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How exactly did she manage to take a large

(really…we’re talking football-sized)

(no, I have not actually laid eyes on a football in…decades years and I barely have a penchant for exaggeration, why do you ask?)

orange vegetable in it and two (yes TWO) bunches of Jurassic-sized green leaves and end up with something so…anemic?

I know that’s what you’re thinking.

White casserole judgment. I see it in your eyes.

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That’s fine.  You can totally be that way.  But you know who’s going to be eating a QUARTER of this cheesy creamy casserole for dinner?  While still ending up with less saturated fat than the average American eats in an hour?

FYI – all you haters out there. It’s not you.

To everyone else who’s decided to leave their food color prejudices at the door.  Let’s talk.

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This casserole has more layers than I do on the warmest of summer days and just barely less than I typically don when it’s fifty degrees outside (ten).  Impressive.

In fact, if I could find a way to wrap myself in it for those in-between days.  I totally would.  And then I’d eat my way out when I got hungry.  It would be the best.

(Don’t worry. I’d be wearing a thermal layer underneath.  I may get dressed with my windows open and a construction crew in viewing distance every day.  But I have some sense of propriety.  Totally swear.)

And then in addition to actual  physical layers…it has layers of flavor.  Sweet from the sweet potatoes, salty ooey gooey from the cheese, earthy from the chard and white beans.  Get a little bit of each in every bite and you’ll pretty much be set for life.

?(Or at least lunch and dinner.  Which, if you count the seconds till your next meal like some of us do, are basically life.)

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And then, since you’ve eaten so many shades of beige colors of the rainbow in one sitting, you’ll totally have earned dessert.

Something soft and winter-spiced with magical bits of melty chocolate in it.

I suggest these cookies.

Yeah, they kind of have an orange vegetable in them. But if you want to eat cookies for breakfast and call it a health food, then these are the kinds of measures you have to take.

Your best interest.  That’s what I have at heart.

Picnik collage

Chard, White Bean and Sweet Potato Gratin
Serves 4 as a main, 6-8 as a side, adapted from Spilling the Beans

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 bunches swiss chard, leaves and stems separated and both cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp AP flour
  • 2 cups almond milk (or regular milk)
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 large sweet potato, peeled and sliced 1/8 inch thick
  • 2 cups cooked white beans
  • nutmeg, to taste
  • 1 cup coarsely shredded gruyere

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a heavy skillet set over medium-high heat and cook the onion for a few minutes.  Add the chard, sprinkle with salt, and cook until the chard wilts and there is no moisture left in the pan.  Transfer to a bowl.
  2. Add the butter and flour to the skillet and whisk together to make a paste.  Whisk in the milk, then add the garlic and bring to a simmer.  Boil for 2 minutes, whisking.  Season with salt and pepper.  Remove from the heat.
  3. Preheat the oven to 400.  Spray a baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.  Spread half of the sweet potatoes in the baking dish.  Top with half the beans, a sprinkle of nutmeg, salt and pepper, half of the greens mixture, half the cheese and half the sauce.  Layer with the rest of the potatoes, beans, greens and sauce and top with the rest of the cheese.
  4. Cover with tin foil and bake for about 45 minutes, then take the tin foil off and bake for another 15 minutes, until golden and bubbly.  Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

Sweet Potato Chocolate Chip Cookies
Makes about 2 dozen, adapted from Fake Food Free

Ingredients

  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup pureed sweet potato
  • 1/2 cup oat flour (just pulverize oats in food processor!)
  • 3/4 cup AP flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 2/3 cup dark chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees F. In a mixing bowl, cream together the sugar and butter until fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and mix until combined. Mix in the sweet potato.
  2. In a separate bowl, sift together the flours, baking soda, salt, and spices. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the mixing bowl. Scrap the sides and mix until everything is combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
  3. Place cookies by the teaspoon or tablespoon full onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until the cookies are slightly browned. Remove from the oven, allow to rest 1 minute and then transfer to a cooling rack. Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

I got this cookie recipe from Lori as part of the annual International Blogger Cookie Exchange that she is cohosting!   For more cookies, check out the round-up on her’s and Andrea’s sites the week of December 12th.

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You are reading this post on Eats Well With Others at https://joanne-eatswellwithothers.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author and or owner of Eats Well With Others. All rights reserved by Joanne Bruno.
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96 Responses to Chard, White Bean and Sweet Potato Gratin and Sweet Potato Chocolate Chip Cookies

  1. I want all of the above! No color prejudice here:-)

  2. Jeanette says:

    I’ll take a plate of that Chard, White Bean and Sweet Potato Gratin and a cookie please 😉

  3. You are seriously my hero. Both of these recipes are AMAZING!!!

  4. Both recipes are lovely….and tht cookie is really so tempting!

  5. Elizabeth says:

    Most gratins I’ve ever had have given me a stomachache but they also did not contain dark greens and beans. I’ll take it. But I’d probably eat the cookies first.

  6. Danielle says:

    These both look great – and I love dessert for breakfast!

  7. Sam says:

    I have a 2 lb sweet potato from my CSA in my fridge that has been waiting for these recipes.

  8. bellini says:

    They both sound incredible Joanne. I like it when I can eat heartily!

  9. Patsyk says:

    I saw your tweet on takign photos of casseroles last night… and you certainly did make this look delicious! Of course, being the sweets lover that I am, I am more intrigued with those cookies… wonder if my kids will notice the sweet potato??

  10. Loving both of these…especially the gratin! Yum.

  11. Louanne says:

    Good Lord, that casserole is to die for! Love it!

  12. Love the cookies, definitely my kind of breakfast food. But I could never turn down a huge piece of that casserole!

  13. Wow the Chard, White Bean and Sweet Potato Gratin looks really good! Saturdays are fend for yourself night at my house. I think I’ll try this, save a little bit for leftovers and freeze the rest for lunches next week. When I mentioned Kale the other day I meant Chard, I get them mixed up for some reason. Actually I never had Chard, but I’ll try it with this recipe.

    Well you know me and my cookies! I LOVE Sweet potatoes, and I LOVE chocolate so this cookie is on my Sundays plan. I really love my cookies, but I want to health them up and this is a perfect recipe! I’m printing both the recipes.

    Have a wonderful day!!

  14. girl there be no hating! i’ll eat whatever you make. no prob.
    i’m down with it woman!
    lol 😉

  15. Sweet potato cookies – would love to try. And they contain oats too:) Have a nice weekend.

  16. Jenna says:

    I have no feelings of ill will against the color of your amazing gratin–I would eat it any time, any place.

  17. I love sweet potatoes. The casserole looks great…and healthy.
    But you’re speaking my language with those cookies.

  18. White beans and Chard are always a lovely combination and all that yummy cheese sounds divine. I’m excited about trying those cookies as well. Sweet potato…Brilliant. Veggies in baking 😉 great minds think a like!

  19. OMG! This looks so good, Joanne! The gratin is comfort food at its finest…perfect for the winter! My mouth is watering!
    What a fantastic idea with the cookies…mmmm cookies for breakfast. Yes, I’ll take one dozen please! 🙂

    Have an awesome weekend,
    Tammy <3

  20. Your giving us two amazing recipes? Wow! I am impressed and now hungry! I am thinking those cookies are calling my name

  21. MM says:

    I would like to eat cookies for breakfast and call it health food. How did you know?

    And I will not judge your white casserole. I think it’s pretty just the way it is.

  22. Kim says:

    I’m pretty sure I could eat my way out of that gratin too. It has just about all my favorite things in it.

    And, I’m definitely up for one of those cookies. I love trying different and unique takes on things.

  23. Catherine says:

    Dear Joanne, This looks and sounds wonderful. I would love a plate and a cookie or two for dessert. Blessings my dear, Catherine xo

  24. Pam says:

    Totally love them both.

  25. Kristen says:

    You won’t catch me calling your food any names! Anemic, schemic! With all of that chard the dish really has a lovely green color.

  26. Hey Joanne, your Gratin is a Recipe Guessing Game on Knapkins. Think your friends can win? http://www.knapkins.com/guess_games/1033?source=blog Show your foodie love and vote here http://www.knapkins.com/duel?dish=15789

  27. I am having a hard time picturing a sweet potato chocolate chip cookie but that may be because of all the other odd comments, you made in this post. (No odder than usual 🙂

  28. Pam says:

    I don’t care what color it is… all I know is that I WANT IT NOW! Please? Two cookies as well. Thank you very much.

  29. Mary says:

    That casserole looks awesome. No judgement at all. I’ll take a ginormous serving and several cookies as well. YUM!

  30. ooohh yes! I thought this was lasagna at first – but gratin! Even better!!

  31. Shannon says:

    who’s hating this? i’d love it 🙂 and heck, that is just what i’m craving after 8 days away from my kitchen!!

  32. Amy says:

    What Pam ^^^ said. And also? I can totally imagine sweet potatoes in the cookies. Why not? We make muffins and bread with it. I think it’s brilliant.

  33. Kathy says:

    That gratin looks like something I could eat all by myself. I bet it was delicious! The cookies look great too!

  34. Christine says:

    This looks too good, not to make! Serious yummmm!

  35. Barbara says:

    Love the gratin, Joanne. Man, that looks tasty. Sweet potatoes in a cookie? Well why not? Don’t know how I’d feel about pairing it with chocolate though. Interesting recipe!

  36. Amy says:

    I really love sweet potatoes – these both looks great. They are wonderful in both sweet and savory dishes.

  37. tigerfish says:

    It must be your good strategy to show us the gratin, then cookie, then gratin, then cookie; we are too busy looking to even start judging! HA! Clever!

  38. Lora says:

    I love the idea of sweet potato chocolate chip cookies. Genius.

  39. Lori says:

    The cookies look so good! Seriously, better than mine! I love the changes you made in the spices. Thanks so much for participating in the exchange. That gratin sounds amazing as well. What a great way to get in some beans and greens.

  40. Joanne! Wowza! This looks more than incredible.. I’m totally making it this week. I’ll tell you how it goes :). PS – Making the Brussels Sprouts tonight!

  41. Those cookies are genius. I would be in total carb overload if I had any of that deliciousness!

  42. Those cookies look absolutely wonderful 🙂

  43. Raina says:

    I don’t care what color it is; it looks awesome; I really need to eat more healthy foods like this, and that cookie looks so yummy and lovin the healthy in that too:)

  44. Not sure what I like more, the chard or the cookies????? yum!

  45. Claudia says:

    Over the top, densely layered, bring them on!

  46. Candace says:

    Not one but TWO fantastic recipes, Joanne. I don’t care what anyone says…I think they look both look amazing. Yum!

  47. Both recipes are fantastic! Love to try your cookies with sweet potato ….

  48. I want to dig my head directly into that casserole! Looks heavenly! Creative cookie recipe..love it with sweet potatoes.

  49. oh, I have no colour prejudices whatsoever against this dish. Some of the best things I’ve eaten would be what I would describe as “beige” food. I can’t wait to give this a try, once summer is over.
    Sue xo

  50. Johanna GGG says:

    I don’t judge your colour of casserole because sometimes colour disappears on me and I just don’t know where it goes. Though I don’t feel so perplexed when it disappears into a cookie – that doesn’t matter when there is chocolate involved

  51. I can say that I’ve never had Sweet Potato Gratin before, but that does not mean it isn’t good! And one of my all time fav cookies would be chocolate chip! Richard

  52. daphne says:

    cookies and sweet potato? You are too awesome beyond words with sneaking veges in cookies as well…

  53. That’s one of the reasons I adore you…you feed me a meal and dessert. Sigh… These both look fantastic. I definitely want to be wrapped in those layers!

  54. Looks yummy.. thanks for the recipe. Will definitely try it. Thanks for sharing. 🙂

  55. Katie says:

    That gratin sounds just perfect. I love the idea of combining those ingredients and bringing a little health to it!

  56. Dining Alone says:

    That gratin looks so amazing!!

  57. Mary says:

    Both are very interesting recipes. I hope you have a great weekend. Blessings…Mary

  58. The gratin looks fantastic to me…love the layers of flavor! And the cookies, nice! I have never had sweet potato in a cookie, but I want to 🙂

  59. Katerina says:

    You must have spent quite a some time in the kitchen Joanne, but the final result I am sure was beyond expectations. Both look delicious!

  60. Chris says:

    Cookies for breakfast, you’re my kind of future doctor.

  61. Geni says:

    I have no white casserole aversion that I’m aware of so I’m totally IN! This looks like a great “take to a holiday potluck” kind of dish that wouldn’t add on a whole lot of pounds and so yummy looking.

  62. marla says:

    What would it take to get you here to bake me those cookies & that gratin for dinner. AMAZING 🙂

  63. It’s sort of like the white chili of casseroles! Everything in it sounds amazing so no judgment here. The sweet potato must add a wonderful flavor to chocolate chippers too!

  64. Miranda says:

    Ooooh, who would have thought – sweet pots in chocolate chip cookies? I don’t care what anyone else is thinking, I love how that casserole looks!

  65. Carolyn Jung says:

    Oooh, a two-course meal of sweet potatoes — entree and dessert. It’s an antioxidant fest. 😉

  66. grace says:

    chard what? who? my attention immediately went to those cookies. what can i say, it’s an illness. 🙂

  67. Hotly Spiced says:

    I love the look of your dish. I think that looks like a wonderful family meal. Not everyone loves chard but I certainly do!

  68. Faith says:

    I gasped a bit when I read that title. The gratin looks fantastic, but those cookies…oh my, those cookies! Bookmarking and planning to make them ASAP!!

  69. Hannah says:

    Oh, and here I thought I had seen every variation of chocolate chip cookie possible, but sweet potato is new to me! What a great idea, a nice way to give it a seasonal sort of twist.

  70. Color Schmolor. I want that. Both of thats actually. You can’t go wrong with sweet potatoes and both of these recipes look awesome!

    Sues

  71. Oh, a little bit of everything here – how exciting! What a delicious way to serve up Chard and what about those sweet potato cookies?!! – omg – brilliant!

  72. Ohhh man I’m so jealous you already have the Spilling the Beans cookbook!! I’ve been dying to get it since Julie mentioned she was writing it. This looks like the perfect casserole yum. And those cookies look like the perfect after dinner treat.

  73. Love the gratin! Those cookies look amazing 😀

  74. teresa says:

    oh my gawsh, i want the casserole for dinner, and the cookies for dessert! they both look and sound incredible. i need to go find some chard!

  75. Yeah that’s my kind of cookie! And for breakfast, absolutely.

  76. Erica says:

    Wow! That casserole is the perfect vegetarian dish for the holidays….I am printing this one for my husband! I am very happy to find it 🙂

  77. Natalie says:

    i seriously think some of the ugliest foods are the best tasting! this is my type of meal!

  78. I think this casserole looks very luxurious, juicy and very very nutritious…..I would love to have a piece right about now 🙂

  79. Reeni says:

    This has all my favorite veggies and beans in it! I could eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner with one of your lovely cookies to end each meal and never grow tired of it!

  80. I love the looks of both of these. Yum!

  81. I’ve been looking for a way to make use of my first bunch of chard…this is most certainly it! You have still managed to make a white bean casserole look appetizing and surely taste amazing.

    I really need to work on my carotenosis so for these cookies…consider them made!

  82. That Girl says:

    I think that white casserole is gorgeous!

  83. That gratin looks delicious. I’d love a big serving and a couple of cookies too. 😉

  84. Michele says:

    That casserole looks to die for. And the sweet potato cookies? WOW. They sound delicious! I’m coming to your house.

  85. Nicole, RD says:

    I left my color judgements at the door – that looks amazing! And yes, less saturated fat in the meal than Americans eat in any given hour! 🙂

  86. Kerstin says:

    Yum, you’ve taken gratins to a whole new level – so many tasty ingredients in one place 🙂

    And I’d love to try those unique cookies!

  87. Dawn says:

    I must try the gratin. Maybe it will spice up my boring @ss blog lately. Sheesh.

  88. No colour prejudices here either. I want that gratin for breakfast!

  89. Deborah says:

    Oh my goodness, after reading the title, I seriously thought that you had put white beans and chard into a chocolate chip cookie! So glad to see that it is 2 recipes, not one!!

  90. Dana says:

    Wow, your food just keeps getting more and more creative. And ten layers? Are you kidding me? I want that for dinner!

  91. sally says:

    More sweet potato recipes! I have a basket full of them.

  92. Kevin says:

    I am really liking the use of the beans in a gratin!

  93. Jen Crosby says:

    I made the chard, white bean and sweet potato casserole tonight and it was WONDERFUL. Thank you!!

  94. Drool…. Yes. I scoured for more chard recipes 😉

  95. […] Honey BBQ Meatloaf + Chard, White Bean & Sweet Potato Gratin (halved the cheese and used spinach in place of […]

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