What fun my friends and my husband and I had this weekend with our Asian Dinner Party! I tried out some of my newest Asian recipes with our guests. We had a blast trying the new dishes, drinking wine and champagne, and generally enjoying each other’s company. Join us for an Asian Dinner Party The…
This Beef veggie salad with pear Gorgonzola dressing is not your average salad. It is gorgeous, and also packs a healthy and tasty punch with the great tasting salad dressing. If you are trying to lose some weight, eating salads for lunch is a good choice. You can load up on tons of healthy low…
This Roasted Carrot salad is super easy to make and so delicious. Your family will ask for this recipe as a side dish again and again. I love roasting almost all vegetables. It seems to bring out the natural sweetness in them. If your kids don’t like veggies, try roasting them. You may be surprised to…
Pork and vegetable fried rice is a staple of most Chinese restaurants. But you don’t need to rely on takeaway to enjoy it. Just make your own. It is pretty easy to do and tastes great. Best of all no MSG which most Chinese restaurants use. Keep reading to find out how to make this…
Are you looking for the perfect bite sized portions of your favorite recipes? The muffin tin recipes below make portion control a breeze. Muffin tins are not just for muffins anymore. There are loads of creative ways to use your ingredients and then cook them in a muffin tin. The finished recipe is a handy…
This recipe for creamy garlic mashed potatoes is a slimmed-down version of the original recipe. Light sour cream and skim milk are the secrets to keeping the fat in check but not losing any of the flavor. The potatoes are cooked with garlic cloves in fat free chicken stock to give additional flavor and then…
This cucumber mint sauce is the perfect side dish to tone down the heat of any Indian food recipe. The cool taste of the yoghurt combines with the cucumber mint and garlic to give a refreshing change from spicy foods. It’s a great way to use up cucumbers with a bitter taste, or those that…
Whenever I go to Ruby Tuesday or The Red Lobster restaurant, I always look forward to their cheesy herb biscuits. I decided to try and make an approximation of them that would not break my calorie bank. These biscuits are savory and slightly rich but have far less calories than the restaurant version. Cheesy Herb…
I first discovered hasselback potatoes 30 years ago in Australia. They were all the rage. For some reason, it took a while for them to start appearing here but they have been a popular way of cooking potatoes for a while now. This recipe for bacon cheddar hasselback potatoes is fully loaded and takes my…
When the harvest is booming, roasted garden vegetables are on my menu. Roasting brings out their natural sweetness and is so easy to do. It’s that time of the year again! So many things are ready from the garden to put on the table. Tonight it is a recipe for roasted baby potatoes, with onions…
Looking for an easy recipe for hash browns to cook for a Sunday Brunch? These delicious hash brown potatoes are so simple to make and the fresh herbs make them taste just great. Sunday morning is a special time for us at our house. We normally go out to eat for breakfast as a treat…
It’s featured recipe time. This one comes from my friend who used to blog at an international recipe site called Molly Mel. Regina is a fabulous cook and many of her recipes are Brazilian in nature. Most are easy to do and look just delicious. Regina submitted this gluten free treat called Pão de Queijo. …
These potato recipes will give you lots of ideas for cooking this humble vegetable. I’ve always been a meat and potatoes kind of gal. No matter how I do them, I always feels as though the potatoes are the star of the dish. Potatoes can be cooked so many ways. They always make a great…
Caramelized mushrooms are one of my favorite side dishes. Who doesn’t love the delicious taste of these slowly cooked mushrooms that take on a lovely caramel color and a boat load of amazing flavor. This recipe is super easy to make and a must have addition to any side dishes recipe collection. Cooking mushrooms this way…
If you have never made focaccia, you are in for a treat. This Italian flat bread has a consistency somewhat like a pizza crust but the flavor of the dough is just incredible, with the blend of rosemary, oregano and basil. I’m not a huge fan of pizza because it normally has a tomato based…
These roasted herb potatoes with Parmesan cheese make a wonderful side dish for any protein choice. I make roasted herb potatoes all the time. Each time I do them, I do something a little differently with the recipe. Sometimes, they are just roasted with herbs. Other times, I use mustard and other spicy marinades. I…
These roasted root vegetable bring out the sweetness of any vegetable choice. Use them as a side dish or as part of a salad. Printable Recipe – Slimmed Down Roasted Root Vegetables When my daughter is visiting, we often go to a local restaurant in Raleigh called Lily’s Pizza. The restaurant is located in Five…
I was born in Maine and had never heard of this version of a sweet potato casserole until I moved to North Carolina. I went to a pot luck dinner at my daughter’s school and took one taste and said “what is this? It is delicious.” Everyone was amazed that I did not know what…
This recipe for colorful sauteed Swiss chard is brimming with the flavor of garlic, onions and Chardonnay wine for an easy and refreshing side dish. Swiss chard has a taste that is quite similar to spinach or beet greens, with stems that are slightly sweet and taste almost like bok choy. It is a wonderful addition…
I love mushroom side dishes and am always looking for new and interesting ways to cook them. This recipe for mushrooms and garlic with brandy and thyme is my latest addition to my arsenal and it is delicious. Printable recipe: mushrooms and garlic with brandy and thyme The recipe is fast and easy to do….
These potato nachos substitute sliced potatoes for tortilla chips. The end result is a very savory and tasty dish that can be used as a party starter or a side dish. Printable Recipe: Potato Nachos with Re-fried Beans I first discovered this recipe years ago and it was described as a form of nachos but…
These sauteed carrots would make a sensational side dish for any protein course. Vegetarians will love this recipe too. Sauteed Carrots with Fresh Dill I love recipes that can be put together in just minutes. This easy side dish comes together in just minutes. It is naturally gluten free and tastes amazing. For a Vegan…
This recipe for roasted root vegetables is easy and delicious. They are very easy to prepare and make a great side dish for any protein choice. Printable Recipe – Roasted Root Vegetables with Rosemary and Garlic. I love roasting most of our vegetables. The slow cooking process reduces the vegetables natural flavors. I made a…
This recipe for tomato and mozzarella salad with basil will take just a few minutes to prepare but will delight your guests. Printable Recipe: Tomato and Mozzarella Salad with Basil Assemble your ingredients: Fresh tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, olive oil, basil, kosher salt and black pepper. Slice the tomatoes and the cheese. Alternate the tomato…
Have you looked at the ingredients in a package of store bought taco seasoning mix? Ugh…all those chemicals! Why not make your own with a similar mix of spices and none of the bad stuff? Printable Recipe – DIY Taco Seasoning This recipe is so easy. Just measure out the spices, combine them in a…
This recipe for Thai Vegetable Rice makes a great dish for oriental inspired main courses. It has a nice mix of veggies and the chopped peanuts over the top give it the distinct Thai flavor. The recipe is fast and easy to do. You can use either leftover white rice or brown rice if you…