Side Dish Recipes

The Easiest Arugula Salad

The simplest of vinaigrettes provides exceptional flavor in this crunchy, creamy, peppery, nutrient-dense salad that is so much more than the sum of its parts. (Video included!)   This salad can be whipped up in a flash, yet when served, people tend to think it’s something special. Don’t you love it when that happens? The…

Roasted Beet & Green Bean Salad

Clever cooking techniques, make-ahead convenience, and lots of options add to the appeal of this vibrant salad. The versatile vinaigrette is an absolute keeper that comes together quickly with basic pantry items.   One of the first things I learned when I started The Fountain Avenue Kitchen in 2012 was just how polarizing certain foods can…

Chicken Chip Bake

Easy-to-make comfort food at its best, this family friendly chicken dish has stood the test of time…and got a little lighter along the way! I was in high school when I scribbled the following recipe on a piece of pink scrap paper as my grandmother prepared it in her kitchen. That was the original Fountain…

Easiest Vegan Zucchini Fritters

Inexpensive, easy-to-make fritters start with two base ingredients and make an endlessly customizable, protein-rich side or vegan entree.   Two main ingredients get you started with these healthy fritters, and then you can experiment with all sorts of combinations. Adding to the appeal, the easy-to-make recipe will pull double duty as a crowd-pleasing side or vegan…

Loaded Zoodle Bowls

A bowlful of zucchini noodles serves as a low-carb base for all sorts of flavors, textures, and colorful additions. The bowls make a deliciously satisfying plant-based meal, although meat may be added if desired. Don’t have a spiralizer? Don’t worry. There’s an easy alternative!       Hot summer days call for cool meals and…

Chicken Quinoa Bowls with Honey Lime Vinaigrette

What do you get when you add a variety of proteins, a whole grain, and lots of colorful veggies to a bowl and then drizzle it with a simple vinaigrette? A satisfying, all-in-one meal that you’ll want to make again and again!   May I tell you how many times I’ve chopped up some leftover chicken,…

Zucchini Pizza Boats

Looking for more ways to enjoy an abundance of zucchini? Healthy eating never tasted so good thanks to this kid-friendly, adult-approved, pizza-inspired meal that comes together with ease. And just like your favorite pizza, these boats can be customized to fit a variety of eating styles and individually topped to suit personal preferences.   This…

Corn and Cucumber Salad with Basil and Chives

Quite possibly the easiest summer salad with the biggest reward, this fresh-tasting bowl comes together in minutes and has been a favorite with readers–and my family–for years! Summertime cooking should be easy. Ideally, it should also be fresh, crisp, and flavorful. This salad is all of those things. It’s also the reason why I always…

The Best Vegan Caesar Salad

Hearty and healthy with flavor reminiscent of a 5-star restaurant, this vegan salad is sure to appeal to all types of diners. It may just become a menu staple at your house and is 100% worthy of company.   This might just be the salad of the summer, and for so many important reasons. Jenné…

Seared Asparagus Ribbons with Butter and Soy

A clever method of cutting asparagus and a super simple sauce creates a memorable dish that, when served over rice, stands somewhere between comfort food and culinary bliss!   You’ve likely heard of the James Beard awards. The prestigious awards are given annually to recognize chefs, restaurateurs, authors, and journalists in the United States. But who is the…

Healthy Refried Beans

Quick and easy to make with pantry staples, homemade refried beans add filling, plant-based protein to a variety of meals and form the flavorful foundation to one of my go-to speedy dinners!   Beans can be a hard sell for some. Their reputation precedes them and they don’t look especially pretty. So if you happen…

Roasted Curried Cauliflower

Simply roasted cauliflower is nutty and delicious as is, but this nutritious, cruciferous vegetable soars to new heights when tossed in this flavor-packed spice mixture. Loaded with warm, bright flavor, it takes mere minutes to prepare and can be transformed into a filling meatless meal with a few easy additions.   The only thing better…

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