What are your favorite side dishes?

[jan/cape]

I'd be happy if the only thing served at Thanksgiving dinner were mashed potatoes and butter!!!

 

[Kahana-ri]

I love sauteed spinach or an anti pasta salad. Now that grilling weather is back, I opt for seasoned veggie kabobs. mmmmm....

 

[lovemygoofy]

Hi there I second the bag salad. They make so many kinds with different dressings and fruits and nuts in them.

We also love spicy broccli. Very easy just bag broccli, all the garlic you can handle and all the red pepper you can handle. You just stir fry it up.

Also like sugar snap peas. Just blance them in some hot water and sprinkle a bit of salt and almonds on them.

Sometimes I forgo the "regular" side items and have different fruits or just raw veggies with some kind of dips.

Do you do the frozen veggies like the broccli and cheese or cauliflower and cheese?

I saw a good "hash" receipe the other day that had black beans, corn, some rotel and bbq sauce served with sandwhiches or bbq.

Hope you are well and let me know when dinner is I'll bring the wine.

 

[fanofdisney]

This one is super easy, quick, and is YUMMY! I often make it for potlucks and there's never leftovers!

Cornbread Casserole

(this is a large batch, you can divide all ingredients in half for a smaller batch)

2 sticks of butter
4 eggs
2 - 16 oz. cans creamed corn
1 - 16 oz. cans whole kernel corn, drained
2 c. sour cream
2 boxes Jiffy cornbread mix

Melt butter, beat eggs. Mix all ingredients together. Pour in greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes (until golden brown on top).

That stuff rocks!

I like easy to make things. I always love the classic green bean casserole, and I like to buy the boxed pasta salads (like Suddenly Salad). The ranch is my fave.

 

[kimisabella]

I like roasted asparagus - just put asparagus in roasting pan, drizzle w/olive oil and salt, put in broiler for a couple of minutes, and it gets so nice and crispy and delicious - and it's so easy!!

 

[OceanAnnie]

Sometimes I forgo the "regular" side items and have different fruits or just raw veggies with some kind of dips.

I do this too.

Tonight we had strawberries that we dipped in chocolate with french vanilla cool whip on the side. It was soo good.
And easy. (Just melted some chocolate chips in the microwave.) We usually use yogurt dip but tonight, I said let's live a little!

We also like steamed broccoli, squash, and cauliflower. I've been making the "mock mashed potatoes" with the cauliflower and adding cheddar cheese in with it. Tastes pretty good.

ETA- Around summer time we like cucumbers and tomatoes in a little bowl with vinegar a little water and ice cubes. Really refreshing.
We do the roasted asparagus too. And I've roasted thick tomato slices coated with olive oil and topped with feta cheese. Easy and tasty! I saw that on Food Network and gave it a try.

 

[SleepyMom]

I personally love mashed potatoes. I think I can eat more than any man alive.

Totally off topic, but your comment had me

Our oldest DD loves mashed potatoes, really loves them!!! DH's hometown has Potato Days every year (I'm not kidding, it made ESPN last year) and one of the big events is mashed potato wrestling. We always tease DD that she could go wrestle someone, but we figured she would get out there and try to sneak some corn out of her pocket to mix in and then would just lay down and eat the stuff

Back to the OP, I usually end up going with something from a box... so I'm not much help.

 

[SDFgirl]

I love roasted new potatoes with rosemary and garlic. Slice thin, drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil and bake 'em up. Good!

In the summer I also love asparagus on the grill. I drizzle with olive oil, soy sauce and sesame seeds.

 

[SillyMe]

Hi there I second the bag salad. They make so many kinds with different dressings and fruits and nuts in them.

We also love spicy broccli. Very easy just bag broccli, all the garlic you can handle and all the red pepper you can handle. You just stir fry it up.

Also like sugar snap peas. Just blance them in some hot water and sprinkle a bit of salt and almonds on them.

Sometimes I forgo the "regular" side items and have different fruits or just raw veggies with some kind of dips.

Do you do the frozen veggies like the broccli and cheese or cauliflower and cheese?

I saw a good "hash" receipe the other day that had black beans, corn, some rotel and bbq sauce served with sandwhiches or bbq.

Hope you are well and let me know when dinner is I'll bring the wine.

Yes, I do make frozen veggies. I usually try to make some kind of meat, a veggie and a side dish.

Thanks for all your ideas everyone!

 

[sweet angel]

Oh, those are another regular side dish that I make and I'm tired of. I guess I should've rephrased what I said. I love mashed potatoes and could eat them every day in some way or another, but my kids are tired of them.

I've solved your problem -- and it's not the potatoes, it's the kids. You need new kids!

 

[malibuconlee]

Can you do this with brocolli?

I don't see why not!!

I also steamed some frozedn green beans the other night then sprinkled on some shredded pepper jack cheese. Gave them that little extra something that green beans need.

 

[SillyMe]

I've solved your problem -- and it's not the potatoes, it's the kids. You need new kids!

Next time they complain about my cooking, I'll be sure to tell them what you said.

 

[mickeyboat]

Check out my tag - that ought to tell you something.

I have also gotten bored of our side dishes (mostly potato products). I have tried stove top stuffing (DH loves it) and couscous. I bought some polenta, but haven't made it yet. We also like Rice a Roni - Rice Pilaf.

Denae

 

[liamsaunt]

For a different potato side dish, how about a crsipy potato cake? It's easy:

Peel 2 lbs. potatoes and chop into 1/2 inch dice
Boil in salted water until just tender, about 8-10 minutes
Drain and toss with salt and pepper to taste, plus one bunch scallions, chopped
Melt a couple tbsp. butter in a non-stick skillet (about 10 inches)
Dump in potatoes, spread into an even layer, pressing down slightly
Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes per side, until crisp and golden brown.

 

[SillyMe]

For a different potato side dish, how about a crsipy potato cake? It's easy:

Peel 2 lbs. potatoes and chop into 1/2 inch dice
Boil in salted water until just tender, about 8-10 minutes
Drain and toss with salt and pepper to taste, plus one bunch scallions, chopped
Melt a couple tbsp. butter in a non-stick skillet (about 10 inches)
Dump in potatoes, spread into an even layer, pressing down slightly
Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes per side, until crisp and golden brown.

That sounds good. I'll bet it's even tastier if you drizzle and melt some cheddar cheese over it.

 

[lucas]

This one is super easy, quick, and is YUMMY! I often make it for potlucks and there's never leftovers!

Cornbread Casserole

(this is a large batch, you can divide all ingredients in half for a smaller batch)

2 sticks of butter
4 eggs
2 - 16 oz. cans creamed corn
1 - 16 oz. cans whole kernel corn, drained
2 c. sour cream
2 boxes Jiffy cornbread mix

Melt butter, beat eggs. Mix all ingredients together. Pour in greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes (until golden brown on top).

This sounds really good! I'm gonna try it this week, but like you said cut recipe in half. Thanks!

 

[jbdreamer]

I like roasted asparagus - just put asparagus in roasting pan, drizzle w/olive oil and salt, put in broiler for a couple of minutes, and it gets so nice and crispy and delicious - and it's so easy!!

That is exactly what I was thinking. I love roasted asparagus!

Vegetables make great sides!
Frozen peas or sweet corn is an easy one.
Roasted potatoes covered in olive oil and herbs.
Candied carrots (boil, then saute with butter and honey).
Sesame Green Beans (boil, then fry with soy sauce, sesame oil and sesame seeds).
Snow peas (also good mixed with sliced red potoats, butter and cream).
Sated zucchini (my favorite).

 

[disneysteve]

I'm tired of the same old mashed potatoes, mac 'n cheese, fries, tater tots and pierogies.

Except for one particular meal that involves mashed potatoes, we don't do any of those things ever as sides.

What about vegetables? That's what we use for sides.

Steamed asparagus - before cooking rub it with some olive oil and crushed garlic.

Baby Bella mushroom caps - can't get any easier than this. Clean and stem the mushrooms. Put them cap down in a pan, add some water to the pan and cook on low-medium heat until the caps fill up with their natural juices. Move them around periodically so they don't stick. Yum.

Glazed carrots - Can of sliced carrots. Bring to a boil in a saucepan and turn down the heat and simmer until most of the liquid is reduced. Add some brown sugar and honey and stir.

Grilled veggies - Slice various veggies: onion, zucchini, green and red pepper, mushrooms, etc. brush them with a little olive oil and cook on grill pan. If you'd like, season with a little balsamic vinegar.

Bruschetta - Slice and lightly toast some good Italian or French bread. Top with bottled bruschetta topping and sprinkle with some Locatelli or Parmesan cheese.

Steamed broccoli - DW and DD do this one when I work late as I don't like broccoli. Just clean and steam. Very simple.

 

[SillyMe]

I'm beginning to feel like a pig here. I make two sides for dinner...one veggie and another side of something. I would never be satisfied with just meat and veggies. Although sometimes I make just 2 sides and no meat.

 

[THE HAT]

I'm beginning to feel like a pig here. I make two sides for dinner...one veggie and another side of something. I would never be satisfied with just meat and veggies. Although sometimes I make just 2 sides and no meat.

same here. we always have the main course, with a veg and a side of some sort. (potato, rice, noodle, stuffing etc). and sometimes we even have bread with it to boot.

i guess we are a bunch of curly tails in this house, dh and ds would not understand why there were only 2 items on their plates.