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[kindermom]

Hi - We are having a potluck at our house. I wouldlike to make chicken cordon bleu. I need to add some side dishes to round out the meal. Here is what we have planned so far.
Meat: Chick cordon bleu
Starch: Potatoes of some sort
Vegetable: Carrots

Desserts are taken care of. I need to plan for additional sides. Any suggestions for someone who will not have too much time to cook (I have an infant!)?

[IrisHope]

When I make chicken cordon blue I love making my garlic sautéed broccoli. I'll give you the recipe if you're interested but it's yummy.

[kindermom]

IrisHope - That could work. Can you share?

[IrisHope]

Sure. I buy frozen broccoli and microwave them so they're hot. Once hot I place them on paper towels to remove as much water as possible. Then I heat up vegetable oil and add garlic (my family love a lot of garlic) and get it a tiny bit brown and then add the broccoli. I sautee it until the broccoli are well done and tender. Add salt to taste. viola :)

[nic]

Here's a good side dish

Asparagus Cashew Rice
· 1/4 cup butter
· 1/4 cup minced onion
· 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
· 1 1/4 cups uncooked jasmine rice
· 2 1/4 cups vegetable broth
· salt and pepper to taste
· 1/2 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2 inch pieces
· 1/2 cup cashew halves

DIRECTIONS:
1. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Increase heat to medium
2. Stir onion and garlic into the saucepan, and cook about 2 minutes, until tender. Stir in jasmine rice, and cook about 5 minutes. Pour in vegetable broth. Season mixture with salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, cover, and cook 20 minutes, until rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed.
3. Place asparagus in a separate medium saucepan with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook until tender but firm.
4. Mix asparagus and cashew halves into the rice mixture, and serve warm.

[Kinetic]

Chicken Cordon Bleu is a great dish to serve, I have to remember that next time we have company. I usually serve wild rice with it. It's a light starch to go with the heaviness of the Cordon Bleu. For a vegetable, I would pick something green like Brocolli or Asparagus. I think it's good to have a variety of colors/flavors/textures on your plate.

[kindermom]

Thanks for the suggestions so far. I like the salad idea as well - very easy and looks great. The rice dish sounds good but we have too many people who would not eat asparagus. I will have to save it though and make it for myself in the spring.

[looch]

Kindermom: when you make your cordon bleu, do you fry first and then bake?

[kindermom]

I traditionally have. I have a recipe that calls for just baking it though. But mmm. I like fried food.

[Sparkles P]

A platter of cut up raw veggies is always good, and you can cut them up in stages, which is good with an infant when time is at a minimum. Buy some premade dips and bam.... Cherry tomatoes,celery, sliced mushrooms,baby carrots, red peppers,green peppers, etc...... all easy to add on a platter.

[Katy]

Lately started to think, when in doubt, serve rice pilaf, jasmine rice or pine nut couscous. They're all light enough in flavor that there's no competition. The frozen rice from Trader Joes has been my new friend :D

[kindermom]

Update - I worried about nothing. I made the garlic broccoli (it was great) and a rice medley with white, brown and wild rice cooked with butter, lemon juice and parsley. What did people bring to my potluck? Cooked carrots, instant mashed potatoes, and spinach dip (ok, the dip was brought by someone due any day now).

The best dessert? Some one brought a cheese cake from the cheese cake factory. With one slice missing. :eek:

I guess I need to lower my standards. :(

[Katy]

The best dessert? Some one brought a cheese cake from the cheese cake factory. With one slice missing. :eek:

I guess I need to lower my standards. :(ROFLMAO! Sorry it all turned out that way, but it's sure funny to read. Doesn't it drive you crazy when folks have such a different expectation to what some might consider a "common" event?