Side Dishes

[granada]

I'm going to a bbq today, and I'm supposed to bring a side dish. I've been wracking my brain, but I can't come up with anything. Anyone have any suggestions of side dishes that are good and easy to make (since I only have a few hours to prepare it)?

[KrissyCat7]

How about taco dip?

1. 1 package cream cheese
2. 1 can Hormel Chili
3. Shredded Chedder Cheese

Layer ingredients in the order listed, put in microwave until cheese melts. Serve with tortillas chips.

[Katie&Micah]

I make this fruit salad for almost every family gathering. It's really fast and everyone loves it.

1 small container strawberry yogurt (the blended kind.. not fruit on the bottom)
1 container cool whip
2 large bananas or 3 medium (sliced)
1 1/2 to 2 cups grapes (cut in half)
1 pint strawberries (halved or quartered depending on how big they are)
1 can chunk pineapple

Throw the pineapple in a bowl (drained) and then add the bananas.. Stir them together so the pineapple juice will keep the bananas from browning, then add the rest of the fruit, yogurt and the coolwhip. Mix it all together and you're done. Keep refrigerated until you're ready to serve. This isn't something that you can leave out for an extended period of time on a hot day. But works fine when eating indoors or if it's only going to be out for 30 mins or so.

[Katy]

This might do better over in the cooking and entertainig section. In fact, there might even already be a thread over there since we are in a holiday weekend (but I'm not totally sure).

Happy Holiday Weekend! :D

[granada]

Oops, sorry! I'm just so used to posting everything in chit-chat. :o

[lbs27]

Hi!

I may be too late for this, but I threw together a pasta salad for a last minute BBQ last night and it was great and so easy! It does require a trip to the market though. :) I cooked 1/2 lb of orzo, mixed in yellow, red and orange pepper, raw green beans, cherry tomatoes, kalamat olives and feta. The dressing was olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper and oregano. So yummy! You can really put anything you want it in, which is what's great about it!

Good luck!

[Twylla]

I know I'm too late, but maybe someone else can use this one:

Avacado Salad

2-3 avacados
1 cucumber
1-2 tomatos
3-4 hard boiled eggs
seasoning salt
extra virgin olive oil
balsamic vinegar

-chop/peel the veggies and eggs into salad sized pieces and put it all into a salad serving bowl
-drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and shake on some seasoning salt to taste.

Yummy!

[granada]

Thanks, ladies, for responding! DH and I could not agree about what to make, so we ended up going to the store and getting a fruit platter and a vegetable platter to take. Of course, after all that, there was so much food, they didn't even touch the stuff we brought. :rolleyes:

But, I will keep these recipes in mind for other occasions. And if anyone has anything to add, feel free. I'm sure other people may need this thread in the future. :)

[katmg]

I made a non-mayonnaise based coleslaw this weekend. Yum!

2 lbs. Cabbage

1/3 c. cider vinegar
2 T. sugar
1 ½ t. celery seed
¼ t. dry mustard
1 t. salt
black pepper to taste
2 cloves garlic, minced
¾ c. vegetable oil

4 oz. Bleu cheese

Whisk all the dressing ingredients except the oil together. Slowly pour oil into dressing while whisking to emulsify. (I didn't use the entire 3/4 c.) Chill cabbage and dressing. Right before serving pour dressing over cabbage. Sprinkle with bleu cheese.

(I'm not crazy about bleu cheese so I didn't use the entire 4 oz. but it was actually a nice flavor with the slaw. Feel free to omit if you dislike bleu cheese)

[Walton]

Another coleslaw recipe - really easy and always a crowd favorite!

Salad:
1 package coleslaw
1 package beef ramen noodles (uncooked and crushed into tiny pieces)
1 small package slivered almonds
3-4 chopped green onions

Dressing:
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup red wine vinagarette
beef packet from ramen noodles
1/3 cup sugar

Toss the salad ingredients and store in the refrigerator. Mix dressing ingredients well and mix with salad directly before serving.

[twainny]

I need help with side dishes. I can cook the main mean (chicken, beef....) but I have no clue when it comes to sides. We usually have rice, potatos, maybe some fruit, canned corn (or corn on the cob when in season), canned peas. I am bored just thinking about it. Can anyone help?

[Janey]

I try to keep our sides as healthy as possible. I'll usually do a pre-dinner salad, and then dinner will be protien and a veggie (or two, if I include "potato" as a vegetable). Fruit is usually a dessert item for us. Here's a few I veggie dishes that I do with some success:

- Roasted Southwest Potatoes. Super easy. Chunk up some Yukon Gold Potatoes and toss them in a bowl with some Southwest Seasonings. Spread out on a jelly roll pan. Put them in the oven at around 400 until they're nice and brown. FF Sour Cream for dipping, if you like.

- Green Veggies with Butter & Lemon Pepper. This works with any green vegetable. I use green beans, asparagus, broccoli, whatever happens to be on sale. I cut up the veggies, steam them in the steamer, and then saute them with a little Promise Light, and sprinkle on some Lemon Pepper.

- Trader Joe's Frozen Roasted Corn. Yum, yum.

- Roasted Root Vegetables: Cut up parsnips, carrots, onions, potatoes, and mushrooms. Toss in a bowl with a bit of olive oil and rosemary, thyme, sage, and black pepper. Put in baking dish, and put it in the oven with whatever protien you're making, until the veggies are tender. I usually do this when we're having pork roast; they seem to go well together.


I'm always looking for more sides, too -- my mother was a big fan of the "one-dish meal." I'm looking forward to see what the rest of you do for sides!

[houseblend]

One of my new favorite sides is Wilted Spinach. Basically you just heat some olive oil in a pan and throw the spinach in, then add some nutmeg, garlic and wine. Very healthy, too!

I also like to lightly "stir fry" some veggies - peppers, onions, green beans and squash in some olive oil and a tad of butter. You can just add salt and pepper or whatever other spices you like.

Another favorite is to spice up some brocolli with red hot pepper flakes.


I'll post back if I think of more.

[amew]

We tend to do a lots of:

*steamed or grilled asparagus (toss in olive oil, sea salt, and fresh pepper and grill until very slightly charred)
*garlic sauteed spinach (saute minced garlic in a pan, add a little water or chicken broth and a bag of baby spinach. cover for a few minutes until wilted then season with salt and pepper)
*roasted tomatoes (heat add a little olive oil in a wok then add cherry or grape tomatoes and stir-fry until the skins start to pop. add sea salt, fresh pepper, and fresh basil.)
*Barefoot Contessa's green beans with shallots
*Barefoot Contessa's garlic roasted potatoes
*zucchini slices sauteed with olive oil, salt, pepper, and a little grated parmesan
*broccoli -- steamed and tossed with salt and some red pepper flakes (like houseblend)
*roasted root vegetables (in the winter)
*grilled corn on the cob with fun flavored butters (the recipe on the cover of this month's Bon Appetit is very good)
*mashed, twice-baked, or baked potatoes

[bookworm]

I hate making side dishes--I do one-dish wonders whenever possible (or at least combine 2, like with stir-frys or risottos or whatever).

Having said that, tonight I'm making roasted asparagus (line baking sheet w/foil so no cleanup, and toss w/evoo, salt, & pepper) and roasted rosemary potatoes (also lined with foil :), just chop some garlic and rosemary & toss with evoo, salt, & pepper).

You can use the above technique for roasting most veggies--green beans, broccoli, onions, & peppers are the other ones I do semi-often.

My other veggie side dish is a Barefoot Contessa--zucchini with parmesan. I don't have it in front of me, but basically you saute some sweet onion, add zucchini, and toss it w/parmesan when you're done. It's good by itself or over pasta.

[laura]

We grill a lot of veggies. Some we put right on the grill, like asparagus or zucchini, and some I do in a foil packet w/ olive oil & garlic - good for mixed veggies, or any veggie + onions/peppers. Grilled portabella mushrooms are good, too. Stuffed tomatoes - arguably healthy, depending on what you stuff with. Cooking Light has a good recipe for "roasted asparagus in balsamic browned butter" that my husband loves, but I don't have right in front of me at the moment. We like a lot of the "Near East" brand box rice - rice pilaf, roasted chicken and garlic, garlic and herb, spanish, etc.

I generally do a main thing (usually meat, but not always) plus 2 sides, usually a starch like rice or potatoes and a veggie. We eat a mixed green salad after our meal every night, but if we're having something not amenable to side dishes (like pasta or pizza), then I just make a larger salad instead.

[Amaye]

I have gotten lots of recipes for chicken, fish and beef dishes. However, l really don't have a whole lot of side dish recipes. Can you please post your side dish recipes?

We usually eat lots of rice, potates and couscous but DH and I are trying to cut down on our carbs so if you have any low card side dish recipes, it will be greatly appreciated too!

p.s. It was DH's idea to post this request! HA! He finally thinks that l am not too crazy about this whole CC thing... ;)

[emmjay]

Do you want vegetable side dishes? I have a bunch of those.

Roasted Vegetables:

I usually use a mixture of 1 lb asparagus, 2 red bell peppers and 1 red onion all cut into 1" chunks. Put them on a cookie sheet or in a casserole dish, drizzle with olive oil, put a ton of salt and pepper on top, and roast at 425° for about 45 minutes or until they are starting to get browned and caramelized.

Parmesan Roasted Asparagus:

Ingredients
1 pound asparagus
1/8 tsp olive oil
1/2 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1 medium lemon(s)

Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400°.
If the stalks of the asparagus are thick, peel the bottom 1/2 of each. Lay them in a single layer on a sheet pan and spray with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes, until tender. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and return to the oven for another minute. Serve with lemon wedges.

Stir Fry Sauce for Veggies

Ingredients
1 Tbsp hoisin sauce
1 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp dry sherry
1 1/2 tsp honey
1 tsp cornstarch
1 1/2 tsp sesame oil
1 1/2 tsp ginger root
1 clove garlic clove(s)
1/2 cup scallion(s)
1 tsp sesame seeds

Instructions
Combine hoisin, soy, sherry, honey and cornstarch.
Heat oil.
Add ginger, garlic and scallions.
Add veggies.
Add sauce and cook 3 mins until thickened.
Add sesame seeds and toss to coat.

Espinacas con Garbanzos:
This is my version of a tapas dish from southern Spain.

1 package of frozen spinach, thawed and drained
1 14.5-oz can diced tomatoes
1 15-oz can chickpeas
1 minced onion
a TON of minced garlic
2 Tbsp cumin
salt and pepper.

Just heat everything through in a saucepan and serve.

[lauren f s]

I have the best green bean recipe. It is a huge hit at every family gathering and holidays.

Green Bean Bundles
3 cans whole grean beans
1 lb bacon, cut in 1/2
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. butter, melted
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1 tsp. soy sauce

Drain green baens. Form a bundle of 10 and wrap wiht a 1/2 piece of bacon. Put bundles in a casserole dish.

Mix last 4 ingredients and pour over bundles. Marinate overnight.

Bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes, until bacon is done.

[steviem]

Here are some quick, easy side dishes for the hot summer days:

Caprese Salad:
Slice tomatoes and top with a slice of fresh mozeralla cheese. Place a basil leaf on top and sprinkle with salt, pepper then drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I also like to buy roasted red & yellow peppers (you can find them in a jar) and add them on the side. Yum!

Corn Salad :
Place 4 ears of fresh corn on the cob in boiling water for 3 minutes. Remove and place in cold water to stop the cooking. Cut the corn kernals off the cob and add diced red onion and fresh basil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil, then add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and mix. It tastes best if you let it sit for at least 1 hr before serving. This dish is a hit at every party I go to! If you add more corn, simply increase the amount of oil and vinegar.

Have fun! :D

[Amaye]

Yum!!! l am definitely trying out some dishes this weekend.

Keep the recommendations coming!

TIA!

[Belm]

I love this spaghetti squash recipe and since they are in season (at least around here) it shouldn't be cost too much for this tasty side dish.

Taken from Allrecipes.com
Spaghetti Squash I

INGREDIENTS:
1 spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise and seeded
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes
3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
3 tablespoons sliced black olives
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet.
Place spaghetti squash cut sides down on the prepared baking sheet, and bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a sharp knife can be inserted with only a little resistance. Remove squash from oven, and set aside to cool enough to be easily handled.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Saute onion in oil until tender. Add garlic, and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, and cook only until tomatoes are warm.
Use a large spoon to scoop the stringy pulp from the squash, and place in a medium bowl. Toss with the sauteed vegetables, feta cheese, olives, and basil. Serve warm.

[lawyerlee]

That sounds awesome, Beth! :D


Here are some veggie side dish recipes I really like.

Spicy Broccoli with Garlic

1-1/2 pounds broccoli
4-1/2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper
1-1/2 tsp. vinegar

Peel and slice thick stems from 1-1/2 pounds broccoli; separate florets.

In a skillet, bring 3/4 cup of water to a simmer over medium-low heat. Add stems and florets; cook, covered, until bright green, 4 minutes.

Stir in olive oil, garlic, salt, and crushed red pepper. Cook 4 minutes.

Turn off heat; stir in vinegar.


Sweet Potato Wedges

3 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch wedges
1 clove garlic, crushed
1-1/2 Tbsp. olive oil
1/4 tsp. dried thyme
1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper
1/4 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the sweet potatoes with the garlic, olive oil, thyme, crushed red pepper, and salt.

Roast until soft, about 30 minutes.


Sesame Green Beans

1 pound green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
1-1/2 tsp. olive oil
1/2 mustard seeds
1-1/2 tsp. sesame seeds
2-3 tsp. minced fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper

Steam green beans, covered 3 minutes or until tender. Set aside. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add mustard seeds and sesame seeds; cook 1 minute or until seeds are toasted. Add ginger and garlic; cook 2 minutes. Add green beans, salt, and pepper to skillet; cook 1 minute or until heated through.


We LOVE this one!

Tomato Feta Salad

3 pints (6 cups) cherry tomatoes
3/4 pound feta cheese
1 small red onion, chopped
3 Tbsp. white wine or Champagne vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tso. freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbsp. minced fresh basil leaves
2 Tbsp. minced fresh parsley

Cut the cherry tomatoes in half and place them in a large bowl. Dice the feta in 1/4-inch cubes, crumbling it as little as possible. Add the feta to the tomatoes and then add the onion, vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, basil, and parsley. Toss carefully and salt to taste, depending on the saltiness of the feta. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

[Brandian]

I have to bring a dish to my DH' family Thanksgiving and I have no idea what to bring! I don't want to bring the usual green bean caserol or sweet potatoes.

Does anyone have any ideas for a yummy, yet pretty simple side dish?

[boilermaker]

My easy yet yummy stand-by is asparagus grilled in olive oil with sea salt. Looks so pretty on a nice long platter too.

[IrisHope]

Brandian, that's so funny! I'm making the greenbean casserole and the sweet potato pie!!

[myshel]

Some side dishes that regularly appear at my family's Thanksgiving Day dinners:

* corn-- yes, just regular, Green Giant frozen extra sweet niblets that are heated in a steamer

*jello salad-- jello with fruit, whipped topping, or layered in some way OR in some salad form (I have various recipes that I use)

* scalloped potatoes

* fresh cranberry salad

* dessert of some sort-- end possibilities

We don't really do a ton of fancy foods. Just a simple dinner that's pretty typical of of the Midwest.

[JNN]

I posted this in the Thanksgiving dinner thread.....but it's a wonderful side dish!!

Roasted Pears with Blue Cheese and Walnuts
4 pears, halved, but not peeled or cored
Extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 bunch fresh thyme
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup crumbled good-quality blue cheese
1/4 cup walnut pieces

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Arrange the pears, cut sides up, on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Strip the leaves from the thyme branches and sprinkle over the pears. Put the baking sheet in the oven and bake 20 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and spoon a generous teaspoon of crumbled cheese in the center of each pear half, return the pears to the oven and roast until they are tender and the cheese is soft, about 10 more minutes.

Meanwhile, put the walnuts on another baking sheet and toast in the oven until golden brown and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Chop. When the pears are cooked, transfer them to a serving plate and sprinkle the toasted walnuts over the top. Serve hot.

**From How to Boil Water**

[jellybeany]

This is one that I like to make to bring places and its pretty easy to make. I usually leave out the cheese though :)

Corn Casserole
1 (15 1/4-ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (14 3/4-ounce) can cream-style corn
1 (8-ounce) package corn muffin mix (recommended: Jiffy)
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1 to 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl, stir together the 2 cans of corn, corn muffin mix, sour cream, and melted butter. Pour into a greased casserole dish. Bake for 45 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and top with Cheddar. Return to oven for 5 to 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Let stand for at least 5 minutes and then serve warm.

[msnicolea]

That's Paula Dean's recipe, right? I have made that and it is goooooooooooooooood! (but I don't leave out the cheese)

That Paula--it's all about health for her! ;)

Corn pudding is another great option.

[sublime311]

My mom's take on baked mashed potatoes is always a big hit during the holidays! So incredibly yummy!

Potato Casserole

Mix together and spoon into a 13x9 baking pan (we use a glass one):

10 medium to large potatoes (cooked and mashed as usual)
1 8oz cream cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 t garlic salt
1 t onion salt
Pats of butter and paprika for the top

Bake 350-400 until hot and brown on top.

[tqsmom]

Sauted green beans?? I blanch fresh or frozen green beans, drain them, and add them to a hot pan with some olive oil, garlic (powder or minced), onion (again powder or minced), salt and pepper.

They are crisp and really really good. A nice change from green bean casserole too.

You could add some bacon or red pepper flakes if you wanted some variations too.

[wine_o_girlie]

Martha Stewart was making these twice baked sweet potatoes on the Today show this week and I thought they sounded really good. I would probably cut the sweet potato in half completely so that a guest could take just one half and save room for the rest of the dinner!

Here's a link to her recipe - http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtml?type=content&id=recipe1520140&contentGroup=MSL&site=living

I have also made a corn casserole similar to Paula Deen's (I leave out the stick of butter and it's still great) and it always goes over well.

[shaqangel]

can someone post their green bean casserole recipe pls!
thanks!

[sublime311]

can someone post their green bean casserole recipe pls!
thanks!
My mom's GBC is super yummy!

Green Bean Casserole

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup chopped onion
2-4 oz sliced mushrooms, drained (reserve liquid)
1-5 oz can water chestnuts, drained
2 pkgs French cut green beans (frozen)

Sauce:
4 T butter
1/3 cup flour
1 t salt
1/2 t pepper
1 c milk
2 cups shredded cheese
2 t soy sauce
1/2 t Tobasco sauce
1 can french fried onions

In 1/2 c butter, saute the mushrooms, onions, and chestnuts. Mix in beans.

For the cream sauce:

Melt 4 T butter, stir in flour, salt, and pepper. Gradually add reserved mushroom liquid and milk - stirring until smooth. Add shredded cheese, soy and Tobasco sauce. Stir until cheese melts.

Spoon 1/2 of green bean mixture into 13x9 baking dish, add 1/2 of the cream sauce. Add remaining green been mixture and top with remaining sauce and cover with French fried onions.

Bake at 350 for 1/2 hour.

[jimmysgirl424]

I made this casserole for DH's family Thanksgiving dinner the first year he and I were together. It is a pretty unique recipe and guaranteed to get attention at the dinner table. Anyway, it was a hit and I will be making it again this year; for the fourth year in a row! :)



Butternut Squash Bake



4 servings

50 minutes 15 mins prep



2 cups diced butternut squash
1/2 cup mayonnaise, not low fat
1/2 cup finely minced onions
1 egg
2 teaspoons sugar
salt and pepper
1/4 cup crushed saltines
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon butter, melted

Cover squash with water and cook until tender, about 25 minutes.
Drain well; place in large bowl.
Mix mayonnaise, onion, egg, sugar, salt and pepper.
Add to squash; mix well.
Place in greased 1 qt baking dish.
Mix crumbs, cheese, and butter.
Sprinkle on top.
Bake uncovered at 350* for 35 minutes.

[Anna Low]

Hi,

I do pretty well with entrees, salads and desserts. However, I am generally at a loss for side dishes. We don't eat a lot of carbs (i.e. not a lot of rice, pasta or potatoes), but we are getting sick of green beans or mixed vegetables!

Does anyone have interesting side dishes to share?

[andrew&shannah]

I'm not great at sides that don't contain carbs but here are some of our frequently used side dishes (right now most of them are grilled or cold because of the great weather):

Grilled red, yellow, and orange peppers (i add in mushrooms for mine)
corn (grilled or otherwise)
salads (so easy to change these)
edamame with rock salt
cucumber salad (from EF)
lima beans (we add lemon juice and a little cheese)
3 bean salad
black eyed pea salad (EF)
glazed carrots
mixed fruit

[Nanner]

Since summer is here, I thought I'd post my favorite BBQ side dish. Found this one on Allrecipes.com a few years ago.

Apple Cole Slaw

3 cups chopped cabbage
1 unpeeled red apple, cored and chopped
1 unpeeled Granny Smith apple, cored and chopped
1 carrot, grated
1/2 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
2 green onions, finely chopped
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice, or to taste

DIRECTIONS:
In a large bowl, combine cabbage, red apple, green apple, carrot, red bell pepper, and green onions. In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise, brown sugar, and lemon juice. Pour dressing over salad.



If I'm in a hurry, I'll buy the bag of pre-shredded cabbage/carrots and it works just fine.

[Rosebud]

I made this for a dinner party this weekend and everyone really liked it. It's super easy (since most of it comes from a box), healthy and tasty.

Wild Rice Salad

1 box Uncle Ben's Wild Rice (or another brand-- just make sure it's wild rice)
3/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped
3/4 cup pecans, chopped
3/4 cup celery, chopped

Prepare the rice according to package directions. Fold in the cranberries, nuts and celery. Transfer to a platter and serve.

Serves 4

[vwinkel]

I am always in search of a new side dish. We typically grill a lot of our vegetables (even in winter).

Grilled Vegetables
Mushrooms (I leave these whole since they shrink up when grilled)
Asparagus (if thickness is wider than a sharpie marker, I cut in half lengthwise)
Eggplant
Red Onion (sliced in 1/4 - 1/2 inch slices)
Red Pepper

Kosher Salt
Fresh Ground Pepper
Olive Oil
Balsamic Vinegar

Toss with olive oil, kosher salt (it is flat and will stick better to your veggies), and fresh ground pepper. Grill at med-high heat in a grill pan until done. Sprinkle with balsamic vinegar to taste. Sprinkle with kosher salt and pepper again. Serve.

I buy my veggies to grill based on what I'm in the mood for or what is on sale. I often have this as my entire dinner!

--------------------

I'm a fan of the Lipton Pasta side - Parmesan flavor. It's quick and easy and works well with a cooked chicken breast.
http://www.liptonfavorites.com/images/products/packshots/thumb_PS_parmesan.jpg

--------------------

Here are a couple I posted in the Tried and True Thread. Awesome Cranberry and Sausage Stuffing (http://www.constantchatter.com/showthread.php?p=498840&highlight=bacon+topped+green+bean+casserole#post49 8840)is from allrecipes.com and the Bacon Topped Green Bean casserole (http://www.constantchatter.com/showthread.php?p=498840&highlight=bacon+topped+green+bean+casserole#post49 8840)was from someone here on CC but I can't find the thread. It is similar to lauren f s's recipe.

[Missy2U]

vwinkel, I love the Lipton Pasta Sides (http://products.peapod.com/560.html) as well.

Right now, our favorite is the Tomato/Parmesan - we're having it tonight, as a matter of fact. One of the things I love about ALL of them is that it will feed two adults and a teenager - no leftovers. :)

Here's a fix from scratch side that my son also loves:

I mix about two cups of cooked rice with a can of cream of mushroom soup, 1/2 can of milk, a small chopped onion, and a cup and a half of cheddar cheese (shredded). Put it in the oven at 350 and bake it until it's bubbly - then I put the extra 1/2 C of cheese on it and bake until it's brown. It's very filling. And cheesy. Which explains why the kid likes it.

[SingleWhiteFemale]

Asparagus wrapped in bacon: Wash asparagus and snap off woody ends. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper. Bundle 4-6 spears together, and wrap with a slice of bacon. Place on a wire rack on top of a baking pan (so that when the fat drips off the bacon, it isn't laying in the grease), and place in an oven preheated to 400 degrees. Cook 12-20 minutes, dependant upon how you like your bacon cooked. I'll usually cook 18-20 minutes, then place under the broiler for a minute to "crisp" up the bacon to this family's liking.

[Adaya]

Asparagus wrapped in bacon: Wash asparagus and snap off woody ends. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper. Bundle 4-6 spears together, and wrap with a slice of bacon. Place on a wire rack on top of a baking pan (so that when the fat drips off the bacon, it isn't laying in the grease), and place in an oven preheated to 400 degrees. Cook 12-20 minutes, dependant upon how you like your bacon cooked. I'll usually cook 18-20 minutes, then place under the broiler for a minute to "crisp" up the bacon to this family's liking.

OMG, I want that right now!!

[mrstim]

I recently went through past menus and wracked my brain for a list of dishes we eat. Here's the Side Dish portion of the spreadsheet of what I can do for side dishes. We're very plain, country-eating people, so I don't do a whole lot of fancier sides, just plain jane stuff. Hope this can help someone!

asparagus
baked beans
baked potatoes
boiled cabbage
broasted potatoes
Brocolli &cheese
Brocolli rice casserole
Brussel Sprouts
Butter Beans
buttered New potatoes
Carrots
Cheesy bread
Coleslaw
Corn on the Cob
Cornbread
Creamed Corn
English Peas
French Fries
Fried Corn
Fried Okra
fried potatoes
Fried Squash
Garlic Bread
Garlic cheese biscuits
Green Beans
Lima Beans
Macaroni n Cheese
macaroni salad
mashed potatoes
Pinto beans
potato salad
refried beans
Rice
Rolls
Salad
Steak Fries
steamed veggies
sweet potato
Tater Tots
Turnip Greens
Veggie Lo mein
wilted salad

[ausi2b]

MrsTim - what is fried corn and how do you make it? :)

[mrstim]

I grow my own sweet corn and put it up in the freezer off the cob and on the cob. Fried Corn is where I put just enough oil in the bottom of my skillet and when it begins to get hot, I put the cold, uncooked corn in the oil. I just stir it around, adding water when it gets drier, and cook it about 15--20 minutes until it's tender and most of the water has cooked out. I then salt and pepper it. That's all!

[ausi2b]

Mmm ... that sounds delicious!!

[Janey]

Lately we've really been enjoying Near East Couscous (http://www.neareast.com/home.html) as a side dish. Yes, it's from a box, but it's all-natural and there is no 'crap' in them. It was actually an idea I got from someone in the "What did you have for dinner last night" thread.



ETA - mrstim, recipe for Garlic cheese biscuits please! :D

[Adaya]

I love fried corn. It's a regular in my house actually. Growing up, my mom and aunts made it a lot and it was soooooo yummy! Patti Labelle has a pretty good recipe in her cookbook. I'll see if I can find it online.

mrstim, I make mine pretty similar to yours. Sometimes I'll use a little bacon fat instead if I'm being naughty and I'll add some chopped green pepper or jalapeno for more flavor.

[andrew&shannah]

Lately we've really been enjoying Near East Couscous (http://www.neareast.com/home.html) as a side dish. Yes, it's from a box, but it's all-natural and there is no 'crap' in them. It was actually an idea I got from someone in the "What did you have for dinner last night" thread.


We are huge Near East fans too! The Parmesan Couscous is one of my favorites. We also do some of their rice pilafs.

[mrstim]

Garlic Cheese Biscuits
2 cups buttermilk baking mix
2/3 cup milk
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Combine baking mix, milk and cheddar cheese in mixing bowl. Beat with wooden spoon till soft dough forms. Drop dough by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes until golden brown. Mix butter and garlic powder and brush over warm biscuits before removing from cookie sheet.

I've also done these and put just a dab of garlic powder inside the dough before baking it, to add a little extra garlicy taste! White Lily also has a mix that you can buy that I think you just add milk to it that is pretty good too, if I'm in a real hurry! :D

[Missy2U]

mrstim, does Bisquick work with that recipe too? I'm not quite sure if that's what buttermilk baking mix is. :o

[Rosebud]

This recipe is featured in the new issue of Fine Cooking. The photo that accompanies it looks AMAZING! Just wanted to share.

Grilled Sourdough Panzanella

A perfect marriage of bread and tomatoes.

4 1/2-inch thick slices of sourdough loaf
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 small shallot, sliced into thin rings
3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
1 small garlic clove, coarsely chopped
1.5 pounds ripe, meaty tomatoes diced (about 3.5 cups)
1 small English cucumber, seeded and diced (about 1.5 cups)
3 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil
3 Tbsp. chopped fresh mint
2 Tbsp capers, drained and rinsed

Heat a gas grill with all burners on medium.* Brush the bread with 1/4 cup of the oil and season it with 1/4 tsp. salt and a few grinds of pepper. Grill the bread on both sides until nicely browned, 3-4 minutes per side. Cool and cut into 1/2 inch cubes.

In a small bowl, soak the shallot in the vinegar for 10 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer the shallot to a large bowl, reserving the vinegar. Sprinkle the garlic with 1/4 tsp. salt and mash it into a paste on a cutting board with the side of a knife. Whisk the mashed garlic, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 tsp. salt and 1/8 tsp pepper into the reserved vinegar.

Toss the bread cubes, tomatoes, cucumber, basil, mint, capers and vinaigrette in the bowl with the shallot. Season the panzanella to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

Yields about 6 cups

* If you don't feel like grilling the bread, you can toast it in a grill pan or under a low broiler.

[TriSigmaNC]

I typically do:

Canned Green Beans
Fresh Asparagus
Canned Asparagus
Grilled corn
Zucchini grilled or seared
Baked Sweet potatoes
Buttered potatoes (just cube, boil, drain, mix with butter)
Roasted potatoes (boil whole potatoes, cube, spice, bake till crisper)
Near East Cous Cous
Brown Rice
Rice Pilaf
Mac and Cheese (elbows and mix in cheez whiz)

[wine_o_girlie]

Rosebud - that sounds great, and perfect for summer! :)