Side Dish Recipes
Maple Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Maple Mashed Sweet Potatoes are vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free, and full of amazing flavor. Leftovers reheat well and can even be used for satisfying breakfast bowls. During a recent foray into my sons’ closets, I uncovered a bag of clothes that appeared as good as new. Though both of my sons had worn the assortment…
Roasted Delicata Squash & Pomegranate Salad
Radiant jewel tones make this versatile salad as stunning as it is healthy. It’s equally perfect on a holiday table or paired with a simple protein any night of the week. Feel free to substitute any winter squash (or even sweet potatoes) or use dried cranberries in place of pomegranate! The process…
Threaded Hot Dog or Sausage Spaghetti (aka “Spider Dogs”)
Move over meatballs! This squirmy pasta dish makes a fun project for kids and a crowd-pleasing Halloween-themed meal. For a more “mature” version, substitute your favorite cooked sausage for the hot dogs. I’m pretty sure a spoonful of laughter and silliness makes any dinner taste better –and when the preparation of that meal can…
Whole Foods’ Kale Waldorf Salad
This mayo-free variation of the classic Waldorf salad introduces kale to the mix and incorporates apples and nuts into the dressing for a creamy consistency with natural sweetness. The recipe card includes Whole Foods’ original version along with some adaptations I have come to enjoy. If you live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania as I do,…
How to Roast Any Vegetable
When prepared well, roasted vegetables can be serious comfort food – and they can be used well beyond the satisfying side dish that they naturally are. This convenient guide offers cooking times, temperatures, helpful hints and lots of delicious ideas to make the most of inexpensive, healthy, versatile veggies! (Scroll down to see the guide…
Lentil Salad for all Seasons
Light yet filling and endlessly adaptable, this protein-rich lentil salad will delight plant-based eaters and meat lovers alike! As summer fades and we trade flip-flops for fleece jackets, the items on our weekly grocery list begin to change too. During these waning days of summer, I try to resist the pull of hearty stews…
Avocado Tomato Salsa
Keep this super simple salsa recipe in your back pocket all year round to add flavor and flare to chicken, fish, beans, salads, eggs, and in place of guacamole in your favorite south-of-the-border fare. Perfect as a dip with tortilla chips, too! My family always enjoys something saucy on grilled meats, and the following…
Low Carb Mock Potato Salad
A delicious alternative to traditional potato salad, mock potato salad is a perfect accompaniment to burgers, grilled chicken, steak, and pulled pork and offers advance prep convenience. No amount of Mom’s savory brown butter sauce could save the day when steamed cauliflower appeared on my childhood dinner plate. But even though I once wrote it…
Zucchini Noodles Made Easy
This simplified method of creating zucchini noodles yields wide ribbons that require nothing more than a quick sear and a sprinkle of salt and pepper – yet they serve as a fine foundation for a plethora of other toppings too. What’s the only month without a holiday? As simple as this recent crossword puzzle clue…
Tomato & White Bean Salad with Basil Vinaigrette
Healthy and endlessly adaptable Tomato & White Bean Salad with Basil Vinaigrette comes together in a flash thanks to my favorite basil vinaigrette — but your favorite pesto offers a quick fix all year round. Sometimes, we just need a meal to come together FAST, and this fresh-tasting, protein- and veggie-rich salad does just that! When I…
Quick Pickled Corn
Quick Pickled Corn is an easy-to-make condiment that will perk up burgers, tacos, and salads…and it tastes great by the spoonful, too! Corn on the cob is the quintessential summer vegetable. Who doesn’t love biting into a hot, buttery ear on a warm summer night? It’s a little package of perfection that requires…
Refrigerator Dill Pickles
No canner needed for these crisp, tangy Refrigerator Dill Pickles. Once the spices are assembled, they come together in a snap…and might just become a new summertime favorite! Have you heard that Cleopatra thought eating pickles made her beautiful? Or that Christopher Columbus rationed pickles during his famous voyage in order to prevent his…
