Tag: Side Dishes

Brunch

Recipe—Breakfast Potatoes

Diva di Cucina

These breakfast potatoes are a Sunday brunch must have item. I have been making these potatoes for years now and they are always a big hit. The best way to describe them would be a breakfast version of the garlic fries that you get at the ballpark. But better of course. How can they not be when you add salty bacon and savory mushrooms? When cooking up a big breakfast it’s really nice to be able to put your potatoes in the oven and forget about them while you focus on your other dishes. There always seems to be enough going on up on the stove top. And I must add that these are superb when wrapped in a fresh tortilla with some scrambled eggs and salsa. Gotta love breakfast burritos!

INGREDIENTS
2 lbs baby red potatoes, halved
2 c mushrooms, sliced
1/4 c olive oil
salt and pepper
8 slices of bacon, cooked and chopped
2 tbsp garlic, minced
1/4 c parsley

STEPS

  • Preheat oven to 425º.
  • In a large baking dish toss the potatoes and mushrooms in olive oil.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Bake for 40 minutes stirring occasionally.
  • Mix in the bacon and garlic and cook for an additional 5 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender.
  • Remove from oven and mix in parsley right before serving.
Side Dishes

Recipe—Italian Stuffed Zucchini a.k.a. Zucchini Boats

Diva di Cucina

With summer quickly approaching farmer’s markets will start popping up, gardens will be getting planted, and the produce department at your store will be full of fresh goods. It seems as though every summer zucchini is plentiful and I am getting lots of the delicious green squash from family and friends. I have found so many ways to creatively cook zucchini and this is one of my favorites. It is a great side dish to accompany your favorite Italian dish, especially chicken parmigiana or a big bowl of spaghetti.

INGREDIENTS
3 large zucchini
1/4 c yellow onions, minced
2 tbsp garlic, minced
3 tbsp butter
1/2 c fresh tomatoes finely chopped or canned petite diced tomatoes, drained
1 c Italian breadcrumbs
salt and pepper
1/2 c Parmesan cheese, divided

STEPS

  • Preheat oven to 350º.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add entire zucchini.
  • Cook the zucchini for 8–10 minutes and remove from water.
  • While the zucchini cools, sauté the onion and garlic in butter until tender.
  • Add tomatoes to the pan and heat through.
  • Remove pan from heat.
  • Cut zucchini in half lengthwise and scoop out centers of the zucchini. (I find a melon baller works wonders for this!)
  • Chop the pulp and squeeze out excess water.
  • Add zucchini pulp to the pan and mix.
  • Mix in breadcrumbs, salt and pepper, and 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese.
  • Stuff the zucchini “boats” and place in a baking dish.
  • Bake in oven for 10 minutes.
  • Top with remaining Parmesan cheese and bake another 5 minutes.
Dinners, Side Dishes

Recipe—Buffalo Baked Chicken with Blue Cheese Slaw

Diva di Cucina

When it comes to spicy foods buffalo chicken has got to be one of my favorites. I just can’t get enough of those delicious little wings drenched in buffalo sauce especially when served with a side of cool blue cheese dressing and celery. Mmmmm…  my mouth is now watering.

This recipe is a great way to turn a popular appetizer into a full dinner. The blue cheese slaw is a perfect complement to the buffalo baked chicken since the tartness of the lemon coupled with the creaminess of the blue cheese really balances out the spiciness of the sauce. Keep this nice light dinner in mind for these upcoming warm summer months. Enjoy!

Note: You can control the heat by using less sauce or getting a sauce that is milder in heat. If you are looking for a tasty finger food make this buffalo baked chicken recipe with breast tenders instead of the whole breasts.

COLESLAW INGREDIENTS
1 c blue cheese crumbles
juice from 2 lemons
1/2–3/4 c mayonnaise
4 celery stalks, sliced
2 cups shredded carrots
6 green onions, thinly sliced
3 c green cabbage, shredded
1 c red cabbage, shredded
OR
You can substitute 3–4 cups of Fresh Express 3-Color Deli Cole Slaw for the green and red cabbage to save some time. It is sold in bags in your store’s produce department.

STEPS

  • In a large salad bowl stir together blue cheese, lemon juice, and mayonnaise.
  • Add in the celery, shredded carrots, green onions, and shredded cabbage.
  • Mix thoroughly and if slaw seems dry add in more mayonnaise.
  • Cover and place in fridge to chill while preparing chicken.

BUFFALO BAKED CHICKEN INGREDIENTS
6 tbsp butter
3/4 c buffalo sauce (I love Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo Wings Sauce!)
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
salt and pepper
2 c croutons
1/2 c flat leaf parsley, finely chopped

STEPS

  • Pre-heat the oven 400º F.
  • Melt butter over low heat in a small pot and stir in hot sauce.
  • Place chicken in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper.
  • Pour the hot sauce mixture over the chicken and toss the pieces to coat in the Buffalo sauce. Allow to stand for 10 minutes while the meat marinades.
  • Put your croutons in a one gallon Ziploc bag and crush using a rolling pin.
  • Add the parsley to your zip loc bag and toss to mix.
  • Place the hot sauce-coated chicken into the Ziploc bag and toss to coat with the breadcrumbs.
  • Transfer the breaded chicken breasts to a large baking dish.
  • Bake chicken uncovered for 25–30 minutes, or until a thermometer reads 160º when stuck in the thickest part of the chicken breast.
  • Remove the chicken from the oven and serve with your blue cheese slaw. I like to top mine off with a drizzle of the buffalo sauce and some blue cheese crumbles.
Side Dishes

Recipe—Loaded Baked Cauliflower

Diva di Cucina

Whenever I want to try and drop a few pounds I typically opt for a low carb diet. That means cutting back on those delicious carbohydrates like pasta, bread, and potatoes. I really love my potatoes, and while there is no substitute for the real thing, this is as close as you can get to a loaded baked potato. This recipe is one of the many reasons I LOVE low carb dieting. I mean come on! A diet where you can eat bacon and cheese and still loose weight? You will not feel deprived while eating this for dinner. This recipe is certainly not a low calorie recipe, but it is a fantastic way to make a flavor packed vegetable dish that is very satisfying. If you have a picky eater that doesn’t typically like veggies give this a try. You may find out that they love cauliflower.

Note: If you want to make a healthier version of this recipe use low fat sour cream and cheese and substitute turkey bacon for regular.

INGREDIENTS
head of cauliflower prepared and broken up into florets
1 c sour cream
1 c cheddar cheese, shredded
3 green onions, chopped
6 slices cooked bacon, chopped or crumbled
salt and pepper

STEPS

  • Bring a large pot of water to boil.
  • Add in the prepared cauliflower florets and cook for 6–8 minutes or until easily pierced with a fork.
  • Remove cauliflower from water and allow to cool.
  • Preheat oven to 350º.
  • While the cauliflower cools, stir together sour cream, 1/2 of the cheese, 1/2 of the green onions, and 1/2 of the bacon in a large bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Chop cooked cauliflower into small pieces and add to the sour cream mixture. Be sure to give it a good stir.
  • Place mixture in a medium baking dish and top with remaining cheese and bacon.
  • Bake for 20 minutes.
  • Garnish with the remaining green onions just before serving.

Side Dishes

Recipe—Oven Roasted Zucchini

Diva di Cucina

Zucchini is definitely one of my favorite vegetables. I find that it goes great with all types of protein and is even a nice way to top off a pasta dish. This is one of my favorite ways to serve zucchini. It is relatively quick and easy, and of course delicious. You just toss it in the oven while whipping up the rest of dinner. The thyme is a great compliment to the zucchini and adds a nice blast of flavor.

INGREDIENTS
4 zucchini, sliced
1 white onion, sliced
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp thyme
salt and pepper to taste

STEPS

  • Preheat oven to 425º.
  • Toss together zucchini, onion, olive oil, thyme, and salt and pepper on a baking sheet.
  • Roast 30 minutes, stirring halfway through.