Easy Baked Potato Side Dish

Twice baked potatoes are a perfect side dish. This preparation is simple and quick and doesn’t create any extra dirty dishes!! They are so simple, yet so delicious. Try them tonight!

Easy Baked Potato Side Dish

Servings: 4
Time: 20 minutes
Level: Easy

2 baking potatoes
1 tbsp. butter
1/2 tbsp. favorite seasoning (I used Weber’s Kick’n Chicken seasoning)

Wash potatoes thoroughly. Poke holes in potatoes with a fork to allow steam to escape. Cook potatoes in the microwave for about 6 minutes. Cut potatoes in half lengthwise. Score potatoes, making a checkerboard pattern, but not cutting all the way through. Top with butter and sprinkle with seasoning. Broil in the oven or toaster oven (So your kitchen doesn’t get so hot!) on high for 15 minutes.

Yum!

Tips
-If you wanted, you could top the potatoes with additional toppings such as sour cream and cheese.

Grilled Corn with French Onion “Butter”

Grilled corn on the cob is probably my favorite summertime veggie. When the husks burn on the outside of the corn, the kernels practically get a steam bath and become infused with a wonderful smoky flavor. When I grill corn on the cob, I make sure to grill a lot of it! Leftovers can be reinvented into so many delicious dishes… the options are truly endless.

You can cut off the perfectly charred kernels to throw into a salad, use them to make a cold corn soup, (whew… recipe for another day, pure deliciousness!) make a salsa or dip, or even just reheat them with a little salt and butter for an easy side dish on a busy night.

Grilling corn is super easy. There are a lot of theories on how to grill the perfect ear of corn but this one seems to work best for me. Sorry there aren’t any pictures…

First, with kitchen scissors, I trim the silk fibers that are poking out of the top of the ear. Then, I peel off the first entire layer of the husk. After that, I throw the ears on to the grill, set at medium-high heat, for 25-30 minutes, turning every once in a while. Once they come off of the grill, totally black and super messy, I peel back the husk and take off the silk fibers. I guess that’s called shucking?! Ahhhhh-mazing!

Nothing can beat an ear of grilled corn slathered in melted butter and dusted with salt. But for the sake of not boring my family with the same ole’ side dish, just because I love it so much, I started doing some experimenting.

Normally I don’t have French onion dip in the fridge. Chip dip is just something I never buy. I’d rather use Greek yogurt and sour cream to make my own. I like controlling my own flavors and nutritional content when it comes to things like that. But, alas, the 4th of July left us with a tub and I figured I could use it. What was born was truly delicious and I hope you enjoy it.

Grilled Corn with French Onion “Butter”

Servings: 2
Time: 2 minutes
Level: Easy

2 ears of corn, grilled and shucked
2 tbsp. French onion dip (I used Dean’s brand)
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper (or more…)
1/2 tsp. lime or lemon juice

Mix dip, cayenne, and juice together. Spread over all sides of the corn. Yum!

Tips
– I bet you could use any dip flavor… dill, ranch, etc.

Simple Sabroso Salsa

Sabroso means tasty in Spanish… I’m not sure if I used it in the right context or not, but hey, I only have a minor in the language so I’m not expected to know, right?

This salsa is called Sabroso Salsa because it is simply that, a tasty sauce… especially the next day, once all of the flavors sit and have a chance to mingle with each other.

If you have any leftover grilled corn, use it! If not, no worries! Canned corn will do just fine.

I served this salsa with tortilla chips but it would also be delicious served on crackers or bite sized baguette slices topped a little avocado and cheese. Appetizers, anyone?

Don’t forget to check the tips section for 2 great ideas for using up leftovers!

Simple Sabroso Salsa

Time: 5 minutes
Servings: A lot! It made about 3 -4 cups of salsa.
Level: Easy

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can whole kernel corn, drained and rinsed
1 can Rotel, drained
1 tbsp. jalapeños, diced
2 tsp. cumin
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. lime juice

Mix all ingredients together and let sit in the fridge until ready to serve. Yum!

Tips
– Play with the spices. You can add as little or as much of each as you’d like!
– I spooned leftover salsa over grilled chicken for dinner the next day. Yum!
– Another idea for leftovers!!!! I used the rest of the leftover salsa to make a simple pasta dish. I heated the salsa in the microwave and mixed it with cooked, drained pasta shell noodles and leftover shredded chicken. It was so yummy!!

Okie Dokie Artichokie Dip

I love artichokes. They are delicious on pizzas, amazing in pasta dishes, and great in salads. I love this artichoke dip recipe because it really brings out the bite that artichokes naturally have. Using a little citrus and tangy yogurt makes the artichoke come alive.

Having a can of artichoke hearts in the pantry can be a life saver when you need a last minute appetizer for impromptu company or for those lovely nights when your husband forgets to tell you, until you’re brushing your teeth for bed, that he signed up to bring something for the potluck at work the next day.  🙂

Artichoke Dip

Servings: 8
Time: 5 minutes
Level: Easy

1 can artichoke hearts
1/2 c. plain yogurt
1/2 c. mayo
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire
1 tsp. lemon or lime juice
1 c. Parmesan cheese, shredded

Drain artichoke hearts and chop them into bite sized pieces.

Mix all ingredients together and chill in the fridge until ready to serve.

Yum!

Tips
– Making this ahead of time will help enhance the flavor. Honestly, it’s not that great immediately. Let it sit in the fridge for at least an hour if you can.
– I used non-fat yogurt and low-fat mayo.
– Try using Greek yogurt instead.
– Don’t have yogurt? Use  1/2 c. of extra mayo or 1/2 c. of sour cream.
– Serve dip with crackers or veggies.

Easy Spaghetti with Chicken

This recipe is sooooo easy and offers a break from the mundane, and often over eaten, spaghetti with meat sauce. In this recipe, I’m not making my own sauce. Jarred sauce works for me in a pinch and keep very well in the pantry as a quick base for many meals.

When choosing which jarred red sauce to use, just pick your favorite. Traditional red sauce is great to have in the pantry. It is smooth so it works well as a pizza sauce. Red sauce with mushrooms and green peppers is great for anything. The mushrooms make the sauce taste heartier and meatier so if you are going the vegetarian route with a dish, this is the sauce I would choose. Red sauce with chunks of vegetables is definitely one I keep on hand in my pantry. I like it because it is not just good as a pasta sauce. I use it to thicken soups and I use it to mix with roasted vegetables as a quick side dish. You can also take that side dish and turn it into a quick meal by adding a meat, such as sliced Italian sausage.

I hope you like this recipe. Serve it along side fresh green beans roasted in olive oil with salt and pepper… delish!

Easy Spaghetti with Chicken

Servings: 2
Time: 15 minutes
Level: Easy

1 1/2 c. spaghetti sauce
1 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. red chili flakes
spaghetti noodles, boiled and drained according to package directions
1-2 chicken breasts, cooked and sliced or chopped
1/3 c. Italian cheese blend, shredded (you could use any Italian cheese, like parmesan, if you didn’t have the blend)

Heat spaghetti sauce in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and red chili flakes. Warm until heated throughout. Add spaghetti noodles and stir until covered. Serve noodles in a bowl, topped with chicken and cheese. Yum!

Tips
– Add fresh basil to your sauce… yum!
– Cook chicken breasts in a skillet and add the same seasonings to the chicken as you do to the sauce, plus salt and pepper.

– Try using Tyson’s Grilled and Ready Chicken to make dinner even quicker.

 

 

 

In Honor of Cinco de Mayo…

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Cinco de Mayo… Ahh, what a delicious holiday. Yeah, yeah, I know. It’s a holiday that celebrates  Mexico’s victory over the French on May 5, 1862.  But, dang, celebrating  their victory with a delicious dinner is just fine by me. Our neighbors to the south know what their doing when it comes to their amazing cuisine and I’m not ashamed of how much I love it!

If your going to be staying in this Cinco de Mayo or if you are planning on having a blow out fiesta with friends, check out these recipes below. I took a look back at my recipe collection and my love is clearly evident… I can’t say that ANY of these recipes are even slightly  authentic but they are definitely inspired by south of the border flavors.

Grab yourself a basket of chips and a bowl of salsa, maybe a margarita or two, and celebrate!

Enchilada Pie 

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas (vegetarian and vegan)

Steak Fajitas

Mexican Cornbread

Quinoa Salsa Side Dish

Gringa Tostada

Fiesta Fritata

Baja Shrimp Tacos with a Corn and Radish Salad

Perfectly Hard Boiled Eggs – Deviled Eggs

Ever since I could eat solid foods, I have had a love affair with deviled eggs, well, boiled eggs in general. I used to call them doubled eggs and I thought they were the most delicious side item on the planet. I still really love them but I don’t make them as often as I should.

Big Family gatherings and deviled eggs just seem to go together. When I was younger, I would fill my plate with Brown and Serve Rolls, with Ketchup to dip them in… of course, a dollop of cornbread dressing, and a few (as many as I could get away with) deviled eggs. Easter/Thanksgiving/Christmas meal of champions, in my opinion.

My sweet brother, who is 9 years older than me, would always give me a lecture on my cholesterol intake. Can’t you just imagine? Sitting at the dinner table with the whole family and my 13 year old brother hollering at me because all I will eat are eggs. Ah, the wonderful memories are flooding back to me…

I missed my family on Easter this year. It’s hard to be away. But, good news! My plate won’t be filled with little ketchup sandwiches this year. My tastes are all grown up… but one thing is for sure, my love of deviled eggs still remains and I hope my family enjoyed theirs together today.

You can’t really read the bible verse but how appropriate for Easter! Thanks Goldenhen. “This is the Day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” – Psalm 118:24

Perfectly Boiled Eggs

Time: 15 minutes
Level: Easy

eggs
water

Put eggs in a pot. Fill the pot with cold water until the eggs are covered, with about 1 in. of water above them. Add enough salt to make the water taste salty.

Put the lid on the pot. Over high heat, bring the water to a boil. As soon as it boils, cut off the heat. Leave the pot on the warmed burner and don’t take off the lid. Let sit of 12 minutes. Remove eggs from pot and place in a bowl of ice water.

Once cool, peel the eggs under running water. Yum!

Tips
– The salt can make the eggs easier to peel because the proteins coagulate and firm up, making the white easier to separate from the shell.
– Peeling under running water isn’t necessary but it seems to make things easier to me.
– These are great for breakfast with a side of fruit and maybe a piece of toast.

Deviled Eggs

Time: 5 minutes
Level: Easy

eggs, boiled and peeled
mayonnaise
mustard
various other toppings and mixtures, see tips below

Cut eggs in half, lengthwise. Remove yellow yolk.

Mix yolks with a little mayo and mustard, just enough to make the mixture creamy.

Spoon or pipe yolk mixture back into egg whites.

Refrigerate until ready to serve. Yum!

Tips
– The options for deviled eggs are endless. You can add any combination of the following and they are all delish!!!
– pickle relish, salt, pepper, and paprika
– crumbled bacon or turkey bacon, chives, and shredded cheddar
– Sriracha, salt, pepper, a touch of curry powder
– switch the regular yellow mustard with hot  mustard or spicy brown                mustard and top with a slice of a pimento stuffed green olive
– celery, onion, and hot sauce

As you can see, the options are endless… and delicious! If you have leftover deviled eggs, boil some potatoes and make a deviled egg potato salad. That’s really yummy, too!

Green Chile Cornbread

This cornbread could not be any easier. With a little help from a box of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix and a can of green chilies, this cornbread is an easy side dish for any night of the week.

Green Chile Cornbread

Servings: 6-9
Time: 20 minutes
Level: Easy

1 package of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
1 egg
2 tbsp. milk
1 can green chilies, drained a little
1/4 – 1/3 c. cheese, shredded
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. chili powder

Preheat oven to 400°. Mix all ingredients together.

Let batter rest for 3 – 4 minutes. Pour into a greased 8 x 8 baking dish.

Bake for 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Yum!

Baja Shrimp Tacos with a Corn and Radish Salad

My pictures aren’t very good tonight. The lighting is bad, the angles are bad, they’re all bad. But it is because we were so anxious to sit down and eat these yummy little tacos! I will definitely be making both of these recipes again and again. The tangy yogurt sauce really made this meal come together and we loved every bite. I made enough for Jason to have leftovers for lunch tomorrow but he ended up going back for seconds… big seconds… yum!

Baja Shrimp Tacos

Servings: 2
Time: 15 minutes
Level: Medium (Just because of the timing. To have everything done at once is kind of tricky.)

10 frozen shrimp, defrosted, peeled, deveined
1/4 c. onion, thinly sliced
1 pinch of garlic powder
1 pinch of salt
1 pinch of red pepper flakes
1 pinch of cumin
1 pinch of coriander

In a skillet over medium-high heat, sauté onions until translucent. Add shrimp and all other ingredients. Heat until shrimp just turn pink, about 4 minutes.

Serve in warmed corn tortillas with Spicy Lime Yogurt Sauce, lettuce, and salsa. Yum!

Tips
– Warm the corn tortillas in a little oil, turning frequently, over medium heat. This will take the “raw” taste away.

Spicy Lime Yogurt Sauce

2 tbsp. plain non-fat yogurt
2 tbsp. sour cream
1-2 tsp. lime juice
1 pinch of cayenne
1 pinch of cumin
1 pinch of coriander

Mix all ingredients together. Can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 1 week. Yum!

Corn and Radish Salad

Servings: 2
Time: 5 minutes
Level: Easy

1/2 c. corn, rinsed and drained
3-4 radishes, thinly slices
1 tbsp. jalapeños, chopped
2 tbsp. Spicy Lime Yogurt Sauce

Mix all ingredients together. Can be made up to 3 hours ahead of time if stored in the fridge. Yum!

Quinoa and Salsa… Quick 1 Minute Side Dish Using Leftover Quinoa

This shouldn’t even be a post, it’s so easy! But it was so dang good that I figured I’d post it because that’s the reason I started this blog anyway. I always come up with random stuff to throw together that ends up being really good and then, poof!, I’ve forgotten what I did as soon as I’ve done it. So, here it is…

Quinoa and Salsa

Quinoa, cooked
Salsa

Mix leftover quinoa with enough salsa to coat it completely. Heat in a small sauce pan on the stove until warmed throughout. Yum!

Tips
– I used a really good black bean and corn salsa.
– Try using mango salsa… I think that would work and be delicious!
– Add a few black beans and a handful of corn to bulk up this side dish.
– Add a few veggies, like beans, corn, bell peppers, onions, and avocado and throw the mix into a tortilla for a quick lunch or dinner.
– Serve as a side dish instead of rice.