Make-Ahead Sweet Potato Salad

Give your classic egg salad a twist by adding roasted sweet potatoes! This combination recipe of egg salad and sweet potatoes gives this side dish more texture and flavor from the sweet potatoes. There are a few more steps involved in this atypical dish than a classic egg salad, but we promise the tasty payoff will be worth it. You can also customize this salad however you’d like – no celery? Go for diced red onions instead. Or make it spicy with some cayenne pepper. You could use the typical dijon mustard/mayo combo as a dressing, or take it to the next level with an avocado crema, which gives the dish that same creamy texture with a slight twist. What is also great about this recipe is that you can prep the hard-boiled eggs and roasted sweet potatoes ahead of time – just store in the fridge until ready to use, assemble, and enjoy!

Ingredients: Makes about 12 servings

Salad Ingredients
1 -2 sweet potatoes (depending on how big they are), diced
2 tbs olive oil
6 hard-boiled eggs, diced
red onion, diced (TIP: let the diced red onions hang out in some cold water before assembling salad to soften that onion bite!)
chives, chopped
salt & pepper to taste
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 and put a pot of boiling water on the stove. This way, you can prep your potatoes and eggs at the same time!
  2. Dice sweet potatoes and lay on a baking sheet.
  3. Drizzle olive oil over the sweet potatoes and pop in the oven for 25 – 30 minutes until they are soft and the edges are slightly browned. Let the potatoes cool before adding them to the other ingredients.
  4. While the potatoes are in the oven, hard boil your eggs according to your preferred method.
  5. Dice up red onions and let soak in cold water for a few minutes to soften bitter taste; can dice celery here if using celery, instead.
  6. Dice chives.
  7. Once eggs are hard boiled and set in a cold water bath, dice these up, too.
  8. Add onions and/or celery, eggs, chives, and cooled sweet potatoes to bowl. Add spices and mix in.
  9. Add dressing of choice and mix to combine.
  10. Refrigerate before serving.

Traditional Dressing:

1/3 C mayo
Juice from 1/2 lemon
Dijon mustard
1 tsp paprika
salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:

Just mix all together in a bowl and pour over egg salad

Avocado Crema Dressing

1 ripe avocado; pinch of salt, pinch of pepper, 1/2 can of coconut milk; 1 juiced lime, 1 tsp hot sauce (or more if you want it spicy!); 1 garlic clove, 1/4 tsp onion powder

Instructions:

Blitz all ingredients in a blender until smooth and creamy. If the consistency is too thick, add a little bit of water to the mix and continue to blend until smooth. This crema is great on other dishes as well like tacos, sandwiches, or anything else you can think of.

Avocado Crema recipe inspired by Hot for Food 

8 Tips for Beginner and Expert Boaters: Setting Sail with Confidence


Boating is an exhilarating experience, meant to offer endless adventures and loads of fun. Whether you’re new to navigating the waters or are a seasoned seafarer, these essential tips will help ensure a safe and enjoyable boating experience for you and your crew.

  1. Know the Basics of Boating Safety
    Boating is an exhilarating experience, meant to offer endless adventures and loads of fun. Whether you’re new to navigating the waters or are a seasoned seafarer, these essential tips will help ensure a safe and enjoyable boating experience for you and your crew.

  2. Maintain Your Boat Regularly
    Owning a boat comes with the responsibility of regular maintenance. Schedule routine inspections and services to keep your vessel in top condition. Check the hull, engine, and electrical systems regularly for any signs of wear or damage. Proper maintenance not only extends the life of your boat but also ensures safe and smooth outings.

  3. Understand Weather Conditions
    Weather can change rapidly, especially in open water. Check the weather forecast before heading out and remain vigilant for any signs of changing conditions. Strong winds, heavy rain, or thunderstorms can create dangerous situations, so it’s best to avoid boating during adverse weather.

  4. Practice Docking and Anchoring
    Docking and anchoring can take some time to get the hang of, especially at a new marina. be challenging for beginners. Practice these skills in calm conditions to build confidence. Approach docks slowly and be mindful of wind and currents. Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance from our friendly marina teams! When anchoring, ensure the anchor is securely set to prevent drifting.

  5. Respect Navigational Rules
    Just like driving, boating has its own set of rules and regulations. Learn and follow navigational rules, including right-of-way, speed limits, and no-wake zones. Respecting these rules and staying sober while at the helm ensures your safety and that of others on the water.

  6. Communicate Your Plans
    Inform someone on shore about your boating plans, including your expected return time and route. Having a communication plan in place can be a lifesaver in case of emergencies and can add to your peace of mind when you’re on the water.

  7. Dress Appropriately
    Wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Non-slip shoes and layers can help you stay comfortable and safe. Always wear a life jacket, regardless of your swimming ability. Safety never goes out of style! 

  8. Enjoy the Journey
    Lastly, embrace the learning process and enjoy your time on the water. Boating is about relaxation and adventure, so take it slow and savor each moment.
     

    By following these tips, you’ll be well-prepared to navigate the waters safely and confidently. Happy boating!

We Asked, You Answered: Some of these tips are from our very own community of Facebook followers! Give us a follow and you’ll find all the fun content we share!

A message from our friends at Loggerhead Marinelife Center

The words “coral reef” have several connotations. To many it invokes memories of snorkeling or diving in the clear blue waters of the Florida Keys, Caribbean or other tropical parts of the world. Others think of days out on the boat fishing and enjoying time with friends and family. Some may think of a Jimmy Buffet ballad backed up by his band the Coral Reefers.

Few, however, think of the valuable roles coral reefs play in our natural world and in our coastal economies. Worldwide, coral reefs are hotbeds for biodiversity that support 25% of all marine species and over $36 billion in tourism. If you enjoy recreational fishing it is important to know that coral reefs provide shelter and food as well as reproductive and nursery areas for many marine species including those that are commercially and recreationally valuable as food fish.  According to the PEW Charitable Trusts nearly 6 million fishers in the world rely on coral reefs for their products which have an estimated annual value of $375 billion globally. The annual value of coral reef-based fisheries in the US is well over $200 million.  

Brain Coral | Photo courtesy of Andy Dehart

Healthy reefs are not just important for protecting our fisheries and tourism, they are critical for protecting our coastal communities. Coral reefs are the first line of defense against powerful storms by reducing wave height an average of 84%. In many tropical coastal communities, mangroves and coral reefs work in tandem to protect shorelines from severe storms and flooding. A recent study found that Florida’s Coral Reef annually provides over $675 million dollars in flood protection benefits to people, property and jobs – increasing to over $1.6 billion during severe storm events.

Unfortunately, coral reefs are facing many local, regional, and global stressors including declining water quality and unusually high ocean temperatures that led to 2023-24 being declared as the 4th global coral bleaching event. In addition, an outbreak of the virulent “stony coral tissue loss disease” continues to affect corals throughout Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean.

Staghorn Coral | Photo courtesy of Andy Dehart

Since coral reefs are so valuable, it’s critical to keep them healthy and resilient. Luckily there is still time to save these amazing ecosystems! Loggerhead Marinelife Center and its partner organizations are focused on all areas of reef conservation ranging from education to habitat restoration and disease control. We need your help – the boating community is key to helping us build innovative private and corporate partnerships that will support protection and restoration of these ecologically, culturally, and economically important ecosystems.  

There are several things you can do to help in this fight to protect this resource for generations to come. Some of the most impactful things you can do are:

  • Use reef safe sunscreen. Visit https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/sunscreen-corals.html for more information.
  • Choose sustainable seafood by using a program like Seafood Watch.
  • Practice safe boating by anchoring in sandy areas away from reefs and sea grasses – far enough to ensure the anchor chain does not drag over these sensitive habitats.
  • Be chemical aware. Many cleaning chemicals for boats can harm the reefs as can fertilizers used in your yard at home.
  • Recycle monofilament lines to prevent derelict marine debris.
  • Refuse or reduce single-use plastics. Plastics eventually break down into nano plastics and trickle into the food and water we consume.

I learned to snorkel in the Florida Keys at the age of 5. I have had a lifetime of adventure and excitement on or under the water on coral reefs. I have been very fortunate to have dove with large sharks, snorkeled with sea turtles and watched goliath groupers. At Loggerhead Marinelife Center we want to help build awareness for these special places to ultimately protect them. We know we have kindred spirits in the boating community that love the coral reefs just like we do, and we thank you for being partners in their protection.

Andy Dehart

President & CEO

Loggerhead Marinelife Center