Dishing with Padma was like discovering a kindred spirit. She, like us, truly believes the most important quality in a host is the mood they set, not the food on their table. Although, the food and wine enhance a party, it’s the host that give it life and energy. We had Padma’s undivided attention, during our private 30 minute interview, and by the end, we were simply three hosts who love entertaining in their homes
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It’s time for Friday Night Bites and tonight we have a super side for BBQ’ing. This side salad is the perfect cool complement to hot grilled meats, poultry and fish. The fresh flavors from the produce brighten up this wholesome grain resulting in a refreshing and tasty salad. It’s an easy and affordable salad to make – a little couscous goes a long way! Print Grilled Corn Couscous Salad Author: Elizabeth Mascali Recipe type: Side Cuisine: American Serves: 6
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Saint Patrick’s Day sides that are nutricious and delicious from RecipeRehab.com! Who doesn’t love a good St. Patrick’s Day party? For many of us, St. Patty’s Day means a fun-filled weekend with lots of beer, whiskey, and good eats. Unfortunately, many of the good eats served at St. Patty’s parties aren’t exactly on the healthy side. With that in mind, I wanted to share with you two healthy St. Patrick’s Day inspired recipes from RecipeRehab.com (formerly BetterEats.com).
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Have you ever had a Knish? If you haven’t you need to and if you don’t have a Jewish Grandma like me, then you have to try your hand at making your own. Knish are delish (sorry, couldn’t resist) and although they are perfect for Passover, these treats make great party food anytime of year! There are a variety of ways to stuff a knish, so I have included several recipes for you to try.
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Irish Soda Bread is simple and special treat – perfect for celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day or any day. Try it out this St. Patrick’s Day and I bet you’ll be making it all year long. It’s perfect when paired with corned beef and cabbage and terrific for tea time, breakfast or in the kids lunches for school. I love this version with raisins from McCormick.com. Check out their website for more Saint Patrick’s Day recipe
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It’s harvest season, and gardens are ripe and bursting with their bounty! So make the most of this delicious time of year with a Garden Harvest Chow Down. Take what you have in your garden, or buy what is left at the farm stand and bring it home. Peppers, onions, zucchini, squash, corn, tomatoes, you name it. Chop it, grill it, sautée it, cook it up anyway you like it. You can add grilled steak
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Did you know that today, July 14th is National Macaroni and Cheese Day? To celebrate, the National Pasta Association (NPA) wanted to share a few untraditional mac and cheese recipes which are fast and easy to make as well as friendly on your wallet! Pasta can be the perfect foundation for a satisfying meal and an ideal “delivery system” for other nutritious foods, pasta meals can easily become nutritional all-stars. Below, please find 2 delicious
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Make your dipping sauce cooler! Tzatziki sauce is traditionally used as a dressing for gyros or Greek salad. However it’s the perfect condiment for burgers and baked potatoes, and easily doubles as a dip. If you haven’t had it before, you must try it – simply put, Tzatziki tickles our tastebuds and it’s a healthy alternative to higher calorie condiments and dips! This is a great recipe to serve at a party as those
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Here’s the perfect match for grilled meats from the BBQ. You can mix up a big bowl for guests or bring it along to a summer party where you’re the guest. As tomatoes come into season, it just gets better! Print ELIZABETH’S ITALIAN PASTA SALAD Author: Elizabeth Mascali Recipe type: Side Ingredients 1 16 oz. box medium shells, gemelli or farfelle (bowtie) pasta – (I like the way these pastas work in a pasta salad
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Looking for a perfect summer side dish? Potato Salad just might be it and this recipe from Elizabeth is amazing! Serve it up at your summer BBQ’s or bring it as a side to one you’re attending. It will be the crowd favorite. We’ve been making this potato salad in my family for generations – it has evolved a bit as it has moved through the hands of each generation (I deleted hard boiled eggs
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We’d like to share a very simple and special way to enjoy a healthy party treat! These fresh fruit lollipops are so simple to make, and make a very special presentation on your table – a bold, beautiful splash of color! The best thing about these good-for-you lollipops is that they put BIG smiles on the kids faces (and that’s contagious!) Just watch how fast they disappear, and how much fun everyone has eating
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Image courtesy of the Idaho Potato Commission Haven’t you heard? 2012 is “The Year of the Potato.” As always we take our party “picks and cues” from the food trend experts and chefs who create the menus in restaurants across the nation. This is one trend, that I know my family and friends will embrace right away. Try out one of these great recipes at your next celebration! So sayeth Andrew Freeman & Co., a
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Polenta is a versatile food that is hearty, healthy and budget-friendly. It makes a perfect based for countless toppings. Some of my favorites are parmesan, braised short ribs, sausage and roasted tomatoes. The traditional way to make polenta is on top of the stove, it’s labor intensive and requires constant stirring. That’s why, I wanted to share this wonderful recipe for oven-baked polenta; it’s so much easier than the stove-top method and just as
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This dish is a family favorite not only for the weekly menu, but also for the kids when hosting holidays and kids’ parties (I make enough to feed the adults too, because who can resist mac & cheese!) Elizabeth’s Easy Cheesy Mac & Cheese Ingredients 2 16 oz. boxes elbow pasta 4 tablespoons butter 4 heaping tablespoons flour 1 cup half and half 3 cups skim milk 1 ½ cup Fontina cheese, shredded 8
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Fresh cranberry sauce is a must-have at the Thanksgiving holiday table. This very simple, yet special recipe is fantastic and a family favorite! Make extra to send home with your guests, so that they can enjoy it with leftovers in their home. Double or triple the recipe and put the extra in mason jars with a sweet note and ribbon that say “We are Thankful For You!” Fresh Cranberry Sauce Ingredients: 1 cup sugar 1
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Here is the line-up for 5 SUPER SIDE DISHES for your THANKSGIVING menu – Enjoy! Triple-Corn Spoon Bread Triple-Corn Spoon Bread is always a big hit at our holiday table and is powerful comfort food for any time. The first time I had the dish was at one of my friend’s dinner parties. My husband loved it so much, I had to leave with the recipe. Since then, I have added it to my Thanksgiving menu. I
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This light version of bruschetta features the flavors of fresh produce. It’s my summer “go-to” appetizer; I never get tired of it. Go light with the olive oil because there’s nothing better than fresh produce and you want its flavor to shine through. This appetizer is not only affordable to prepare, it’s easy, just the way we like it! GRILLED SUMMER BRUSCHETTA Ingredients (serves 10-12) 1 loaf Italian bread (sliced into ½” slices) 1 clove
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Polenta is known as the pasta of the Northern Italy. It’s amazingly versatile, inexpensive and perfect parties! You can make it in 5 minutes with water, or add broth or milk for more flavor or creaminess. You can bake it, fry it, grill it or serve it from the pot like a thick soup. At just pennies a serving you can use polenta as a side dish, an appetizer, dessert or even a base
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Last spring while at my friends Jackie and Pete’s house for a BBQ, I was introduced to Bessie’s Bean Dip. When Bessie walked into the party, all eyes went to the dish she was carrying, with hopes she had brought her famous dip. Indeed she had and I got my first taste of her recipe which is really more like chili . Let’s just say it was one of those Ah-Ha food moments you get
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Tomatoes and mozzarella with olive oil and basil is a simple and special summer treat, that sends me to the moon! Caprese Salad or Insalata Caprese originates from the isle of Capri in Italy. Since there are only three ingredients in this salad, the focus is on fresh. Tomato and basil season, so this shouldn’t be a problem (just remember to keep the tomatoes out of the fridge). Serve the salad on a large platter
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This past weekend BBQ season hit full swing, so you’ll be needing some great recipes to go with all grilled meat over the next 2 months. Here is one from Hunt’s Ketchup that I love! These baked beans are flavored with bacon and onion, then slowly simmered in a sweet-and-savory sauce. Super Easy Stovetop Baked Beans Prep Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes Makes: 12 servings (1/2-cup each) Ingredients: 3 slices Armour® Bacon, coarsely
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When I think of “Cowboy Cooking”, I think of Chuck Wagons and hungry cowboys huddled over the campfire starving after a long day of driving cattle. Cowboy Caviar incorporates the same ingredients (corn, beans and onions) used on the Chuck Wagons in the 1800′s however, it’s a bit more refined. It doesn’t require a campfire, in fact, it doesn’t require an oven, stove or grill either! Although no hot grill is needed, it’s perfect for
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Triple-Corn Spoon Bread is always a big hit at our holiday table and is powerful comfort food for any time. The first time I had the dish was at one of my friend’s dinner parties. My husband loved it so much, I had to leave with the recipe. Since then, I have added it to my Thanksgiving menu. I opt for regular corn not the “no-salt” version and give up the health benefit for what I feel
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Stuffing is such a personal choice and defines so many Thanksgiving tables. I find tradition dictates this holiday side dish more than any other, as everyone likes the way their Mom makes it. My Mom always made a classic stuffing that was simple. That’s the way I like it – with plenty of gravy! It will always be on my table, but I am up for adding a second version too – it’s a feast
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Oh this is so good! Elizabeth got me hooked on roasted root veggies a few years back. It was not part of my Mom’s Thanksgiving menu growing up, but it’s part of mine now! Here’s a great recipe from Southern Living that gives some kick to the roasted root vegetables. It’s easy to prepare and really brings the special earthy flavors of fall to your table. I love the idea of serving the vegetables
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Leave it to Good Housekeeping to come up with a fresh new take on the old green been casserole. I love that this recipe kicks the cans and uses all fresh ingredients. I will try it out this Thanksgiving and know that the adults at my table will appreciate and love the new take on an old classic. Not so sure about the younger guests, so I am keeping a can of fried onions in
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Here is a delicious recipe from McCormick Spice that screams “Thanksgiving”. It’s simple to make and is a special addition to your holiday menu. Sweet potatoes are a must on any Thanksgiving table and the combo of this staple with spices like cinnamon and ginger, plus orange and cranberry is seriously scrumptious. My husband is a huge fan of crunchy toppings and this dish boasts one that’s out of this world. Pecan, cinnamon and brown
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Here are 29 simply spectacular side dishes from Southern Living. The magazine and website are just teaming with great ideas and recipes. It’s easy, pick one you like then use the link to view the recipe at Southern Living. The hardest thing to do is deciding on just a few! Planning Thanksgiving Sides Cajun Corn Maque Choux Sweet Potato Casserole Two-Cheese Squash Casserole Green Beans With Shallots and Red Pepper
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