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Roasted Cauliflower Mash
This Roasted Cauliflower Mash has quickly become one of my most favorite sides. Growing up mashed potatoes were a staple on our table. My mom loved them and my grandmother loved them so anytime we could have them we would. Whether they were just the traditional recipe or something a little extra special like these Garlic Mashed Potatoes, it didn’t matter we loved them all and now I love this cauliflower version (trust me I cannot believe I just said that out loud). Roasting is key To really amp up the flavor in this Cauliflower Mash I roasted the cauliflower prior to mashing it. Roasting it really helps to add…
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Bacon Brussels Sprouts
A side dish can truly make or break a meal…but this quick Bacon Brussels Sprouts dish will make any meal AMAZING! Super Easy The beauty of this side is with a few simple ingredients and one pan you can create a side that everyone is sure to love…even those that are not big brussels sprouts fans. To amp up the flavor I cooked the sprouts in the bacon grease which not only helped to caramelize them perfectly but also added a ton of bacon-y (it’s a word I promise) goodness to each bite. It also meant that everything was cooked in the same pan, making clean up even easier! FYI…If…
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Quick Black Beans
Do sides ever stump you when your planning for dinner? They do me. I get bored with roasted veggies, mashed potatoes or a simple salad. I love beans but to make beans from scratch takes forever and rice, well rice can get boring as well. Do not fear though…I am taking canned beans (which can be pretty bland) to the next level…and it is SO EASY! 30 Minutes and DONE Making beans from scratch takes several hours, but these black beans only take 30 minutes. Yes, 30 minutes is all you need to make this delicious side dish. There is a little bit of heat, a ton of flavor…
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Lemon Quinoa
Are you a quinoa fan? Well, I am …. I am a BIG, BIG fan. I love it in a salad, paired with chicken or salmon or with yogurt for breakfast. One of my favorite quinoa recipes is Spanish Quinoa, it is perfect for Taco Tuesday… but my new favorite is this Lemon Quinoa which is perfect for summer! Quinoa for All… Now I know not everyone is a fan of quinoa, but this recipe might just change their mind. It is loaded with tons of flavor. There is a lemon in each bite, making it light and refreshing. With the arugula you get a bit of peppery bite, which I…
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Easy Fried Rice
One of my favorite take out items is fried rice. I love it loaded with veggies, with chicken, with beef, or just plain. There are so many options you really can make it work for any meal. All in one skillet The beauty of this Easy Fried Rice is that it is all made in one skillet. You start with the veggies and end with the rice. If you wanted to add in chicken you could, just chop it up into small pieces and add it in with the butter and olive oil. Cook it until just about done and then add in the veggies and continue from…
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Garlic Butter Asparagus
OK…I am not going to lie to you and tell you I love asparagus…but everyone in my family does and they LOVE this Butter Garlic Asparagus. Quick and Easy I am a big sides girl. I have been known to only eat the sides, especially around the holidays. Growing up my mom always made the best sides. Whether it was a potato dish (like these mashed potatoes), a veggie (like these brussels sprouts) dish, or even a rice dish she always made it delicious. One thing I always loved about my moms side dishes is that they were always fast, and this asparagus is super fast. All…
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Instant Pot Broccoli & Cheese Risotto
Risotto, broccoli and cheese….can it get any better? Well risotto is one of my favorite dishes. Cheesy broccoli and rice is a favorite side…so why not combine the two? Hello Instant Pot… It is no secret that I love my Instant Pot. I have used it everything from my new favorite Oatmeal to this Salted Caramel Cheesecake and everything in between. Anytime I can break out my handy kitchen tool I jump at the chance. Not too long a go I was scrolling through Pinterest and came across a couple of risotto recipes all made in the instant pot. Now I am not going to lie…
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Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
As you all know I am a BIG, BIG fan of Brussels Sprouts. I love them roasted, with a hint of lemon, love them crispy, I even love them raw and in salads. This version though is a new FAVORITE and I have already made them 2 times since I first made them….they are that good. A little tangy surprise I am all about a little tang. I love how it awakens my taste buds and gets me excited for the next bite. One of my favorite ways to bring a little tang into a dish is with balsamic vinegar…it is just so good. I use a balsamic reduction (much like…
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Roasted Veggie Couscous
Spring veggies are just about ready in my part of the country. The farmers markets are starting to get loaded up with beautiful produce and this couscous dish is one of my favorite ways to highlight so many of those veggies. It starts with the veggies With so many beautiful veggies popping at my farmers markets and in my grocery store it was hard to choose which veggies to use for this delicious salad. First I knew I wanted to use peppers, red, yellow and orange. I love how sweet early spring peppers are and these were just perfect. Next I threw in an onion. I used a white onion,…
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THE Instant Pot Mac-n-Cheese
I love mac-n-cheese anytime, anyway, anywhere. I have made my fair share over the years but I have to say this is definately one of my favorites yet. Cheesy Goodness In my opinion any good mac n cheese has a couple of cheese varieties in it. Some favorites are gouda and cheddar, goat and mascarpone and classic cheddar blend. For this mac-n-chesse I combined my dads version (stovetop velveeta) with mine to create a delicious mac-n-cheese. To make it extra creamy I used a little velveeta, some white cheddar (you could use yellow) and then a mexican blend. The combo of all the cheeses create a super creamy, cheesy blend…
