Black beans have so many health benefits, turning them into a nutritious salad with tomatoes and green beans makes perfect sense. And because canned black beans are ready to eat and so versatile, it’s always a good idea to have some on hand as a staple. Combined with a simple vinaigrette, it makes a light […]
I’ve been making this combination of bread and cornbread dressing for years. It all came about because my husband’s family made their dressing with cornbread, while I grew up eating a classic dressing made with bread. But after trying the cornbread version, I decided I liked that too. So, the only remedy was to create […]
Lemon zest, garlic, and a few red pepper flakes make these sautéed green beans fresh tasting and full of flavor. What I like about this side is that a good portion of it can be prepared ahead of time, from par-boiling the green beans to mincing the garlic and zesting the lemon. With a little […]
This pasta salad takes on all the wonderful, briny flavors of the Kalamata olives, pepperoncini, and marinated artichokes hearts. To let these flavors shine through, we wanted a lighter dressing that wouldn’t compete with the other ingredients. Our vinaigrette is made with equal amounts of red wine vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, and canola oil. […]
Oven-roasted potatoes make a great side dish, but we’ve taken it a step further by adding a cilantro pesto that’s bursting with bold flavors. For this vibrant pesto, we puree 2 cups of cilantro, including the stems since the entire plant is edible and full of nutrients. With a little extra-virgin olive oil, garlic, and […]
I’m not sure if there’s such a thing as a quick and healthy lunch, but if you have a food processor, this Fettuccine with Spinach Pesto comes pretty close. Our pesto has all the vitamins and antioxidants you would expect from spinach with the added bonus of extra virgin olive oil and walnuts. And because […]
This vintage sweet potato recipe came from my husband’s aunt, and we’ve had it for more years than I can remember. I make it every Thanksgiving and Christmas, and it’s one of our favorites. I’ve made a couple of adaptions, but it’s a recipe that I think can stand the test of time. In fact, […]
What makes this green bean salad taste so good is the sweet-tart pickling liquid from the red onions. We marinate thin slices of onions in hot red wine vinegar, sugar, and salt. It’s this simple combination that creates a delicious dressing and brings the whole salad together. The green beans are boiled for 5 to […]
This side dish is made with fresh corn on the cob, either grilled, or cut from the cob and sautéed on top of the stove. We combine it with mayonnaise, Mexican hot sauce, lime juice, jalapeño pepper, cilantro, and cotija cheese. It’s full of flavor and surprisingly easy to make. Tip Remove the husks and […]
This pasta dish is perfect as a meatless dinner, a quick lunch, or a delicious side. Roasted vegetables add an intensely rich, caramelized flavor that’s balanced with the light, fresh taste of lemons and parmesan cheese. We use eggplant and zucchini from our garden in this recipe, but you could easily swap in other vegetables like […]