Posts Tagged ‘vegetables’
french onion soup
For Christmas eve we always try to take things a little easy in my family. Simple dinner, simple fun. Hopefully no tantrums (from the adults, not the kids) and just sitting around enjoying each others presence. Dinner is also a more simple affair, in preparation for the feast that will ensue the next day.
French onion soup is one of those deceptive dishes. It sounds so simple and light – just onions and broth, right? Ohhhh nooo it has to be smothered in bread and cheese and toasted to bubbly, ooey-gooey awesome richness. Served with a nice salad and crusty bread, this is the perfect meal to get you ready for a Christmas day feast.
warm chickpea salad with tahini
My mom and I have been planning the Christmas dinner menu lately and she made the observation that we hardly ever care about the main protein in a dinner – our family is alllll about the side dishes.
I don’t think we’re an anomaly, though. Let’s face it – at Thanksgiving, people aren’t drooling over the turkey. They’re eyeing the mashed potatoes and stuffing and cranberries and rolls and… you get the point. 9 times out of 10, the sides make or break the dinner. And a side like this will make the dinner.
I actually made this for a potluck at work weeks and weeks ago but it would be just perfect to have at a Christmas brunch or even as a vegetarian main at dinner (it’s that filling!) The dressing is so warm and nutty and the earthiness of the squash and chickpeas just makes it a wonderful winter comfort food.
tomatillo enchilada casserole
Tomatillos are one of those fascinating and underused ingredients in your everyday kitchen. I can understand why. They have an odd papery husk, they’re sticky as all get out, and are almost inedibly sour when served raw (confession: for many years I believed that raw tomatillos were poisonous – don’t ask me where or how I gleaned this “knowledge”.) They’re just, well, weird. But also incredibly delicious, tart, and a staple in Mexican cuisine.
I baked these up on a Sunday afternoon and have been eating them off and on all week. Like any good casserole it reheats beautifully (even with the sour cream on top) and the whole thing comes together pretty easily. The flavor is tangy and refreshing, but still hearty with the chicken and tortillas melting together in one awesome layer. It’s a light casserole, perfect for an 80 degree fall day.
kale chips
Salty and crunchy. The two characteristics I look for in my favorite kind of after-work snack. Usually the first thing I do when I get home from work is unload my crap, wash off my make-up, and open a bag of chips to munch on while I unwind. Although I’ve been good lately snacking on Popchips or other healthy alternatives, I decided to step up my game and get even healthier with these tasty treats.
Kale chips are pretty hot right now considering they have practically no calories, are incredibly crunchy, and have a pretty awesome flavor profile. You can make them as salty or spicy as you like, and they’re perfect for satisfying that salty-crunchy tooth. I’m trying to get back on the super healthy eating wagon since I started doing morning work-outs again and can actually control what I eat nowadays. Snacks like this really help, and I hope they do the same for you.
sweet potato fries + creamy dill dip
One of my favorite snacks, side dishes, or hey even a dinner on a weeknight. I’ve got all sorts of free produce to take home every day from the studio (especially fresh herbs), so I like putting them to good use. The fries are sweet and crunchy, the dip is refreshing and can be used for anything – crudite, chips, rye bread, etc. It’s simple and delicious.
