• A must make summer side

    The Holiday weekend is almost here and I am busy thinking about all the yummies I am going to fix.  One dish I know for sure is this Mexican Street Corn Salad.  It is a perfect side for this Holiday weekend. It is so much more than corn Ok, obviously corn is a HUGE part of this dish but that is not all there is to it.  There is also lime, cheese, herbs, chili powder, sour cream…and a few more things.   Let me tell you it all comes together to create a delicious corn salad, that you can serve warm or chilled, that everyone is sure to LOVE!! It…

  • a perfect side for Taco Tuesday (or Monday, Wednesday…or any day)

    Taco Tuesday is here!!  For me this is definately a favorite.  I love, love, love anything with a Mexican/Tex-Mex flair, so a whole day devoted just to tacos sounds like a perfect day.   It is so much more than just tacos I know tacos should be the star of Taco Tuesday but to me the sides are just as important (if not even more).  I love the chips, the salsa, the queso (like this one) and of course the beans and rice.   Now I am all about the more traditional Red Rice but I am obsessed this Cilantro Lime Rice.   It is AMAZING! So much flavor in so…

  • Pesto + Risotto = LOVE

    Risotto is one of my most favorite sides and ever since I made this Arugula Pesto last week I have been trying out new ways to use it in all sorts of dishes, and this one is my favorite so far. Oh how I love Risotto I am a big, big fan of risotto.  I love it simply done with a little parmesan or something more exotic such as with truffles, but this pesto version is pretty good too.  Not only is it delicious but it is also pretty easy to make, making this a perfect side for dinner tonight. Yes, you can make it tonight…a weeknight.  You will be surprised…

  • a little lemon to brighten up broccolini a bit

    Broccolini is one of my most favorite veggies.  When I say favorite I mean FAVORITE, and this Lemon Garlic version is my MOST FAVORITE! Quick & Easy I don’t know about you but sometimes side dishes can get super boring.  I can get into a rut and make the same thing over and over. For me I make the same sides because they are easy and they come together quick and they are easy. Sometimes though, I like a change. Just because we are going to change it up that doesn’t mean it can’t be quick and easy.  This side is not only quick but it is also easy and…

  • potato salad is a must have this weekend…

    Memorial Day is fast approaching and that means it is time to start planning for the big BBQ you are going to be having and potato salad is a must have on our menu…and this potato salad is a delicious one!! Now I have made my fair share of potato salads over time but this definately one of my favorites.  It all starts with the bacon.  I mean any recipe that starts with bacon has to be yummy.  Next comes the potatoes, I decided to roast the potatoes in just a tad bit of bacon grease (it’s just a little)…I mean I could have just stopped there and been so,…

  • get excited…it’s vegetable time

    Is it hard sometimes to get excited about vegetables?  I know it is for me at time.  I mean lets be real…can vegetables really be all that exciting? YES they can be… and you won’t believe how easy it can be. Now first, things first…lets talk about what veggies to choose. When I made this dish the first time we were having some sweet friends over for dinner and we had never had them over before.  I wasn’t 100% sure what they preferred so I went a little crazy and picked quite the assortment. When I went to the store I just couldn’t pick they all looked so good.  I just had to…

  • a new pesto love

    Are you a pesto fan?  I am for sure…I love pesto anyway, anyhow.  Especially when it is changed up a bit. Arugula for the change-up I am a big fan of basil.  I love using it in my red sauce for pasta or for a simple bruschetta, but for pesto I prefer arugula.  It adds a bit of peppery bite to the pesto without it being overpowering.  I also love the color.  It is not too dark, and not too light…it is the perfect green.  Now I know this is not the traditional option, but then again when do I keep things traditional?  And if you want to be traditional…

  • THE BEST EVER…cornbread that is

    Cornbread is one of those recipes that I seem to have a 1000 recipes for.  Some sweeter than others, some super savory, some spicy, and even some with bacon but this recipe will be my go to recipe from here on out.   Sweet or Savory I grew up with a more savory cornbread and was not really introduced to sweet cornbread until I was in high school and I immediately fell in love, but still went back to a savory cornbread recipe when I would make it.  But over the years I find myself going back to the sweeter side of cornbread…and this recipe is the BEST! A treat…

  • Spring Brussels Sprouts everyone will LOVE

    I can’t believe Easter has already come and gone and that we are more than half way through April.  That means warmer temps, longer days & humidity in my part of the world.  It also means it is time to celebrate all spring flavors and one of my favorite is lemon. & Some Brussels Sprouts Too Not only do I love lemons in the Spring but I really love them with Brussels Sprouts….especially these roasted ones with a little parmesan cheese.  The char from the outside skins on the sprouts really pairs well with the brightness and tang from the lemon juice and zest. I also think it is really…

  • bacon green bean casserole-yes I said bacon

    Over the years I have come to the conclusion that you are either a fan of green bean casserole or you are not…it’s really that simple.  I have always landed on the not a fan side of this debate but my brother, James, is a HUGE green bean casserole fan and asks for it every holiday…but this year it was time to take it to the next level. For my brother Most of the time my sis-in-laws mom will make it for him, but for Easter I decided to take on his request but to make it in a way that I (and the other non-lovers) would love as well.…