Showing posts with label vegetable side dish. Show all posts

Winter Comfort Vegetables | Saute Parsnip Casserole Dish

I'd like to share my mother-in-law's recipe on how to cook parsnips, a family favorite winter vegetable Parsnip Casserole with Bacon.

Parsnip Saute Casserole with Bacon

The holidays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah are coming up and soon we're starting a New Year. All the Christmas cookies and desserts are planned. If it hasn't already, soon the snow will begin to fly. To me, that means I'll be hibernating, cocooning and turning to comfort food.

Yes, my family actually ASKS for me to make these sweet parsnips! My mother-in-law used to babysit for my kids when they were tots, and would have dinner started for me one day a week. Once she stopped babysitting, I would have her over for Sunday dinner. I learned to cook some of my husband's favorite family dishes at her knee.

When winter rolls around, you experience your body slow down, and perhaps you'll notice that all you want to do is eat breadstuff and cheese. While a certain amount of comfort eating can help raise your spirits when days are short, soon you'll find that too much of a good thing can, in it's turn lead to feeling lethargic and groggy, or SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder.)

If the mention of consuming plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole foods seems hard during the winter, think of preparing lots of hot casseroles, soups and baked berry desserts. Try to use what's in season - all of those root vegetables, carrots, rutabagas, celery, turnips, onions and leeks. You might want to try a combination or choice with a bit of vegetable stock and brown lentils to make a nourishing soup or this parsnip casserole (add fresh or dried herbs for extra flavor) - follow it with a yummy apple and berry crumble. Comfort food can be nutritious and can help you get rid of the winter blahs!

Speaking of veggies - check out this Broccoli Cheese Casserole which is yummy to feed a crowd!

Easy cleanup in the kitchen with Handmade Crochet Dish Cloths from Moomettes Shop !

Winter Vegetable Parsnip Casserole Bacon Skillet Saute

1 bag (1 lb.) parsnips, peeled and cut into 1" pieces
1/2 lb. bacon
salt, pepper and seasonings, to taste

Par Boil parsnips in a large stock pot until fork tender, about 30 minutes.
Fry bacon in frying pan. Remove from pan and set aside.
In a Saute pan, saute the parsnips in bacon drippings until golden brown on all sides, turning occasionally
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Add crumbled bacon pieces if desired.

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Broccoli Cheese Casserole Recipe | Vegetable Casserole | Brunch Recipe

I'd like to share one of my favorite side dishes with you. They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach - this is my Charming Son-In-Law's favorite Broccoli Casserole. We serve it all year long, not just for the Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas Holidays!

Broccoli Casserole

This favorite Broccoli Cheese casserole recipe was given to me by one of our friends which I first got married. Actually, I really don't care for broccoli all that much - guess I'm like our former President George W. Bush, however, I think it's the best broccoli casserole and ONLY broccoli I eat! Now my own daughters make it for their family.

What makes this Broccoli Casserole Recipe zesty is the addition of Apple Cider Vinegar and French's Onion Rings !

Easy cleanup in the kitchen with my Handmade Dish Cloths from my Moomettes Shops!

Handmade Sage Green Dish Cloths Cotton Wash Cloths

You might like to try my Green Bean Soup or Green Bean Casserole Recipe as a veggie side dish too !

Broccoli Cheese Casserole

1 Bag chopped broccoli (16 oz.)
1 Can French's Onion rings
1 jar Cheese Whiz (8 oz)
1/2 c. Hellman's mayonnaise
Apple vinegar to taste (1 tsp.)

Cook and drain broccoli. Steam if desired instead.

Mix in Cheese Whiz, mayonnaise, vinegar and 3/4 of the onion rings.

Spray casserole dish lightly with cooking spray.

Top with remaining onion rings.

Bake in 350 degree oven for approximately 30 minutes, or until bubbly.

Do not overcook.

Let me know what you think! I make it not only for the Holidays such as Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas, but whenever I cook a roast.

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Ratatouille Recipe | Eggplant Veggie Stew

Enjoy trying this summer Ratatouille recipe made with eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, onions and fresh garden veggies! It's a great meatless crockpot recipe. It's very Mediterranean Diet Friendly.

Crockpot Eggplant Ratatouille

Your annual summer Cookout or BBQ is quickly approaching. Whether you’re expecting vegetarian guests, you’ve newly transitioned to vegetarianism yourself, or you’d just like to incorporate more meatless recipes to give some variety to your cookout menu, there are all kind of ways to prepare meatless options with healthy veggies.

Before beginning, remember that most vegetarian foods are more fragile than meat, and do not contain as much fat. Therefore, clean and well-lubricated grill is essential to successfully grilling vegetables. It’d be a shame for those beautifully grilled peppers to stick to the grill!

Traditionally, vegetables have been considered a side dish in most meals, but at a cookout they can take center stage as the entrée. Almost any kind of vegetable is great for grilling. Complement your meal by serving them over pasta, rice or polenta. You can also make them into extraordinary sandwiches with a soy-based cheese and some freshly baked rolls or bread. Cut the vegetables lengthwise into thin slices in the case of zucchini and eggplant, or into thick rings, in the case of onions, tomatoes and peppers. If you'd rather have your veggies in handy bite-size pieces for serving with pasta and the like, try using a stainless steel vegetable basket for the Weber grill with small holes that keep the veggies from falling through the grill and being lost. And probably the easiest way to grill vegetables on the grill is shish-ka-bob style!

Don’t forget to balance out those grilled vegetables with some fresh fruit salads, perfectly chilled and juicy. Watermelon, strawberries, grapes, and citrus fruits all complement one another well in a delightful fruit salad prepared with non-dairy whipped cream. Also use fruits to experiment with some fun smoothies and slushies for the kids – they’re fun and better for them than sugary sodas.

Here's my favorite family recipe that my sister-in-law gave me some 30 years ago for Ratatouille. While we don't have a vegetable garden, our neighbors share their plentiful harvest bounty of the summer with us.

I find this to be a very versatile ratatouille recipe and use it as a side dish at dinner, or you can add pasta and and make it into an easy and quick chicken cacciatore meal. You can also make it in a slow cooker or crockpot.

Easy clean up with my Handmade Kitchen Dish Cloths from Moomettes Crochet Shop !

Ratatouille Recipe

Ratatouille (pronounced /ˌrætəˈtuːiː/ rat-ə-too-ee; French: [ʁatatuj]) is a traditional French Provençal stewed vegetable dish, originating in Nice. The full name of the dish is ratatouille niçoise. (Wikipedia)

3 onions
1 eggplant, peeled
3 or 4 green and yellow zucchini squash
3 or 4 cloves of garlic
1 can tomatoes, drained (or use several fresh)
1 tsp dill
1 tsp oregano

1 tsp basil

Saute onions and garlic in oil until tender.
Add peppers, zucchini, eggplant and tomatoes (chopped in chunks).
Simmer for about 1 hour. Makes own juice.

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Sauteed Green Beans Casserole | String Beans | Vegetable Side Dish Recipe

Pretty soon in New England this summer our gardens will be putting forth a bountiful harvest of fresh green beans. This is a favorite recipe for Sauteed Green Beans Casserole using French Onions.

If you don't plant a vegetable garden, stop by your local farm stand for some fresh string beans. My family also enjoys my recipe for Hungarian Green Bean Soup with Spoon Noodles.

French Onion Green Bean Casserole

This is a quick and easy veggie side dish that you can make in a skillet saute pan and a good way to get the kids or grandchildren to eat their vegetables! This green bean casserole is Mediterranean Diet friendly!

Easy clean up in the kitchen with Handmade Dish Cloths from Moomettes Crochet !

Vegetable Side Dish

1 or 2 lbs. fresh green beans, rinsed and cut into 1 inch pieces
1-2 cubes fresh garlic, diced fine
2-3 Tbl. EVOO Olive Oil
1 cup French Onion Rings
Italian seasoning mix, to taste
Oregano, to taste
salt and pepper, to taste

In a large saute pan, saute garlic and green beans in olive oil until fairly soft and light brown

Season with salt, pepper, oregano and Italian seasoning mix

Just prior to serving, mix in French Onion Rings, if desired, or crouton of your choice
Add crisp bacon bits to this casserole dish if desired

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Garden Zucchini Sour Cream Saute | Green Zucchini | Skillet Recipe

I'm a creative cook, and like to experiment with different spices and herbs. Spice up your summer veggies such as garden fresh Zucchini and Yellow Squash and saute for a cool summer meal !

Green Zucchini and Yellow Summer Squash

When I was a kid my family always had a garden that I can remember going out to in the early morning and picking fresh vegetables such as cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, green beans and yellow squash.

When local vegetables are in-season, I always prefer local farm stand over store-bought.

One of my favorite recipes is this stovetop one pan skillet saute fresh green zucchini also known as courgette, and I've tried it with the Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime Seasoning Blend, and it came out terrific! As it has no salt or MSG, which lets me and my family enjoy our meal without worrying about unhealthy ingredients

Easy clean up with Handmade Dish Cloths from Moomettes Crochet Shop !

I'd like to share my recipe for this quick and easy side dish to accompany your main meals:

Other veggie Skillet Saute Recipes -
Zucchini Fritters
Summer Squash Casserole
Zucchini Pie
Zucchini Bread

Zucchini Lemon Pound Cake
Yellow Summer Squash Casserole

Fresh Garden Zucchini Saute with Sour Cream

1-2 large green zucchini, sliced
1 large yellow onion, sliced
1/4-1/2 cup sour cream
2 Tbl. Olive Oil
Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime Seasoning Blend, to taste
1/4 tsp. oregano
Salt and pepper to taste

In a skillet over medium heat, saute zucchini and onion in olive oil until onions are transparent, and zucchini is slightly brown.
While cooking, season with spices.
Turn frequently.

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