Sides

Green Beans with Lemon Cream Vinaigrette

If you are like me then you think that side dishes are the hardest part of a meal.  I mean come on, there are only so many vegetables available without trying to cook cactus to shake things up.  And since apparently eating carbs will kill you, we have to have only “greens” on your plate.  I’m not saying I subscribe to that theory, but incase you do this green bean dish is perfect.  

If you are needing a side dish to take to a dinner party or baby shower or just need to get a green veggie on your kids plate these are fantastic. They are served cold and the vinaigrette can be used on just about any vegetable (including cactus) or salad.

 

1 lb. green beans, ends trimmed (I like hericot vert-they are skinnier and more delicate)

3 Tablespoons lemon juice, about 2 small lemons
2 Tablespoons heavy cream
1 Tablespoon minced shallot (about 1/2 of a shallot)
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 of a red bell pepper, finely minced
In a small bowl or a mason […]
2018-02-15T21:28:28+00:00March 29th, 2016|Sides|0 Comments

Garlic Bread

This could be the very best garlic bread you have even eaten.  I promise!  It took me awhile to figure out this recipe.  It takes no time and only a few ingredients that everyone has in their kitchen.

Serve this with Spaghetti and Meatballs, Bolognese, salad…

Garlic Bread

Delicious gralic bread that goes perfect with any dish!

Ingredients

  • 1 large Baguette, sliced length ways
  • 6 Tablespoons Butter, softened (I put it in the microwave for 7 seconds)
  • 1 Tablespoon Olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
  • 1 Garlic clove, minced (using a garlic press makes this much easier)
  • Pinch of Salt and a few turns of the pepper grinder
  • 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 Tablespoon Fresh Parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 400°

  2. Place baguette cut side up on a foil lined cookie sheet.

  3. In a small bowl, mix together butter, oil, oregano, garlic, salt and pepper.  It should look like a paste.

  4. Spread evenly over both pieces of bread.  

  5. Sprinkle with Parmesan.

  6. Bake until golden, about 5-7 minutes.  

  7. Sprinkle with parsley. Cut into 2" pieces.

2021-07-17T23:18:59+00:00March 29th, 2016|Sides|0 Comments

Hominy Casserole

Hominy Casserole 1
This was the second side dish I made this weekend to go along with the baked beans and brisket.  It is a casserole we would eat at family gatherings in Lubbock, Texas with my Mom’s family when we went to visit.  It’s one of those dishes that I assume was in a church cookbook and it is very representative of West Texas with the green chilis.
I used canned white hominy that you can find in almost any grocery store, except Trader Joes. If you can’t find white them use the golden.  No biggie!  Another thing to keep in mind is pre-shredded cheese comes with an anti caking agent on it (that’s all the white flecks on the cheese in the bag).  It will melt so much better if you can grate a block of cheddar by hand or using your food processor. Trust me!  you know I like short cuts, but this is one you need to take the time.  It will make a difference!
I didn’t have […]
2022-04-11T22:50:59+00:00March 22nd, 2016|Sides|2 Comments

Baked Beans

Being the first day of spring in Texas the sun is shining, but it is still a bit chilly.  Now keep in mind that chilly to Texans means below 60 degrees.  A “cold” front came through on Saturday night and I got out of going to lacrosse games on Sunday.  I mean I LOVE watching my boys play, but seriously we had 7 games this weekend and I am tired of cheering, sitting and small talk.  So I sent my husband to be the parental representative and I stayed home and cooked, kinda. Don’t tell, but I watched the last episode of Downton Abbey.  I did cook, but it was so easy that it really doesn’t count as cooking.  

I threw a brisket on the smoker and made a couple sides.  And Voilá dinner! I forgot to take a picture of the brisket so I will add that recipe at a later date, sorry!! But here is the recipe for baked beans.  Oh, side note… I did not have 2 cans of navy beans.  I had one can of navy and one can […]
2018-02-15T21:28:30+00:00March 22nd, 2016|Sides|0 Comments

Pasta Pesto Salad

Being a stay at home mom with nothing to do but eat bon bons and watch Family Feud I try to fill my days with fancy Chanel lunches. Just kidding all you SAMs (stay at home moms)! But because I am home during the day my friends and I have created all kinds of groups to get together and stay in touch now that the play groups with babies are over-boo. One group I have been lucky enough to be a member of for 10 years.  We used to meet once a week, but as kids have grown and some of us have gone back to work we have changed it to once a month.  We have been though a lot together and its always fun to meet at someones house and chow down on good food and chit chat.  Is chit chat still a word? Anyway, we are all asked to bring one dish to these lunches and when I brought this salad everyone loved it! This salad is a great one to bring to parties or BBQs because it […]
2018-02-15T21:28:30+00:00March 22nd, 2016|Sides|0 Comments
Load More Posts