From the category archives:

Side Dishes

Fregola with Feta & Arugula and Sesame Sauce

Thumbnail image for Fregola with Feta & Arugula and Sesame Sauce June 1, 2016

The first time I ate fregola pasta was in 2009 at Nancy Silverton’s restaurant Mozza. My friend Michele and I had gone there for our birthday dinner, and I wrote a detailed post about it. I had a lamb dish where the fregola and sauce were hidden under the slices of meat. It is so […]

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Scallion Pancakes Korean-Style with Lemon Soy Dipping Sauce

Thumbnail image for Scallion Pancakes Korean-Style with Lemon Soy Dipping Sauce September 28, 2015

I have found that sometimes I would really like to have a snack that has interesting textures and complex taste that is sweet, salty, sour and spicy. Do you ever get that craving, too? Well, scallion pancakes with lemon soy dipping sauce totally and exactly fills those requirements. Aren’t you the lucky one to find […]

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Corn Pancakes with Almond Red Pepper Romesco

Thumbnail image for Corn Pancakes with Almond Red Pepper Romesco July 13, 2015

Romesco, Romesco. Wherefore art thou, Romesco? Ooops, I was getting a little silly there. I’m over it now. Continuing on…. Romesco sauce originated in Tarragona, Catalonia, in northeastern Spain. Fishermen made this sauce to eat with fish, but once made, it can be used in salads, with grilled veggies, meat, chicken, stirred into fish stews, […]

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Three Bean Salad

Thumbnail image for Three Bean Salad June 17, 2015

I think this is one of the best picnic and BBQ party salads of all time. It is one of those dishes that once you start eating it, you can’t stop, because there is something about that sweet vinegary garlicy flavor that is just addicting. It has soft beans, crunchy beans, celery and onions, plus […]

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Pecorino Potato Pops with Smokey Chipotle Sauce

Thumbnail image for Pecorino Potato Pops with Smokey Chipotle Sauce April 19, 2015

This recipe has been a total inspiration for me. It’s little Duchesse potato bites with the spicy smokey dipping sauce would make a yummy hors d’oeuvre, but the flavor notes of Pecorino Romano cheese and smoky paprika would suggest a French or Italian menu to follow. So then I started imagining the dinner party these […]

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Arañitas con Mojo de Ajo ~ Shredded Green Plantain Fritters with Garlic Onion Sauce

Thumbnail image for Arañitas con Mojo de Ajo ~ Shredded Green Plantain Fritters with Garlic Onion Sauce January 10, 2015

When green plantains started showing up at my grocery store about 10 years ago, I was totally fascinated. I had no idea what they were, except they looked a lot like green bananas. Then I happened to eat dinner in my local Cuban restaurant, and fried plantains were part of the accompaniment for the pork […]

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Avocado & Pecans

Thumbnail image for Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Avocado & Pecans November 15, 2014

As Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching, I am finalizing my chosen side dishes and making my shopping list. I decided on this brussels sprouts dish, because I thought it would be a nice color contrast to the Roasted Carrots & Parsnips I will also be serving. I discovered this dish in a Food & Wine magazine […]

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Roasted Carrots & Parsnips

Thumbnail image for Roasted Carrots & Parsnips November 7, 2014

Thanksgiving is almost here! Thanksgiving is almost here! Yeaaaaa! If you’re like me, this is your most favorite meal of the year. That may be intensified by the fact that we only eat it once a year, and the build-up and anticipation add to its wonder and perfection. For me, I could go with just […]

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Ricotta Parmesan Gnocchi & Brown Butter Broccoli

Thumbnail image for Ricotta Parmesan Gnocchi & Brown Butter Broccoli October 10, 2014

Oh, Ricotta Parmesan Gnocchi, how I do love thee. Cheezy little pillows. Melt in the mouth dumplings. Soft buttery morsels. Ok, you get the idea. These are so good, it’s hard to find the right words to describe them. And when they’re browned a little in butter, becoming crispy in places, they are perfect in […]

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Oven Roasted Fries with Garlic Butter & Parmesan

Thumbnail image for Oven Roasted Fries with Garlic Butter & Parmesan June 13, 2014

Now that grilling season is here, I will be seeing quite a number of burger patties coming off the grates. There is nothing like the flavor of beef cooked over an open fire, or in my case, glowing coals, on a toasted bun with all the fixings. And what I love with my burgers are […]

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Green Beans & Grapes with Persillade

Thumbnail image for Green Beans & Grapes with Persillade November 16, 2013

Green beans and red grapes. The colors of our winter holidays. The jeweled tones of rubies and emeralds on your Thanksgiving table. Ho ho ho. And how do those sweet grapes fit in with the totally savory green beans? You would be astounded how well. What you can’t see is the butter, garlic, minced tarragon […]

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Butternut & Quinoa Salad with Lemon & Honey

Thumbnail image for Butternut & Quinoa Salad with Lemon & Honey November 7, 2013

I am still in Thanksgiving mode and working on my side dishes for the big feast. I really like this one, with the soft sweet butternut squash, the crunchy nutty quinoa and the nuggets of garbonzo chewiness. I love the herby note of cilantro and sweet honey lemon vinaigrette that ties the whole thing together.

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Cauliflower Roasted with Lemon Dijon Butter

Thumbnail image for Cauliflower Roasted with Lemon Dijon Butter November 3, 2013

Do you look forward to Thanksgiving every year as much as I do? It is the one time during the year I think about all those family dinners past, especially when I was a kid. It was when all those old (to me at the time) relatives came over, and drink in hand, told tales […]

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Witches Fingers & Apple Lips

Thumbnail image for Witches Fingers & Apple Lips October 13, 2013

Witches Fingers. Troll Toes. Alien Eyeballs. Tomato Gremlins. Apple Lips. These are going to come in handy when Halloween rolls around. They will dress up your buffet table and give everyone the heebeejeebees. Didn’t you do a double take when you saw those fingers? If you need to bring some little goodies to a party, […]

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Spring Rolls with 8 Dipping Sauces

Thumbnail image for Spring Rolls with 8 Dipping Sauces August 13, 2013

When I returned from my son’s wedding in May, after having my new daughter-in-law show me how to make spring rolls, I was totally enthralled with them. I made spring rolls every day for about two weeks with a variety of fillings, and I went on a quest for interesting dipping sauces to go with […]

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