Lunch: Sweet Potato Pie

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Cinnamon, Lemon, Agave

Health benefits of Sweet Potato Pie

Cinnamon is one of the best ingredients that someone with insulin sensitivity can eat. Half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day has been shown to be very effective at normalizing blood sugar levels. Cinnamon contains hydroxychalcone, which is thought to enhance the effects of insulin. It has also been suggested that Cinnamon prevents post-meal blood sugar spikes by slowing the gastric emptying rate - meaning that food digests slowly. (Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11506060). Lemons can help to prevent oxidative damage to the body, which women with PCOS are often susceptible to. Lemons are also rich in vitamin C, flavonoids, and other antioxidants. They can potentially support the immune system and have other health benefits. Lemons also have a low glycemic index, so they should not cause a rapid rise in blood sugar when consumed in natural form. Agave, a sweetener derived from the core of the agave plant, is frequently highlighted in nutritional discussions due to its notably low glycemic index (GI) rating. With a GI score of just 17, it stands out from many other natural sweeteners and sugars that often have higher GI values. For those unfamiliar with the term, the glycemic index is a measure that ranks foods based on how significantly they raise blood glucose (sugar) levels after consumption. Foods with a lower GI value are absorbed more slowly and cause a more gradual rise in blood sugar levels, which is particularly crucial for individuals managing conditions like PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome).

Ingredients

4 large sweet potatoes
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons agave nectar
1 teaspoon cinnamon, plus more for dusting
1 teaspoon nutmeg, plus more for dusting
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch kosher salt
Zest of 1 lemon
1 ready-made deep-dish pie crust
1 package ready-made pie dough
1 large egg yolk, whisked

Instructions

Boil the sweet potatoes in a large pot of boiling water until tender, about 25 minutes. Allow to cool down, then peel.
Place the sweet potatoes in a large mixing bowl along with the butter, cream, agave, cinnamon, nutmeg, almond extract, vanilla extract, salt and lemon zest. Mash and mix the ingredients together. Set aside.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Lightly dust the pie crust with some cinnamon and nutmeg. Bake until light brown, about 10 minutes.
Remove the pan from the oven and add all of the sweet potato filling. Roll out one of the pie dough pieces (reserve the other for another use) and slice into strips. Line the top of the pie with parallel strips of pie dough. Rotate the pan 90 degrees and arrange a second row of pie dough at a right angle to the first to create a checked look on top. Brush the top with the egg yolk and bake until the pie is firm, about 40 minutes.

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