Category: Side Dishes

Wow, it’s been a while – and a few Super Bowl snacks!

I promise, I never intended to take such a long break. But, the holidays kind of got in the way and then a vacation and then a sickness … and here we are! I hope that you all had the most fantastic holidays imaginable. Mine was great!

Every year is different – because every year, my daughters are older. Christmas with small children is very different than with adult (and almost adult) children. But, still magical none the less. One tradition that we’ve had since my girls were little is that I make them Christmas PJs every year. I’ve tried to stop doing it – but, they insist that I continue. That said, I thought that I would share a picture of their 2019 PJs. Rae Dunn inspired!

Now – onto a few snacks for the super bowl. To be fair, these were actually things that I made around the holidays – but, they work GREAT for a Super Bowl (or any) gathering.

The first is a sour cream dip that has to be one of my most favorite ‘snack’s ever. And, it is so simple! Just a few ingredients and you have one of the most delicious dips that you’ll ever taste. All you need is: 1 large container (I didn’t have a large container, so I used 1 1/2 of the normal sized containers) of sour cream (you can use fat free if you like, but full fat is definitely the most tasty!), 1 can of RoTel tomatoes and 1 packet of ranch dressing mix.

Just throw it all in a bowl (don’t drain your tomatoes), mix well – chill and serve with ruffles!

The second is something that we’ve been making for Christmas gatherings for as long as I can remember – but, also, great for a Super Bowl gathering. Again, just a few ingredients: 1 packet of flour tortillas, 1 container of whipped cream cheese (you can use regular cream cheese, but if you do, make sure that it sits out for a while to soften), deli ham slices and green onions.

All you do is lay out each tortilla, cover it with the cream cheese, lay ham on top and one green onion.

Roll them up as tight as possible. Put the rolled tortillas in the refrigerator for a couple hours.

After they have chilled for a while, just cut them into rounds and serve! Apologies that I don’t have a ‘final’ picture – I suspect we were running late to a family gathering, and I didn’t think to get the picture.

Well – those are a few of my options for a Super Bowl gathering! If you try any of them, I would love to hear about it!

And, despite the fact that I’ve been away, I have cooked some – and will be adding more recipes. I just have to get back into the swing of things! I hope to be back, regularly, soon!!

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!!

by Michelle

Smokey Jalapeno Wontons

I’ve talked about the Alouette Smokey Jalapeno cheese before – I used it when I made shrimp and grits, using it. This stuff is good!

I was looking for something quick, and kind of snacky (Is that a word? If it isn’t, it should be!), for lunch. I decided to use some of the wontons I had on hand and I had just picked up some of the Alouette Smokey Jalapeno cheese – it seemed like a match made in heaven.

I was just making these for me, for lunch – but, they would make a perfect appetizer, if you wanted to make a bunch of them. I decided to make 6 wontons (but accidentally took 7 out of the pack – 7 it is!).

I put about a tsp of the cheese in each wonton.

I wasn’t quite sure how to close them up – the first one, I just folded over into a triangle, but wasn’t quite sold on it. Then I decided to pinch the corners together, kind of like crab rangoon appetizers that I’ve had at Chinese restaurants. To close them up, just put a little bit of water where I was punching the wontons together.

I could have fried them – but, I decided to do them in the oven. In order to make them a little crispy, I did spray them with avocado spray.

I baked them in a 400 degree oven, for 15 minutes, on parchment paper. They were perfectly crispy!

Even the bottom of them were browned, since my avocado spray went on a little heavier than intended and I made sure to rub the wontons on the overspray – getting avocado oil on the bottom.

This was super easy – and now I want to do it with different Alouette cheeses!!

by Michelle

Smashed Red Potatoes

This is one that I made some time back, but never shared. I actually made it as part of my daughter’s birthday meal. And, it is ridiculously easy to make – and so delicious.

I started with red potatoes – you’ll want enough for each person to have 2-3 potatoes. After washing the potatoes, I parboiled them to the point that they were soft enough to ‘smash’. I used the bottom of a glass to smash each potato (learn from my mistake – don’t use a potato masher, you’ll lose half of your potato, stuck to the potato masher) on a sheet pan.

After smashing the potatoes, I drizzled olive oil over top and then sprinkled with a little grated parmesan cheese. I topped with a little salt and fresh basil (feel free to use dried basil or Italian seasoning).

I finished the cooking in the oven, at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes. You can even broil them for a minute or two to get them a little browned, if needed.

These potatoes make an easy and delicious side dish!

by Michelle

Easy Mac and Cheese for 2

I’m not ashamed to admit that I love regular old boxed mac and cheese. But, sometimes, I want something a little creamier. I was home alone, so I needed to make something for just me. I decided that mac and cheese was just the thing! This is so simple that I am not even going to write it up as a ‘recipe’ – just give you directions as I go.

3 simple ingredients: Pasta (any kind you want, I chose penne and cooked about 1/2 the box), milk (1/4 cup) and Velveeta cheese (about 6 oz).

I just boiled my pasta.

And cut the cheese into squares.

When the pasta was done, I drained it and returned it to the pot. I also reduced the heat to low. I added in the milk and cheese and stirred until all the cheese was melted.

Add salt and pepper, if you like. These measurements makes enough for 2 servings.

by Michelle

Easy Asparagus

Asparagus has to be one of our favorite side dishes. And this is a super easy and tasty way of making it.

Just cut the ends of of your asparagus and arrange on a sheet pan (I line mine with foil for easy clean up).

Spray with oil of your choice (I use avocado oil) and top with seasonings of your choice (I use Trader Joe’s Everything but the Bagel seasoning). Sprinkle on a little parmesan cheese and bake in the oven (at 400 degrees) for 20-25 minutes.

We were so ready to eat, I only have a picture from before it was cooked.

by Michelle