After much anticipation Super Bowl Sunday has come and gone. To mark the occasion the boys wanted to have a football party.  Since bedtime coincides with halftime, I was not sure how much game watching would take place. But I knew it would be quite the celebration as the build-up has been BIG around here leading up to game day.

A typical football party for all intents and purposes would be watching the game and having some great food but not at our house. Our party was three little boys running around screaming, jumping off furniture, tackling each other, and throwing footballs. Come to think of it, this is a typical day around here … Mostly this goes on until someone starts crying or gets is a bloody nose.

And while that is exactly what occurred the boys also surprised us by expressing interest in watching the game! To hear them discuss which team was going to score, the potential to win our boxes, cheering for the coin toss was hysterical. It must be instinctual because they were talking as if they have been watching football for years; there was even some trash-talking going on as they cheered for their teams. I was half expecting them to ask me to get them a beer!

On the menu for the party were turkey sliders. I wanted to stay true to typical football party fare but come up with something a little healthier. Easy to make, fun to eat, a formula for success (hopefully) I also planned on getting a lot of vegetables into this recipe – sweet potatoes, onions, AND tomatoes.

I am dedicating this recipe to our friend Becca who has recently become a sweet potato fiend!

Sweet Potato Turkey Sliders

Ingredients:

1 sweet potato, peeled and diced

1 onion, peeled and diced

2 Tbsp olive oil, plus more for brushing

1 lb. Ground turkey, preferably dark meat

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cumin

Mini buns (Martin’s potato rolls are perfect)

Optional topping:

“ Ketchup “– puree can of diced tomatoes, add salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Toss sweet potato and onion with olive oil and spread in single layer on baking sheet. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Roast, stirring once, for approx. 30 minutes until caramelized. Set aside and let cool. Dice vegetable mixture into very small pieces before adding to turkey.

In a large mixing bowl add turkey, sweet potato, onion, salt and cumin. Mix together, but do not overwork. Form between 12-14 small patties, about 2” in diameter. Place patties on baking sheet and brush with olive oil. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook patties until browned and cooked through, about 5-6 minutes per side.

Add the buns to the skillet during the last minute of cooking to slightly toast them. Assemble burgers with your choice of toppings.

And the VERDICT is:

Matthew: “Mommy, I like it, but it is not your best”

Liam: “ I can’t wait to try my Crabby Patty!”

Dylan: “Real ketchup please! I am digging those orange things out….”