‘Side Dish’ Articles at Sweetnicks

Recipe: Asian Inspired Baby Bok Choy and Portobello Mushrooms

June 9, 2016 · Narrative

A very quick-to-make side dish that is bursting with antioxidants and flavor. Let’s talk about bok choy…

The first time I had bok choy was, surprisingly, only two years ago, when I received a menu plan from a personal trainer. I don’t know why it took me so long to try it, because I love most leafy green vegetables, but now I’m making up for lost time.

I originally created this recipe for a new recipe development client, but she won’t be using it, so now I can share it here.

One of the best things about bok choy is that it cooks up super fast.

Like, blink and it’s done.

And who doesn’t need THAT type of ingredient or recipe in their dinner repertoire?

Even better that bok choy is a superfood.

Bok choy is part of the Asian greens family (which means you can get it super cheap at your local Asian grocery store) and the Brassica family, which also includes broccoli and brussels sprouts. Choy in Chinese refers to all leafy vegetables and the word bok means white, so bok choy is literally translated to “white leafy vegetable.” Originally from China, it is now grown for the US market mostly in California.

Bok choy is very low in calories and carbs, and it quickly takes on the flavors of whatever you’re cooking it with. Kind of like the principles of cooking with tofu, except it tastes NOTHING like tofu. It has high amounts of Vitamins A, C, K, and B, and antioxidants. If you want to learn more on bok choy, this page is a good resource.

I won’t lie. What you see pictured in the bowl above was exactly what I ate for dinner. That and nothing else. But this would go nicely alongside some grilled chicken or seat, or even with a runny egg on top of it.

However you serve it, make it. It’s too delicious to miss.

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Recipe: Sesame Glazed Cauliflower

November 17, 2014 · Narrative

A unique twist on cauliflower, this Sesame Glazed Cauliflower makes for a simple and tasty side dish.

Can I still call this Sesame Glazed Cauliflower if I didn’t add the sesame seeds?

I think so.

And so it was.

I am on an endless journey to find a cauliflower recipe that my kids will like. I have come close, but so far, no cigar.

So it’s a darn good thing that I eat cauliflower.

And you do too.

I hope?

Did you know the going rate for a reasonably-sized head of cauliflower is $4.99?

Crazytown.

But in the grand scheme of things, you will likely have all the other ingredients on hand, so $5 for a side dish that can feed a small nation is not a bad thing.

#rationalizing

But it’s true.

And, in theory, it’s cheaper because the recipe only calls for half a head of cauliflower, so now the side dish is down to $2.50.

Even better.

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Recipe: Cauliflower Fritters

August 5, 2014 · Narrative

Similar to potato pancakes or latkes, these tasty cauliflower fritters are a fun, unexpected side dish.

Until I discovered a few out-of-the-box cauliflower recipe ideas last year, I don’t think I ever gave cauliflower more than a passing glance. Aside from roasting it or pouring cheese sauce over it, I can’t say I had seen many, if any, other recipes to prepare it.

And now, it seems like they’re everywhere.

Case in point: cauliflower fritters.

I love these little things. It gives you the fried taste of a latke, without all the guilt that goes along with it. By using whole wheat flour, and swapping out the more traditional potatoes for cauliflower, you come away with a delicious little side dish that you can’t get enough of, and another cauliflower fake-out dish where you leave the table seeing cauliflower in a whole new light.

Unless you’re my kids. Because now even though I’ve made exactly 623 different version of cauliflower (I kid. Slightly.), they still don’t like it. Eventually they’ll come around and, in the meantime, these are all mine.

Well, ok, except for the ones I shared with our neighbors.

Make ’em.

Hungry for more cauliflower recipes? Luckily I’ve got you covered.
These Cheesy Baked Cauliflower Tots from Kalyn’s Kitchen were fun little bites to pop in your mouth.
If you haven’t made this ridiculously simple Three Ingredient Cauliflower Soup, you are seriously missing out.
This Buffalo-Style Roasted Cauliflower is one I keep going back to. So good and so easy.
This Roasted Cauliflower Spread is a riff off one that Sarah and I enjoyed at Tom Douglas’ Lola in Seattle.
Visually, this Spicy Whole Roasted Cauliflower is a showstopper, and I made it for a cooking challenge at the CIA recently.
If you haven’t had this Cauliflower Steak with Homemade Caesar Dressing, I don’t know how to help you.
This super simple Cauliflower Mac and Cheese is a great comfort food spin when you’re craving carbs and cheese.
These Cauliflower Bread Sticks were another great riff, and delish!
This Mock Shrimp Risotto was almost as good as the real deal.
Cauliflower Crust Pizza for fulfilling all your pizza loving dreams.
And lastly, Cauliflower Garlic Mashed Potatoes will satisfy your comfort food craving….

Recipe: Roasted Lemon Garlic Broccoli

August 4, 2014 · Narrative

A super simple, quick way to serve roasted broccoli … lemon, garlic, and done.

Broccoli is one of the few vegetables that we can all agree on. The kids would happily eat roasted broccoli every day, but while I love it that way, I need a little more variety in my life.

Which today comes by way of garlic and lemon juice.

You can’t go wrong by roasting any vegetable. The process is simple and really lets the natural flavors of the vegetable come alive. A little drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper and you have the perfect side dish for pretty much any main course.

This recipe takes the basic premise of roasted vegetables and just bumps it up a notch with the addition of the garlic and lemon juice. Still simple. Still lets the broccoli be the star of the show. Still approved by everyone in the family. The lemon juice was perfect, giving the finished dish that little extra zing.

It’s an ideal side dish that doesn’t over-complicate anything. Vegetables in their purest form, naked and delicious.

And, thankfully, this is just different enough to keep us out of that roasted broccoli, roasted broccoli, roasted broccoli rut ~~we’re~~ I’m trying to avoid.

Now what to serve it with?
This Lemony Grilled Chicken from Debbie Matenopoulous would be perfect with it.
And you can’t find a quicker-to-make entree than this Best Ever Five Minute Grilled Salmon dish, and it’s one of my favorite go-tos.

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Recipe: Maui Scalloped Potatoes from Disney World’s ‘Ohana {Polynesian Resort}

May 4, 2009 · Narrative

I need you to stop what you’re doing and go grab a piece of paper and a pen. I’ll wait.

Ok, got it? Write down these things:

4 potatoes
heavy cream
cheddar cheese
Parmesan cheese
onion

Those five ingredients, plus a few standard pantry items, is all you need to have the most OMG to-die-for potatoes. Ever. Seriously. This is the throw-away-all-your-gratin-recipes-because-this-is-all-you’ll-ever-need recipe. This is the one. The one that stops the searches. The one that makes the others run away in the fear. The one and only.

And now the backstory…

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Thanksgiving Recipes: Cranberry Conserve

November 19, 2008 · Holidays and More, Narrative

A very simple, very delicious recipe for Cranberry Conserve that will make a fan out of everyone who tastes it.

Jellied, whole berry, from a can or not, for a good 30+ years I avoided cranberry sauce like the plague. Like black-eyed peas on New Years’ Day, I felt it was one of those obligatory things that I’d stick the tip of my spoon in, have a little speck and call it a day. Blech. But all that changed a few years ago when I discovered this recipe for Cranberry Conserve. Given my complete and utter disdain for cranberry sauce, I’m not even sure why I made the recipe. Probably for my mom, who likes the stuff. But to think that I almost missed out on this one? :::Shudder::::

I got it from a caterer a good five years ago, and it could not be easier to make. The Neighbor Wife can attest to this, since she’s been making it ever since I first turned her onto it. It needs just a few simple ingredients and barely any intervention from you, and you are rewarded with the absolute best cranberry sauce that will ever touch your lips. I guarantee it. It hit our menu in 2005, 2006 and 2007 …and a few years before Sweetnicks was born too. It’s a tradition in our family, and maybe yours next.

Miss our first day of Thanksgiving recipes? You can find the Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes right here. Next up? Stuffing. Or dressing. Whichever you call it, but the hands-down best-ever version here. Tomorrow.

Until then…

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