Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

This is another one of those spur of the moment recipes that happened by chance.

Tuscan Cauliflower, Tomato, and Bean Sauté

I've been working on this little at-home challenge where I'm trying to eat more vegetables every day. Some days I achieve my goal, some days I don't. But the good days outweigh the bad and I think I'll eventually hit the amount that I'm happy with each and every day. In an effort to help me succeed, I'm trying to whip up these awesome side dishes that serve more as the main entrée than the actual side.

Mediterranean Quinoa Stuffed Avocado

I'm on a quinoa kick. And I'm always looking for new things to do with avocados, so why not combine the two! This one was inspired by a recipe a friend shared on Facebook. You can find it here: http://theleancleaneatingmachine.com/2014/01/17/quinoa-stuffed-avocados/

The original was more of a Mexican-flavored meal so I decided to change it up and bring on some completely different flavors. The only way to go, of course, was Mediterranean style!

Warm Chick Pea, Pea Pod, and Tomato Salad

When you have pork in the Crock Pot that's ready to be shredded for tacos, the only logical thing to do is come up with a great side dish that is different than your standard, plain beans. Not that there's anything wrong with beans (I love black beans just hanging out by themselves), but I wanted something new.

Quinoa and Pomegranate Salad

You may have thought that quinoa was just a trend, but it's here to stay. It's delicious, it's versatile, and it's really good for you.

It can get boring eating it plain though, so I like to add fun things to mine. This one is so great because it's not your traditional hot side dish. Because of the mild flavor additions, it's best served at room temperature. This allows all the flavors to meld together nicely and softly pronounce each one.

It goes with pretty much anything, but it's so good and filling that I could just make this a meal!

Baked Zucchini Crisps

Do you still have some zucchini laying around? The season is pretty much over and it's also around the time when I start to get tired of the squash. I love it, but after a summer full of it, it's nice to move on to some winter veggies.

Better For You Broccoli Salad (Healthier!)

Yes, a healthier version of the classic. Yes, it is just as delicious.

Tomato Cucumber Salad with Mango

Have you ever had one of those days where you're just craving something veggie packed and fruity at the same time? I have. On many occasions actually.

Steamed and Buttered Red Potatoes

If there's one thing my mom always goes to in terms of potato dishes, it's this. She's made it for years and always just whipped it up every time. She never followed a recipe but knew exactly what she was doing so it was the same delicious flavor every time. Moms are funny like that...

Grilled Shallots with Thyme

I love shallots. They're so cute and have such a wonderfully subtle onion flavor that they're the perfect addition for many dishes. They're best for when you want a hint of onion but don't want to overwhelm things. And because they're so mild in flavor, they work great as a side dish all on their own.

These grilled shallots are fantastic when paired with a grilled steak or even barbecued chicken. You can change up the herbs to compliment your other dishes for a custom taste every time! I added the balsamic for a little tang but you could easily leave it out if you aren't a fan. Or try some red wine vinegar or a little lemon juice for some variations. The sky's the limit here!

Roasted Golden Potatoes with Onions and Herbs

I love roasting potatoes. It brings out so much flavor and cooks them perfectly! I'm always trying to come up with different combinations of flavors and ingredients for roasting but usually end up sticking around the same core of ingredients. Hey, when you find something that works, you have to go for it!

Fried Green Tomatoes - No, Not the Movie Kind

The movie was good, but the food is even better. And what else are you supposed to do when you have a whole bunch of green tomatoes growing in your garden?

Creamy Cheddar Polenta

I had the biggest craving for polenta the other day. I'm not sure why, but a creamy polenta just sounded so good. We grilled up some steaks so I had my chance! Polenta goes really well with meat and my hubby suggested adding some cheddar cheese to it for a little variation. Why the heck not, right?

Shortcut "Baked" Sweet Potato

There is nothing wrong with saving a little time now and then - especially when life seems so hectic these days! That's why it's okay to have a sweet potato that was 'baked' in the microwave. If you feel you must judge, then that's okay. But some days time just isn't on my side and I may want a nice, yummy sweet potato with my dinner. And, well, when it's 85 degrees outside, having the oven on for an hour doesn't sound very pleasant.

So if you're wanting a sweet potato of the 'baked' variety, give the microwave a shot. Or your slow cooker. Or go the good old oven route. Any way you cook it, it will be delicious. I promise. (Bonus: Sweet potatoes are a super food so they're very healthy and good for you!)

Tri-Pepper Ranch Pasta Salad

I have finally found a pasta salad that everyone loves. That's the thing with pasta salads, you either like it or hate it and it's hard to find one that pleases even the pickiest eaters. This one does the trick though!

Peas with Roasted Garlic and Shallots

I hate peas. I'm just not a fan. They're bland and just don't have enough flavor for me to think they're exciting. My husband and son, on the other, love them. And hey, if it's a vegetable and my son will eat it, I'm making it!

Lemon Roasted Asparagus

I made Oven Roasted Asparagus with Garlic a few months ago and it has changed the entire way I look at asparagus. I was used to steamed asparagus which was good, but there was this fine line between cooked perfectly and mush. The oven roasted method pretty much eliminates the mush factor and produces a nice, crisp, perfectly cooked spear.

Perfectly Simple Mashed Potatoes

These potatoes are the most perfect mashed potatoes I've ever made. They were so good that I just had to post them. Now, mashed potatoes are usually one of those things that you just make as you go, but I just happened to write this one down and I'm going to follow it every single time now. They were just that good! They had the perfect amount of everything and were creamy but stiff enough so they didn't run all over the plate.

Bean and Broccoli Casserole

We love broccoli over here and we're always looking for ways to jazz it up. Broccoli by itself is pretty awesome, but when it's paired with other ingredients, it can be taken to new levels of excitement.

Crock Pot Semi-Candied Sweet Potatoes

You know those sweet potatoes you have every Thanksgiving? Yeah, those. They're swimming in buttery sugar and are good, but they can sometimes be too sweet and make your teeth hurt. Or maybe that's just me... Anyways, those smothered potatoes are okay, but I'm over it. Maybe my tastes are changing as I grow older, but the idea of eating a vegetable dish that tastes like something I can buy at a candy store just isn't my thing anymore.