Category Archives: Sides

Baked Penne with Beer, Bacon, and Brie

November 27, 2012

With a title like that, there’s really not much else that needs to be said. Visions of homemade mac & cheese have been dancing in my head for months, and after a couple rounds of experimentation, I’d say we have ourselves a winner. Whole wheat penne bathes in a sauce of brie, parmesan, and wintry amber ale while bacon and panko bread crumbs provide smokiness and crunch. My husband will attest to the fact that I’m not much of a beer drinker, but I appreciate how the mellowness of the brie really lets the beer shine through (in a good …

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Easy Garlic Roasted Mushrooms

November 9, 2012

Hello, friends. It’s Friday. At 4:45pm. And it’s almost dark. Craziness. I’ve been doing a lot of talking this week, so I’ve decided to change the pace and keep today’s comments brief. In short, these mushrooms are my new favorite side dish. They prep quickly, practically cook themselves, and are full of garlicky deliciousness. Perfect for when life gets a little crazy. I hope you like them as much as I do. ***** Print Easy Garlic Roasted Mushrooms Makes: 4 side dish servings Ingredients1 1/2 pounds white button mushrooms 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1 1/2 tablespoons freshly minced …

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Cornmeal-Crusted Fried Green Tomatoes

October 19, 2012

Yesterday, I told you of our adventures grinding meal from corn we gleaned in a nearby field. Today, I’ll share what we did with it. Originally, I was thinking of making a classic cornbread to see how the texture would compare to using store-bought meal, but bright green tomatoes at the farmer’s market changed that plan completely. Ever since seeing Fried Green Tomatoes in the mid nineties, I’ve wanted to try my hand at making my own, and I am so glad I did! The method is simple, just prep the tomatoes, apply the coating, then fry ‘em up. Dress them …

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Curried Yellow Squash with Mint Yogurt Sauce

July 6, 2012

A few weeks ago, I mentioned the struggle I’d been having with vegetables. Our relationship had been splintered for some time, and as I think back, it was probably close to a year ago that they began to feel tepid on my tongue. When pregnancy came, my normal proclivity for nutritious foods was replaced by a powerful urge to eat cheesy nachos, Klondike bars, and nearly every other processed food available. I was thankful for my prenatal vitamins, which helped bridge the gap, but I was not at all satisfied with what I was eating. Though I bounced back rather …

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Tostones (Twice-Fried Green Plantains) with Cilantro-Garlic Yogurt Sauce

May 22, 2012

There are times when I sit down to craft the creative writing portion of a blog post, and I’ve got nothing. Sentences are typed and then deleted in short order, and I find myself frustrated as a blank screen stares mockingly in my direction. My mind roars with self-criticism, deeming nothing I write to be acceptable; it’s too dull, too vague, too contrived, I tell myself. Start again; it needs to be perfect. Don’t give up, Christie, you’re not a quitter. Sometimes these words work to my advantage, driving me to pursue excellence and pushing the boundaries of what I …

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Red Potato Salad with Garlic and Whole Grain Mustard

May 16, 2012

With all the sunshine we’ve had here in Seattle these last few days, I’ve caught myself leaning in to summer and looking forward to the season more than I have in years past. July and August usually find me in front of a fan with a glass of ice water, waiting not so patiently for the day when autumn might relieve my misery, so it’s quite out of the ordinary for me to be thinking such happy thoughts about the upcoming transition. I can’t help myself; scents of strawberries and sunscreen are filling my head as I anticipate the blessings …

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Thyme-Infused Potato Gratin

April 2, 2012

It likely has something to do with the fact that I recently gave birth and am just now emerging from the newborn craziness, but it feels like this year is flying by at lightning speed. April is always a busy time for our family – there is Easter, of course, but three out of four of us also celebrate our birthdays this month. Now that the calendar has turned, I am suddenly feeling rather unprepared for all the merry-making that is to come. I suppose I better kick things into high gear and turn my lofty dreams into specific plans, …

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Roasted Kale Chips

November 4, 2011

We’ve all felt it. That nagging sense of regret that comes with eating a bit too much junk food and far too few veggies. We know we should get our greens, but why is it so hard to do sometimes? Those crispy, salty potato chips stare us down, begging us to indulge, until finally we cave. Then, adding insult to injury, they leave us with a stomach ache that serves as an unpleasant reminder of our indiscretion. Now don’t get me wrong, indulgence has its place, and I fully believe that food should be both nourishing and enjoyable. But isn’t it easy to get …

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