From the category archives:

Side Dishes

Roasted Winter Veggies

December 28, 2009

The icy, wintery air outside gives me cravings for hearty, soothing meals that warm the soul. Some of my favorite winter treats are also the simplest to make. Roasted winter vegetables require little prep time and even less money before sitting down to a hot, comforting dinner. They are also an easy side dish to [...]

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Southern Tomato Pie

September 1, 2009

While visiting my boyfriend’s family in N.C., his mom made us a homemade tomato pie. It was a delicious, savory pie and was exactly the kind of southern food I had been craving. It was also a great way to showcase her beautiful, homegrown summer tomatoes.
As a preliminary matter, I must tell you that [...]

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Homegrown Salt and Pepper Tomatoes

August 27, 2009

Tomatoes epitomize summer and I can’t think of a better hot-weather food than a ripe tomato fresh off the vine. This summer, my boyfriend and I grew our own tomato plants and lately we’ve been enjoying the literal fruits of our labor.
Because tomatoes are so delicious on their own, they don’t need much extra [...]

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Panko Fried Green Tomatoes

August 13, 2009

I’m obsessed with frying foods in panko these days. After the success I had with the panko fried okra, I’ve been on the hunt for new foods that I can batter up and fry in these delightful Japanese style breadrumbs. Panko is light and super crunchy and seems to turn out less greasy than foods [...]

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Keep It Simple Guacamole

August 11, 2009

Fresh always tasts better than premade (even if it’s premade at Whole Foods). So, when you are craving guacamole, make it fresh rather than picking up something premade. Not only does it taste better, it’s better for you and it costs less.
Guacamole is so easy to make and can be whipped up in a matter [...]

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Creamy Cauliflower with Thyme

August 6, 2009

Creamed cauliflower is a great alternative to mashed potatoes. Less carbs, just as filling and doesn’t weigh you down. Plus, it’s easy to make and is ready in about 20 min. I whipped up a batch the other night to serve with some baked ginger salmon (see recipe below) and steamed asparagus. It was the [...]

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Easy Tzatziki

July 17, 2009

Tzatziki is a taditional middle eastern yogurt dip served as an appetizer or as a sauce eaten with meat and falafel dishes. It can also be eaten with couscous and pita. I ate mine with a falafel sunshine burger. This dish is quick and easy to make and requires few ingredients.
Ingredients: (Serves [...]

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Lentil and Rice Salad

July 14, 2009

Inspired by Bella’s lentil salad, I decided to make my own version. I love lentils because they cook up quickly, unlike other legumes, and they transition beautifully from season to season. For this recipe, I basically followed Bella’s method, but I mixed up some of the flavorings to make it more of an earthy, spicy [...]

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Summer Squash Gratin

July 10, 2009

I love summer vegetables so when I found Heidi’s recipe for squash gratin, I knew I had to try it. I made a few small adjustments according to what I had on hand- used store bought breadcrumbs and added cinnamon and coriander to the mix (I’m loving coriander lately). I also subbed a butternut squash [...]

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Panko fried Okra

July 6, 2009

My boyfriend’s mom is sweet enough to bring frozen veggies from her farm whenever she visits D.C. Last time she visited, she brought okra so we wanted to put it to good use.
Okra can be difficult to prepare and somewhat unappetizing because it has a moist, slimy texture. But, the moisture in okra is [...]

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