Category: side dish

Chicken Parmesan with Roasted Eggplant and Zucchini with Basil Vinaigrette

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I absolutely love Giada DeLaurentis’ new way of cooking…she does an amazing job at balancing those comforting Italian flavors with a clean, delicate and healthy touch. I found this light chicken parmesan recipe from her new cookbook Happy Cooking and it’s now a favorite of mine. The addition of fresh herbs in this recipe really makes it stand out. I modified a bit to lighten up some areas more. I paired it with roasted veggies that you often find in Italian cooking, tossed in a wonderfully bright basil vinaigrette.

 -Mel

Health tips: Low fat, low carb, heart healthy, diabetes friendly, anti inflammatoryRead More »

Creamy Dilly Potato Salad

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Tyler Florence’s potato salad is my favorite on earth, and has been my go-to side dish for many summer potlucks and BBQs. It has lots of flavors and textures, just perfect…an oldie but definitely a goodie! I modified it a bit to be lighter, and it’s still very creamy and flavorful. It’s pretty easy to make and can be prepared and refrigerated ahead of time…the flavors just get better!

 -Mel

Health tips: Reduced fat, heart healthyRead More »

Garlic Cheese Bombs

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My weakness=CHEESE. I found this insanely flavorful and super easy recipe on www.damndelicious.net and am in love. It’s also very flexible…you can pretty much stuff anything in crescent roll dough and wow your family and friends. I added fresh basil to mine and paired them with marinara sauce for the perfect bite!

 -Mel

Health tips: Cheat mealRead More »

Creamy Mashed Potatoes with Smoked White Cheddar and Mushroom Gravy

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Mashed potatoes have to be one of my favorite comfort foods of the holiday, heck year round actually! They are just so luscious, creamy, and oh so satisfying. A recent trip to the Tillamook Cheese Factory in Oregon inspired me to make this recipe. We were in heaven! I brought home various cheeses including a Smoked Sharp White Cheddar that had been aged for 18 months. This past Thanksgiving I tried it in my mashed potatoes and the flavors went through the roof! I just had to order more for Christmas dinner! I serve it with a rich mushroom gravy with thyme and shallots, and it’s a winning combination!

 -Mel

Health tips: cheat meal

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Fried Brussel Sprouts with Honey Sriracha Crema and Bacon

Mel and Tammy3 Comments

It’s hard to believe that Christmas is just a few days away… I can’t wait for all the goodies to devour! This side dish was inspired by a visit I had to BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse a couple months ago with some great friends as we “held court”(Our weekly meet up to catch up on the week and vent!). Brussel sprouts often get a bad wrap, but if they are so good for you! And, if you season and mix them up with just the right ingredients such as bacon, mayo and Sriracha, you can’t go wrong. You deserve a little indulgence if you eat your greens…Try this super easy and delicious recipe for your Christmas dinner!

 -Mel

Health tips: Diabetes-friendly, anti-inflammatory, low carb

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Macaroni and Cheese Casserole

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If you are looking for an easy side dish for Christmas (or any other night of the year), then make my macaroni and cheese casserole. This is one of the very first dishes I created on my own. You do not have to make a sauce first; you just mix everything in a bowl, throw it in a casserole dish, bake it, and you’re done! It’s an oldie, but goodie. And it’s definitely a cheat meal. Double the recipe If you are cooking for a crowd. It’s the holidays, so enjoy!

 -Tammy

Health tips:  cheat meal

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Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallow Streusel Crunch

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I can’t believe the holidays are already here, and Thanksgiving just around the corner! It is definitely the time to indulge, but I actually think that there are many opportunities to share tasty dishes while also keeping it wholesome and healthy, especially with the season’s produce. Sweet potatoes are a favorite of many, and they are packed with vitamins and nutrients. Why not kick it up some and be a little bad since this glorious vegetable is so good!? Even if you’re not a big fan of sweet potatoes, this will change your mind! Share this dish with your family and friends this week!

-Mel

Health tips: Low fat, heart healthy, anti-inflammatory, kid friendly

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Warm Ravioli and Arugula Salad w/ Shallot Dijon Vinaigrette

Mel and Tammy1 Comment

This is one of my favorite recipes I found on eatingwell.com! It’s simple, clean and so very tasty. Yum Yum. You can enjoy the cozy flavor of ravioli but it’s also very light with the peppery arugula greens mixed in. Enjoy it as a potluck dish, a side, lunch or light dinner. Leftovers eaten cold the next day are delicious as well!

-Mel

Health tips: Low fat, vegetarian, heart healthy

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Kick-It-Up-A-Notch Caesar Salad with Parmesan Crisps

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As we close with the last few weeks of summer, I decided to make a healthier version of Caesar salad. My hubby and I recently had our 10 year anniversary. We went out to dinner to a new restaurant and had a delicious Caesar salad. But what made it so special was that it had fried capers and little pieces of prosciutto in the salad! Those two extra ingredients really made the salad unique! As soon as I had it, I knew I had to re-make it into a healthier version by using my favorite go-to salad dressing. It’s made with yogurt! It’s low in calories, fat, sodium, sugar, has no preservatives, and has no artificial colors or flavors. You can find it in the refrigerated section in the produce department. Make your own whole grain croutons, if possible. I highly suggest it! (recipe to follow soon) And for a little extra indulgence, make my Parmesan crisps. So go ahead, have a Caesar salad without the guilt!

-Tammy

Health tips: Low carb, low fat, heart healthy, diabetes friendly

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Roasted Cabbage Steaks with Bacon, Blue Cheese and Scallions

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Are you ready for a super easy, quick and tasty snack? Roasted vegetables yield so much flavor and I’d have to say that cabbage is one of my favorites! As soon as you start roasting cabbage in the oven, the smells that fly through the house are amazing. And talk about healthy…cabbage is full of antioxidants, and rich nutrients that fight cancer and inflammation. This recipe allows you to indulge in a light helping of delicious bacon and cheese, while also taking in these amazing nutrients. We foodies don’t want to deprive ourselves right??? Proportion is key! You deserve it! =)

-Mel

Health tips: Anti-inflammatory, low carb, low fat, heart healthy, diabetes friendly

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