Battered Potatoes

I was surprised at how delicious these little potato bites were. As a testimony to their ultimate yumminess–all five of my children ate them. (With appropriate amounts of ketchup of course.) These are great little tidbits if you’re looking to serve something for a party or as an appetizer. I think the secret is in the salt blend and what is nice about that is you can customize your own version. In my version, I don’t use pepper because my kids don’t like it. But of course, if you like pepper–pepper away! You will need: 8 medium potatoes 2 cups … Continue reading →

Super Simple Sides

If you are looking for an easy side dish to serve with your glazed Easter ham or spicy Easter lamb then you’ve come to the right place. The following recipes are not only super simple to prepare they are also easy on your wallet. The first dish take less than 30 minutes to make and calls for only a handful of ingredients. However, its simplicity only adds to the dish’s overall flavor. The trick is finding the walnut oil. I buy my flavored oils from gourmet stores, but every once in a while you can find walnut oil at larger … Continue reading →

Two Side Dishes That Make the Dinner

Are you a one dish Betty, preferring to schlop all of your vegetables, meat and potatoes in one casserole dish? Don’t get me wrong, casseroles have their place at our dinner table. They are quick, easy and can often be prepped ahead of time. On the other hand, it sets a certain mood to have dinner where there is one main meat and several delicious side dishes. These particular side dishes go well with anything, are fairly easy to prep and will complete your meal with a touch of elegance! Sauteed Spinach and Mushrooms You will need: 3 tablespoons butter … Continue reading →

Last-Minute EASY Thanksgiving Side Dishes

There are some Thanksgiving dishes you just don’t mess with. Grandma’s pumpkin pie, mom’s mashed potatoes, Aunt Sue’s stuffing, you get the idea. They’re the Thanksgiving staples deeply rooted in family tradition. But, over the years as our family has grown (and new people have joined our clan) we’ve come to incorporate other non-tradiional dishes to the buffet table. If your Thanksgiving menu looks a little slim consider adding these two dishes to your spread. They are super simple to make and you likely have the ingredients in your kitchen right now. What’s more, they make for wonderful leftovers–that is … Continue reading →

Thanksgiving Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are a staple at the Thanksgiving dinner table. Well, I take that back. Potatoes are a staple at the Thanksgiving dinner table. I am actually rather biased against plain old mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving. I like mashed potatoes, love them as a matter of fact, but I just feel like for such an extravagant meal, you could do better than smashed up roots. With that said, here are my offerings for perfect mashed potatoes, and some other dressed up versions. Perfect Mashed Potatoes You will need: 10-12 mashed potatoes ½ to 1 stick of butter ¼ cup of … Continue reading →

Whole Wheat Stuffing with Roasted Veggies

For the last year, I’ve really been trying to systematically sneak more fruits and vegetables into our family’s diet. You’d think the kids would be the worst, and while I have one horribly picky eater, the truth is it’s my husband who is really bad about eating his veggies. He simply doesn’t. They sit right there on his plate and wait. . .only to be gobbled up by one of the twins. (Because you know that food on a parents’ plate is infinitely more appetizing than food on their own plates.) Coincidentally, for the first time ever since we’ve been … Continue reading →

Au Gratin Sweet Peas

In a holiday rut? Are you tired of the same old menu every single year—sometimes twice in two months? Are you sick of green bean casserole? If you’re looking for a delightfully different side-dish to serve at this year’s holiday gathering, consider au gratin sweet peas. They’re sweet, creamy, and delicious! They’ll leave your guests pleasantly surprised and give you, the chef, a new side dish to prepare any time you want to change things up a little. Best of all, you’ll be eating your peas—your mother would be proud. For this recipe you’ll need: 2 Tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon … Continue reading →

Macaroni and Cheese Bake

A good Macaroni and Cheese bake should be formed but creamy. I have eaten macaroni and cheese bake that was formed but very dry. I have also eaten this dish too creamy and not formed. It was like eating a runny macaroni and cheese with onions. Here is a great recipe that will leave your Macaroni and Cheese Bake creamy and formed, not dry. You will need: 1 Cup elbow macaroni 1/4 Cup finely chopped onion 1 Tbsp Butter 1 Tbsp flour 1&1/4 Cup Milk 6-8 slices of American Cheese 1/4 teaspoon pepper salt Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. … Continue reading →

Two more mashed potato recipes for your holiday table

Recipe 2: Herb Infused Mashed Potatoes **The recipes below call for a food mill. If you don’t have one, you can find one at your local cookery or hardware shop. Or, if you prefer, you may mash your potatoes with a hand masher or may use an electric mixer. You’ll need: 4 pounds russet (brown) potatoes, peeled and diced into one-inch pieces 1 ½ cups whole milk ½ cup herb infused oil (make your own by blending ¼ cup fresh herbs and 1-cup olive oil until finely pureed. Strain with cheese cloth and keep in a sealed jar). ½ tsp. … Continue reading →

Mashed Potatoes – The basics

A holiday just isn’t the same without creamy mashed potatoes. But not everyone knows how to make this delicious side dish correctly. Have you ever gone to someone’s house and eagerly awaited mashed potatoes, only to be greeted with lumpy, bland tasting potatoes, or runny potatoes you need a spoon to eat? If you’re admittedly the one who served those potatoes, fret not. Help is here! Once you get the hang of mashed potatoes, they’re a cinch to make. **This recipe calls for a food mill. If you don’t have one, you can find one at your local cookery or … Continue reading →