustard on the plate in such a culinary fashion 🙂

If I won the lottery, I would BUY MY OWN HOUSE so I can stop paying stupid rent 🙁 Oh, but first I would finish school 🙂
Sara June 2, 2009, 9:34 am
Yum, these sweet potato balls sound delicious! If I won the lottery, I’d pay of my (and my hubby’s) student loans, buy new vehicles for my parents, sister and hubby, donate to charity and go shopping for clothes. 🙂
Stephanie June 2, 2009, 9:35 am
I would buy another Dachshund, too!! 🙂

Steph from Buff Bride
Low June 2, 2009, 9:39 am
Sweet puppy pic! Those balls do look scrumptious, haha.

If I won the lottery I would:
Pay off loved ones debt (and mine)
Buy a huge green yacht (as in environmentally friendly) and sail all over the world! I love the water!
I would also spend some time in Africa to donate both time and money to stopping hunger. That sounds trite but I really do have a passion to do this.
Those are the main ones, but there’s tons of little things I’d want!!
Mrs. LC June 2, 2009, 9:54 am
Those sweet potato balls look great!

If I won the lottery I would pay off my husband’s student loans, get a complete new wardrobe, travel the world, help others (charities, help with sister’s loans, etc.), pay for me to go back to school, get a fabulous house and decorate without having to think about budget…haha and go on a real honeymoon! That’s all…lol
Oh She Glows June 2, 2009, 9:56 am
Wow great lunch concoction!!!

I love this:

Buy another dachshund.
Buy another dachshund.
Buy another dachshund.

LMAO!

I would fly all my bloggie friends over and have a big partEE!

Hope you are feeling better hun. Doggies always make it better!
Megan June 2, 2009, 9:57 am
I hope you are feeling better! That picture of you and Maggie is adorable! I miss my doggie that we just had to put to sleep a few weeks ago. 🙁

Okay, so those balls look soo good! I am definitely going to have to try them!

If I won the lottery, I would pay off the mortgage, help some family, donate some, and then open a doggie rescue shelter.
Meganerd June 2, 2009, 10:10 am
I would never think of all these sweet potato recipes. You are so creative!!

If I won the lotto I would travel around the world, pay off my debt, buy an iphone and a road bike. Oh and probably do something boring and sensible like invest.
Rachel June 2, 2009, 10:15 am
You got some good looking balls, girl! *eyebrow raise* hehe… I’ll have to try those.

My “if I won the lottery” list changes all the time, but first I’d take care of my STUDENT LOANS! Ugh.

Hope you’re feeling brighter 🙂
Leslie Elizabeth June 2, 2009, 10:16 am
those balls look great.

i hope you are feeling better.

if i won the lottery i would do nothing but travel EVERYWHERE and ANYWHERE.
eatingRD June 2, 2009, 10:21 am
Those balls look delish, haha. I’ll have to try them. I love your picture with Maggie, so nice to have them around. We just got a new basset hound named Buster, he’s funny and doesn’t do too much. If I won the lottery I would be overwhelmed, but would of course donate, get a new amazing camera, flat screen tv bigger than 19″, lots of new clothes, a house in Napa too, road bike, and lots of cooking appliances and a set of shun knives. Hang in there 🙂
Matt June 2, 2009, 10:21 am
I would stop looking for a job.
Finish school.
Run races all around the world.
Pay for my sisters Med School.
Live the dream life 🙂
Peanuts & Crackerjacks June 2, 2009, 10:21 am
If I won the lottery:

I’d first put money away for my kids college educations and a house (my dad is a financial advisor!! haha). Then I’d buy one of those good running watches, some Citizens of Humanity jeans and expensive wine and cheese. I’m not too hard to please!
Amanda June 2, 2009, 10:22 am
YUM those flax balls look great – I thought it was falafel at first!

Fun lottery question!

I’d:
quit my job and enroll in yoga teacher training
Buy a dog
travel – especially to napa/san fran and somewhere tropical
buy a beach house
spend mucho money on expensive food and wine
Brandi June 2, 2009, 10:34 am
Love the flax balls 🙂

If I won the lottery, I would:

pay off mine and family’s school loans

travel everywhere!

give to charities

shopping spree

make Trader Joe’s open a store here. somehow…
Susan June 2, 2009, 10:35 am
Travel the world.

I was going to just name a few places I’d like to see and maybe buy a car. But to be honest, I rather see the world than fill my life with more things.
Bec June 2, 2009, 10:39 am
wow these look fantastic!
ms June 2, 2009, 10:54 am
You are so sweet with your dachsund love!! What lucky puppies to have someone adore them so much.
elliebelle June 2, 2009, 10:57 am
Those sweet potato balls looks good! 🙂
If I won the lottery I would go on an Etsy and Athleta shopping spree.
Buy a new car (preferably a cute hybrid!)
Buy a bigger house for my boyfriend and I.
Definitely donate to charities.
Open my own little yarn and fabric shop.

Ahh…the possibilities! But I suppose I’d actually have to buy a lottery ticket to win, huh?
Nicole (anotheronebitesthecrust.wordpress.com) June 2, 2009, 11:00 am
Ohhh!!! I like the sounds of that recipe. Bookmarked, for sure!

If I won the lottery I would adopt a puppy, get a couch (I don’t have one! I’m currently blogging on a yoga mat on the floor!), go on vacation, and start an animal sanctuary! Oh, and have a bakery attached to the animal sanctuary!
Colleen June 2, 2009, 11:00 am
You poor thing, I know you must be stressed to the max right now! Pets are great stress relievers, I hope this stressful time passes quickly for you!

If I won the lottery…WOW, there are so many things I would love to do! I would love to buy everyone in my family a house (including myself!), and finish school without having to work…then I would open a pet rescue and a bead/jewelry store!
Caitlin 2 June 2, 2009, 11:08 am
“That’s what she said” hahahahaha!
Caitlin 2 June 2, 2009, 11:12 am
Oh, and I play the lottery daydream game ALL. THE. TIME. First thing I’d do is make sure my mom is taken care of (she’s a widow and money is tight). Then:
– give a chunk to my brother
– set up a family foundation, which would become my new job
– buy a bigger house with a yard
– buy a vacation home
– invest the rest

Clearly I am expecting to win the mega millions.
Bula June 2, 2009, 11:15 am
Those potato balls look awesome! Will make some this weekend for sure.

If I won the lottery:

-Take 2 days to nap and do absolutely nothing (but workout and eat), no work! Hooray! But just for those 2 days. I'd like to still work here and there, picking my own hours.

-Travel europe & south america (backpack style, not the luxurious travel style)

-Live in the Philippines for 6 months and donate money there to organizations in need

-Pay off student loans

-Road bike, house w/ a farm

-Buy 2 pigs, 1 hippo, 2 sheep
spicygranola June 2, 2009, 12:04 pm
those…look…amazing
Tay June 2, 2009, 12:06 pm
OK those balls look amazing! (that’s what she also said). If I won the lottery I would…

Buy a nice new purse and some clothes (but not crazy!)
Pay off all my parents loans/debts
Pay off college loans
Put it away for my future house
Buy my family a wonderful vacation
Buy a house in Europe
SuzanneRN June 2, 2009, 12:10 pm
Aw I’m sorry you were down 🙁 But doxies always make me feel better too. A dozen would obviously make my life all that much better! So sweet! And those balls looked absolutely fantastic!! 😉
Emily June 2, 2009, 12:20 pm
The sweet potato balls look great! I love the bright orange innards.

If I won the lottery I think I would just panic and put it all in (safe!) savings. Not make any rash, impulsive decisions. …And then I’d buy a new Stella McCartney bag and some sexy vegan shoes 🙂
Lori June 2, 2009, 12:28 pm
Those sweet potato balls look awesome! Thanks for the recipe!

If I were to win the lottery:

Pay down student loans
Pay off the mortgage for us, sister, and parents.
Travel.

Build a green house or convert an old one to green technology.
GreenDogWine June 2, 2009, 12:30 pm
PUHLEASE! you are hardly a debbie downer – you have such a great view on life & the world! don't every apologize for that! and i hug lando every day 🙂
Caitlin June 2, 2009, 1:11 pm
I am currently taking a stress management course online and there is so much data that says that pets are excellent stress relievers 🙂 yay for pets!

if I won the lottery I would..
-travel, travel, travel!
-donate to animal charities
Menden (Skinny Menny) June 2, 2009, 1:55 pm
Don’t puppies make everything a little bit better??

Those sweet potato balls look delicious…what a great idea!

If I won the lottery, I’d:

– quit my job to pursue something I like
– donate to charity
– pay off student loans/house loan
– buy a totally impractical car

Aah, one can dream, right? 🙂
Kim June 2, 2009, 2:04 pm
What a creative idea!! I love sweet potato & black beans together & made burgers with them not too long ago using quinoa. I am going to try your recipe soon!

If I won the lottery I would pay off our house, set up college funds for the kids, save some, make sure my parents were set and then have some fun spending on fun stuff! Maybe some new camera lenses for my Rebel or a nice vacation.
Jessica June 2, 2009, 2:36 pm
What a cute picture. Maggie looks so sweet:)
If I won the lottery I would buy:
– pay off my law school loans
– pay off car loans
– a new camera
– shopping spree!!
Anne June 2, 2009, 2:47 pm
Those sweet potato balls look delicious! Thanks for the recipe.

Sorry you’re feeling down 🙁 Pets are great when you’re feeling sad.

If I won the lottery, I’d take my dream trip to Hawaii! I’d also buy a horse and my own barn. I used to have a horse, but I had to sell him a few years ago. I really miss riding. I’d also give lots of money to charity, and travel the world having really awesome and active trips 😀
Holly Noelle June 2, 2009, 3:26 pm
If I won the lottery I would:

buy a house in BC
pay off student loans
buy a horse
and hire a personal assistant/maid/cook
emily June 2, 2009, 3:46 pm
I am totally with you on the triple doxie wishes but if I won the lottery I would also –

*go to culinary school
*get my Masters in Nutrition
*open a restaurant
*give $ to cancer research and wildlife preservation
Julie June 2, 2009, 4:47 pm
what an awesome lunch! Did you create that yourself?

love the maggie picture!

http://strivingforbalance.wordpress.com/
seesaraheat June 2, 2009, 4:52 pm
Love the balls, haha! I have a beagle and we call her our anti-depressant doggie because that’s how she works, no matter how bad we feel she always makes us smile 🙂 Hope you feel back in better spirits soon!

p.s. If I won the lotto, I would pay off all my debts, donate to charity and buy a house. In that order 😉
Heather June 2, 2009, 5:30 pm
Whoa, those balls look awesome!!! I will be trying them soon.

I want a weenie dog so bad!!!

If I won the lottery, I’d pay off my debt, buy a new car, buy a house, travel and donate it.
Holly June 2, 2009, 5:49 pm
Those balls look amazing! (that’s what she said). I’m definitely trying them.

I don’t think you are a downer at all…you’re doing much better than I would be if I had such a crazy schedule like yours.

Oh how I love the lottery game. 🙂 I would a. pay off my house. b. QUIT my job. c. donate, donate! and d. give money anonymously to truly good people. Oh. And travel…
Nutritious is Delicious June 2, 2009, 6:40 pm
What a genious recipe!

Pets are the BEST stress reliever! 😀

If I won the lottery, I would buy my mom a new car, pay off my student loans and ……go grocery shopping! haha
Defining Wellness June 2, 2009, 7:05 pm
LOL, you sound like my brother. He is absolutely in love with his mini dachsund and wants a million of them! Cheer up, buttercup!
Melissa @ For the Love of Health June 2, 2009, 7:25 pm
Those sweet potato balls look really good! and fancy!! 🙂

I hope you feel better!!

Lottery would get me this:

a) travel, travel, travel
b) dream kitchen (well dream home *sigh*)
c) charity, charity, charity
Katherine June 2, 2009, 7:28 pm
Such a cute puppy picture!

If I won the lottery, I would:

– quit my job and go back to school to become an RD
– buy a condo in NYC
– take a vacation around the world
– donate to charities
– become a member of Sports Club LA
– buy property in upstate NY and start a therapy dog training center.

Yup, I think that pretty much sums it up! 🙂
Jordan June 2, 2009, 7:28 pm
Those look amazing!
HangryPants June 2, 2009, 8:26 pm
Just wanted to say those look mucho delicious! I think I would use a little BBQ sauce.
Kristin P. June 3, 2009, 7:19 am
Pets are the best. They are my family.
If I won, I would..
1) Pay off my debt
2) Buy an apartment
3) Travel!!
4) Charity
Olga June 3, 2009, 1:26 pm
pay off my loans
buy my parents a beautiful house
travel
go to the grad school of my choice
charity
personal trainer!
Rachel S June 4, 2009, 5:38 pm
I just tried making these balls today, and they were delicious! Thanks for a great (and creative) recipe!
Holly Noelle June 18, 2009, 1:21 pm
I made those bean and sweet potato balls today. I forgot the salsa (oops) but they were still really yummy! We had ours with tzatziki sauce instead of mustard. Yum.

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