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Nonnie’s Chopped Veggie Salad

January 22, 2012 in Salad, Side Dishes, Vegetables, Vegetarian

About two years ago, my dad was visiting Jake and me (pre-baby) here in Boston and we were all getting ready to eat a bagel breakfast on his last morning here.  As Dad picked his bagel up, I warned him about how sharp the knife was but he was listening to me just about as much as he normally does when I have only the best intentions (ha!) and proceeded to slice right through the bagel and into his hand.  I won’t get into the gory details, but there were many hours spent in the emergency room that day, and many more spent cleaning our murder scene of a kitchen.  He still can’t feel the last two fingers of his left hand.

Fast forward to this past week when I took those same killer knives to get sharpened at a local kitchen supply store.  They had become dull through years of use and abuse.  When the owner handed the finished product back to me he hesitated for a minute, clearly contemplating whether or not he should let me leave with them.  I didn’t share the story about my dad, but I could tell that he was trying to decide whether or not I was a walking liability.

For this recipe, you probably want to pull out your good, sharp, and hopefully accident-free knives (don’t invite my dad over that day!) because you’ll be doing a lot of veggie chopping.  But trust me, the labor is worth it once you taste the sweet, tangy vegetables.  This salad is another one that is compliments of Nonnie.  Isn’t she the best?  Send more recipes, please!

Nonnie’s Chopped Veggie Salad

1 1/2 cups green beans, cooked and chopped into small pieces
1 1/2 cups corn
1 1/2 cups peas
1 small jar pimentos, chopped
1 cup celery, diced
1 medium green pepper, diced
1 medium red pepper, diced
1 onion, diced (I happened to have a red onion)
1 cup grated carrot

For the dressing:
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil
3/4 cup white vinegar
2 Tbsp water

Combine all of the ingredients of the dressing and bring to a boil.  Let cool.

Combine all of the vegetables (which vegetables you choose can be adapted based on what you like) and pour the dressing over.  Mix well and chill for 24 hours.  Drain the excess liquid before serving.

Source: My wonderful Nonnie  :)

You Know I Like My Onion Fried…

November 19, 2011 in All Posts, Appetizers, Onion, Side Dishes, Vegetarian


Ok, seriously.  These onion rings are the real thing.  I loved them so much that I made them twice in one day.  Yeah.  With Lily getting over a case of pink eye and a surviving a never-ending cold, this comfort food is perfect.  Not that she ate any onions, but they comforted me, and that’s what really matters, right?  Don’t worry, I gave her extra raspberries and snuggles.

The oven-fried onion rings are breaded with kettle-cooked potato chips that give them a good crunch with a bit of greace that makes you think they were fried, but there are also saltines that are salty and crispy and good, and the rings are made with the ease of being baked in the oven.  Jake won’t let me buy a deep fryer, and I have a feeling it’s for my own good.  Read the rest of this entry →

Because we only have fresh summer produce for a few more weeks…

September 2, 2011 in All Posts, Side Dishes, Tomato, Vegetarian, zucchini

So, you have a garden (or grocery store) full of tomatoes and zucchini?  And you have a pot-luck Labor Day party to go to?  Well, my friend, how convenient that you happened upon this little website of mine today.  Now that it’s September, our produce days are limited, so make the most of the bounty and throw this zucchini-tomato gratin together.  I made it after work one day (it’s that easy!) and Jake and I ate this side dish as our entire dinner.  Mainly because I didn’t make anything else.  But he didn’t complain.  He also didn’t complain when I asked him to clean up this mess.  What a guy. 
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