Choose from this collection of Healthy Summer Side Dish Recipes to round out your summer dinners, barbecues and picnics. I love going to the weekly farmer’s market to see what fresh produce is in season. By mid-summer, the stalls are full of fresh tomatoes, corn, cucumbers, potatoes, zucchini and more. This summer, I’m growing a…
Side Dishes
Healthy Light Side Dishes featuring whole ingredients
Mediterranean Pasta Salad
This Mediterranean Pasta Salad is easy to make and perfect for summer barbecues or picnics. Juicy, sweet, farm fresh tomatoes are featured in this vegetarian friendly pasta salad. Our church provides a unique community feel, despite its size. One of ways I like to serve is cooking meals for people and families who are going…
Baked Zucchini Tomato Summer Squash Goat Cheese Gratin Recipe
This Baked Zucchini Tomato Summer Squash Goat Cheese Gratin is so elegant, it’s perfect for potlucks and entertaining. I love farm fresh summer vegetables. The most bountiful seem to be zucchini and tomatoes. Although I don’t have a garden, I do plant tomatoes and herbs in containers on my patio. In addition, I visit our…
Healthy Christmas Holiday Salad Recipes
These vibrant Healthy Christmas Holiday Salad Recipes will lighten up your holiday menu and make your holiday spread look beautiful. Your guests will welcome some healthier options. Christmas is just around the corner so if you’re planning your holiday menu, take a look at these Healthy Christmas Holiday Salad recipes. They’re full of festive, vibrant colors, and they’re…
Sweet and Spicy Spiralized Cucumber Tomato Arugula Salad Recipe {Daniel Plan Recipe}
This simple Sweet and Spicy Spiralized Cucumber Tomato Arugula Salad is refreshing, light and delicious. At the height of summer, cucumbers are abundantly available. Although I love sliced cucumbers in my salad, I’m always looking for new ways to enjoy cucumbers at their peak. This cucumbers salad calls for spiralized cucumber, baby arugula and cherry…
Roasted Chili Garlic Broccoli Recipe
Looking for a little something a little spicy and sweet? Try this Roasted Chili Garlic Broccoli. It will have your taste buds tingling. I make a lot of broccoli for my kids, and typically my go-to broccoli recipe is simply steaming it and drizzling some toasted garlic hot pepper olive oil on top. I know…
Mixed Bag Kale Salad with Tomatoes and Cheese with Lemon Dressing Recipe
This “Mixed Bag” Kale Salad is so simple to make, yet you’ll never tire of it. Be sure to use the freshest kale you can find and shaved gruyere or Parmesan cheese right off the block. So, we’ve been living out of a few hotels for nearly three weeks while home repairs were being done following…
Quinoa Citrus Mango Avocado Black Bean Salad Recipe
This Quinoa Citrus Mango Avocado Black Bean Salad would make an excellent addition to any meal. Bright with citrus fruits, juicy with mangoes, creamy with avocado, and chock full of protein from quinoa and black beans. Spring is here but temperatures continue to fluctuate between warm and cool. Spring crops are just starting to come…
Mexican Chopped Salad with Cilantro Lime Yogurt Avocado Dressing Recipe
Mexican Chopped Salad with Cilantro Lime Yogurt Avocado Dressing is so light, no one will guess the secret ingredients in the creamy dressing. The non-fat dressing is deceptively rich and creamy tasting. 148 calories/2 Freestyle points per serving). Last week, we started our Fall Bible Study and I volunteered to bring a savory dish. It…
Roasted Beets
Roasted Beets are simple to prepare and delicious in salads. I first became obsessed with roasted beets about nine years ago when I ordered the most amazing beet salad at a local restaurant (Farmer’s Table) that used home grown vegetables. It was right around the time when farm-to-table restaurants started to pop up everywhere. The…
Chinese Shrimp Fried Rice Recipe
Homemade Chinese Shrimp Fried Rice is so much better than takeout – you have to try this recipe! Fried rice is such a common dish in our household that I wouldn’t even think to post a recipe for it on my blog, except for the fact that it’s so good and one of those dishes…
Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Herbed Thanksgiving Stuffing
This Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Herbed Thanksgiving Stuffing is simple and elegant, and will please the pickiest eaters. If you’re entertaining guests with food allergies or intolerances this holiday season, this stuffing recipe should satisfy all your guests. I remember the first gluten-free Thanksgiving I made several years ago. Everything on the menu was naturally gluten-free except…
Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes with Truffle Oil Recipe
These Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes with Truffle Oil are a special treat when you’re looking to dress up your mashed potatoes. Cauliflower is the secret ingredient to making these mashed potatoes lower in carbohydrates and a little bit healthier. I’ve made these special Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes with Truffle Oil for special occasions as a treat. Using…
Sweet Potato Casserole with Praline Topping Recipe
This Sweet Potato Casserole with Praline Topping is decadent – a real treat for the holiday season. Roasted sweet potatoes and sweet spices ensure lots of flavor, and the praline topping takes this sweet potato casserole over the top. I grew up eating sweet potato casserole with toasted marshmallows on top. Although I have fond…
Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce
Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce is an easy, healthy and delicious vegetable dish for everyday meals. I had this dish in Cantonese restaurants many times before I realized how easy it was to prepare at home. This week, I prepared a meal for one of our church families, including this side dish. Little did I…
Vegetarian Fried Rice Recipe
Vegetable Fried Rice is a simple, delicious meal that reheats well and serves a crowd. I’ve been making fried rice for more than 30 years, so I know how to make really good fried rice, if I say so myself. Fried rice is a crowd pleaser and reheats easily, so when my kids are home…
Dominican Republic Green Salad Recipe
Dominican Republic Green Salad is a simple, everyday salad that is the perfect accompaniment to any meal of the day. Today, I am going to the Dominican Republic on a mission trip with 50 other people from my church, including the twins and my youngest son. I’ve never been on a mission trip, nor have…
Corn Tomato Avocado Salsa Salad Recipe
This Corn Tomato Avocado Salsa Salad is perfect for warm weather entertaining. Serve it as a dip for an appetizer, salsa on top of grilled chicken or fish, or as a salad. Casual summer dinners, barbecues and get togethers call for easy recipes that can be thrown together quickly with fresh in-season ingredients. I love…
Georgian Lobio Kidney Bean Salad Recipe
Georgian Lobio Kidney Bean Salad is a popular Georgian dish that makes a delicious and colorful side dish. Recently, I hosted a birthday dinner for our Georgian friend and served this lobia kidney bean salad, and several other traditional Georgian dishes for a surprise. Georgian cuisine is unique and nothing like I’ve tasted before. Fragrant…
Georgian Beet Green Pkhali Recipe
Georgian Beet Green Pkhali are a traditional dish made with finely chopped beet greens, walnuts, garlic and herbs. Spinach Pkhali was one of the first Georgian dishes I tried when our Georgian friend invited us out for Georgian New Year a number of years ago. That evening remains fixed in my memory as everything we…
Mexican Corn Tomato Feta Salad Recipe
Mexican Corn Tomato Feta Salad combines the flavors of Mexican street corn into a delicious summer salad, perfect for entertaining and picnics. Fresh corn and tomatoes are two of my favorite summer vegetables that are plentiful at the farmer’s market and supermarkets this time of year. While I love corn on the cob and caprese salad,…