Category: Side Dishes

Cheesy Garlic Roasted Asparagus

Cheesy Garlic Roasted Asparagus is a delicious veggie dish, that’s oven-roasted and topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
Cheesy Garlic Roasted Asparagus is a delicious veggie dish, that's oven-roasted and topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.

Do you enjoy fresh asparagus? We really do, especially when it is in season in the Spring, and prices come down for this delicious vegetable. A couple asparagus recipes we really enjoy are cream of asparagus soup and grilled asparagus with lemon and Parmesan! Today I want to share a wonderful recipe I found online (on Pinterest) that’s a yummy way to enjoy fresh asparagus.

Fresh asparagus spears are coated in a garlic/olive oil mixture, oven-roasted, and then coated with Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses. After that, the asparagus is then put back in the oven to melt the cheese. Once melted, and the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned, it’s ready to serve in all it’s cheesy goodness! It’s delicious, and today I want to show you how simple it is to prepare.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

How To Make Cheesy Garlic Roasted Asparagus

First things first- preheat your oven to 425°F.  It doesn’t take long to prepare the asparagus, and you’ll need the oven hot and “ready to go” once you’re done seasoning them.

This recipe requires one pound of fresh asparagus. Snap or slice off the “woody” ends of the stalks, then discard the ends. Gather the ingredients needed, which are olive oil, minced garlic, salt, pepper, shredded mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan cheese.

"Woody" ends of fresh asparagus are snapped or cut off.Salt, pepper, olive oil, garlic, mozzarella and Parmesan and asparagus are ingredients used.

Place olive oil and the minced garlic in a small bowl or cup, and stir well to combine. Lay the prepared asparagus stalks in a single layer on a large rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle the olive oil mixture over the asparagus. Toss the asparagus to cover each stalk with the garlic and oil mixture, then place them back in a single layer on the baking sheet.

Minced garlic cloves are combined with olive oil to season asparagus.A garlic and olive oil mixture is drizzled over fresh asparagus before baking.

Ready To Roast

Sprinkle the asparagus spears with salt and black pepper. Now the asparagus is ready to roast in the oven. Bake at 425°F for approximately 12-15 minutes. The asparagus should be tender, but not FRIED.

Keep in mind that the thicker the stalks, the longer it will take them to become tender. Keep an eye on them as they bake, and check on them around 10 minutes into the baking time. When done, remove the pan from the oven.

The asparagus stalks are now seasoned with salt and pepper.

Final Step – Add The Cheeses

Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese and then the shredded mozzarella cheese across the middle section of the asparagus spears (as shown below). I like to keep the bottom and the top of the asparagus free of cheese (for presentation). Feel free to totally cover the asparagus with cheese, if you prefer.

Place the pan back into the oven and continue baking for a couple of minutes, until the cheese has fully melted. Once melted, turn the oven broiler on, and place the baking sheet 4-5 inches away from the heating element. Broil only until the cheese is bubbling and has turned golden brown on top. Please keep an eye on it, because you do NOT want it to burn under the broiler!

A layer of Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses are added to roasted asparagus.Cheesy Garlic Roasted Asparagus, hot out of the oven, and ready to serve.

Time To Eat Some Cheesy Garlic Roasted Asparagus!

Remove the baking sheet from the oven, and transfer the cheesy garlic roasted asparagus to individual plates (or a serving platter) using a large spatula. I separate up a section (or serving) at a time, and move it to our plates. When I photographed this dish, we enjoyed it served with pan seared Creole salmon, and it was a great pairing!

A portion of the cheesy garlic roasted asparagus is served alongside salmon on plate.

Thanks for stopping by, and I truly hope you have the opportunity to make this delicious cheesy garlic roasted asparagus side dish! Take care, have a great day, and please come back soon for more family-friendly recipes. May God bless you and those you love.

Looking For More ASPARAGUS Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe index, located at the top of the page. I have a wonderful variety of other vegetable side dish recipes for you to enjoy, including these asparagus recipes:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest:
The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram:
jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

Original recipe source: Meaghan, at: https://4sonrus.com/garlic-roasted-cheesy-sheet-pan-asparagus/

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes
Cheesy Garlic Roasted Asparagus
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
25 mins
 

Cheesy Garlic Roasted Asparagus is a delicious veggie dish, that's oven-roasted and topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.

Category: Side Dish, Vegetable Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cheesy garlic roasted asparagus
Servings: 4
Calories Per Serving: 219 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1 pound fresh asparagus woody ends removed
  • Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 Tablespoons minced garlic
  • ½ teaspoon salt or seasoned to taste
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper or seasoned to taste
  • cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup shredded low-fat mozzarella cheese
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 425°F. 

  2. Mix olive oil and garlic in small bowl. Lay asparagus spears on large baking sheet in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil/garlic. Toss asparagus to cover with oil; put back in a single layer. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

  3. Bake at 425°F for 10-15 minutes, until tender, but not fried. Thicker spears will take longer to become tender. Keep an eye on them as they bake; once tender, remove from oven.

  4. Evenly spread Parmesan and mozzarella across middle section of asparagus. Put pan back in oven: bake 1-2 minutes, until cheese melts. Turn oven broiler on; place pan 4-5 inches away from heating element. Broil until cheese is bubbling and golden brown on top. Keep an eye on it, because you don't want it to burn!

  5. Remove pan from oven; use spatula to transfer asparagus to plates. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Cheesy Garlic Roasted Asparagus
Amount Per Serving (1 (1/4 of total))
Calories 219 Calories from Fat 144
% Daily Value*
Fat 16g25%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 8g
Cholesterol 25mg8%
Sodium 615mg27%
Potassium 302mg9%
Carbohydrates 9g3%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 12g24%
Vitamin A 1067IU21%
Vitamin C 9mg11%
Calcium 337mg34%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Cheesy Garlic Roasted Asparagus is a delicious veggie dish, that's oven-roasted and topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.

Apple Pecan Stuffed Acorn Squash

Apple Pecan Stuffed Acorn Squash is a yummy baked side dish filled with cranberries, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, apples and pecans.Apple Pecan Stuffed Acorn Squash is a yummy baked side dish filled with cranberries, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, apples and pecans.

While looking for different ways to cook acorn squash, I found a recipe in The Farmers Almanac that sounded really good. I made a couple changes to the original recipe, and cut the recipe in half (to make 2 servings, instead of 4).

This recipe for Apple Pecan Stuffed Acorn Squash is amazing, and it’s super easy to prepare. An acorn squash is stuffed with apples, cranberries, pecans, brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon. The squash is then re-baked until the fruit filling and squash is soft and tender.

There is minimal prep time involved, which is always a win-win in my book! Here’s how to make this delicious side dish:

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Prepare The Acorn Squash

Acorn squash is a vegetable that belongs to the winter squash family, and is dark green in color, with long ridges from top to bottom. Some people think it resembles the shape of an acorn.

An acorn squash is a golden color inside, and becomes slightly sweet in flavor, once it has been fully cooked.

To prepare the acorn squash for this recipe, carefully cut the squash in half, lengthwise, from top to bottom, and remove the stem.

Once the squash is cut, use a spoon to remove seeds and pulp from each half. Be careful to NOT cut through the outer skin on the bottom. This will leave a large well in the center.

One acorn squash ready to be prepared for baking.After slicing it in half, the acorn squash seeds and stringy pulp are removed.

Place the squash halves, cut side down, in a large baking dish. Pour boiling water into the dish around the squash halves, to a depth of about ¼”.

Bake The Squash

Place the pan into a preheated 375°F. oven, and bake the acorn squash (uncovered) for 30 minutes.

When the squash is done, remove the pan from the oven. Carefully turn the baked squash halves over with a spatula, so the flesh side is facing up.

Acorn squash halves are baked in 1/4" water in an oven-safe rimmed pan.

Stuff The Squash And Bake

Now it’s time to make the filling. Place chopped apples, dried cranberries, chopped pecans, brown sugar, cinnamon and melted butter in a bowl and stir well, to combine.

Divide the fruit mixture evenly between the squash halves, filling the well in the center, and mounding it on top.

TIP: Use aluminum foil to help level the squash, by crumpling it up and wedging it under the front of each squash half.

Place the pan back into the oven (uncovered). Continue baking the squash for 30 minutes, or until the squash and apples are tender. Remove the pan from the oven.

A filling with diced apples, cranberries, pecans, etc. is combined to fill acorn squash halves.Each of the squash halves are filled with the apple pecan mixture before baking again.

Serve The Apple Pecan Stuffed Acorn Squash

Serve the apple pecan stuffed acorn squash once it’s removed from the oven. Use a heavy spatula to transfer the squash halves to individual plates, then serve.

The apples, chewy cranberries, cinnamon, butter, brown sugar and crunchy pecans taste amazing, when paired with the slightly sweet acorn squash!

We enjoy apple pecan stuffed acorn squash, served with Pan Seared Creole Salmon and Cheesy Garlic Roasted Asparagus.

My husband said the acorn squash was “almost” like eating dessert! I think this yummy side dish would be great for Thanksgiving, because of its unique presentation.

The apple pecan stuffed acorn squash, shown served with asparagus and salmon on plate.A close up picture of the apple pecan stuffed acorn squash, with cranberries.

I hope you have the opportunity to make this wonderful tasting veggie dish! We really love it, and trust you (and those you love) will, too!

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you’ll come back again soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, and have a GREAT day!

Looking For More VEGETABLE Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have a wonderful variety of really delicious vegetable recipes, including:

Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc..
Would you like to join our growing list of subscribers?

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use.
You can submit your e-mail address there, to be added to my mailing list.

Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest:
The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram:
jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

Recipe adapted from: farmersalmanac.com/acorn-squash-with-apple-raisin-stuffing-11905

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes
Apple Pecan Stuffed Acorn Squash
Prep Time
35 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
 

Apple Pecan Stuffed Acorn Squash is a yummy baked side dish filled with cranberries, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, apples and pecans.

Category: Side Dish, Vegetable Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: apple pecan stuffed acorn squash
Servings: 2
Calories Per Serving: 388 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1 medium acorn squash
  • 1 large Granny Smith apple (or other cooking apple) peeled, cored, chopped in ½" pieces
  • 2 Tablespoons dried cranberries or raisins
  • Tablespoons brown sugar
  • ¼ cup chopped pecans
  • Tablespoons butter melted
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F.

  2. Cut squash in half lengthwise, from top to bottom. Use a spoon to remove seeds/stringy pulp from center of each piece.

  3. Pour boiling water into large baking dish, to a depth of ¼". Place squash cut side down into dish. Bake (uncovered) at 375°F. for 30 minutes. Once done, remove from oven; turn squash over with a spatula, so flesh side is facing up. TIP: Use aluminum foil to help level the squash by crumpling and wedging it under the front of each piece of squash.

  4. Place apples, cranberries, pecans, brown sugar, cinnamon and melted butter in a bowl. Stir well, to combine. Divide mixture evenly between squash halves, filling the well, and mounding it on top.

  5. Place pan back into oven (uncovered). Continue baking for 30 minutes, or until squash/apples are tender. When done, remove from oven. Use a heavy spatula to transfer squash halves to plates. Serve and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Apple Pecan Stuffed Acorn Squash
Amount Per Serving (1 half squash)
Calories 388 Calories from Fat 162
% Daily Value*
Fat 18g28%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g
Monounsaturated Fat 7g
Cholesterol 19mg6%
Sodium 73mg3%
Potassium 946mg27%
Carbohydrates 63g21%
Fiber 8g33%
Sugar 32g36%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 1078IU22%
Vitamin C 29mg35%
Calcium 102mg10%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Apple Pecan Stuffed Acorn Squash is a yummy baked side dish filled with cranberries, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, apples and pecans.

 

Creamy Coconut Rice

Creamy Coconut Rice is prepared with coconut oil, coconut milk and shredded coconut, and is a wonderfully flavored side dish you’ll enjoy!Creamy Coconut Rice is prepared with coconut oil, coconut milk and shredded coconut, and is a wonderfully flavored side dish you'll enjoy!

I don’t know about you, but we eat lots of rice in our home. Usually it is steamed long grain white rice, but occasionally we mix it up and have creamy coconut rice with our meals. If you’ve never made coconut rice before, I think you will enjoy it! I found the original recipe in a cookbook I checked out from our local library a while ago. The coconut flavor is subtle and NOT too overbearing, and is a nice change from regular, bland tasting white rice.

Canned coconut milk (light or full fat) are used to create a creamy texture and light coconut flavor in jasmine rice. Canned coconut milk can usually be found in the Asian section of most supermarkets. I always have 3-4 cans available in our pantry for dishes like this! Let me show you how to make creamy coconut rice:

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Making The Coconut Rice

Melt coconut oil (solid form) in a medium or large saucepan on Medium heat. Add shredded coconut, and stir to combine. Cook the coconut for 1-2 minutes, stirring often until it becomes lightly “toasted”. Stir in jasmine rice, and cook about 2 minutes or until it begins to kind of “pop” in the pan from the heat.

Shredded coconut is cooked in coconut oil until lightly "toasted".Jasmine rice is added to coconut oil and toasted coconut mixture in saucepan.

Cooking The Rice With Coconut Milk

Quickly stir the canned coconut milk, and remove 2 Tablespoons into a separate bowl. Add water, salt and the remaining can of coconut milk to the rice. Bring this mixture to a simmer, and then reduce the heat to LOW.

Continue to cook the creamy coconut rice on low heat, stirring often so the rice doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. Let it cook for 17-20 minutes on LOW heat. As it cooks LOW and SLOW, the rice will absorb the coconut milk. Don’t turn up the heat, because it needs the time to fully cook and create tender rice.

Canned coconut milk is used to make this creamy coconut rice.Stirring the canned coconut milk into the jasmine rice for more cooking.As it cooks, the creamy coconut rice will absorb the coconut milk, and become thicker.

Final Steps

When the coconut milk has been absorbed, and the rice is tender to the bite, remove the pan from the heat. This usually takes about 18-20 minutes. If rice is not tender enough, simply add a tiny bit more liquid and continue cooking until tender.

Once the creamy coconut rice is tender, remove the pan from the heat and immediately cover with a lid. Let the rice sit (covered) for 5 minutes, then add the reserved 2 Tablespoons of coconut milk back into the rice. Stir the milk in, and fluff the rice with a fork before serving.

Creamy coconut rice is removed from heat when coconut milk is absorbed and rice is tender.Saucepan is covered and rice rests for 5 minutes after cooking.Reserved Tablespoons of coconut milk are added to finished rice, and combined, before serving.

Serve The Creamy Coconut Rice

Serve the creamy coconut rice while hot. If desired, garnish the dish with chopped fresh parsley (this is optional). The rice is now ready to be served with a variety of main dishes, and will be a wonderful addition to your meal!

Creamy coconut rice is served, garnished with chopped fresh parsley.Serving platter is piled high with creamy coconut rice and a spoon, for serving.

I hope you enjoy this tasty side dish, and trust those you make it for will enjoy it, as well. If you like this recipe, check out my recipe for Coconut Lime Rice… it’s yummy, as well! Thank you for stopping by today, and hope you will come back again soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, and have a wonderful day!

Looking More Recipes Featuring RICE?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have some delicious recipes featuring rice, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest:
The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram:
jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

Original Recipe source: “The Milk Street Cookbook”, with Christopher Kendall (page 170). Published by Little Brown And Company, 2020.

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes
Creamy Coconut Rice
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
35 mins
 

Creamy Coconut Rice is prepared with coconut oil, coconut milk and shredded coconut, and is a wonderfully flavored side dish you'll enjoy!

Category: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: creamy coconut rice
Servings: 6 (½ cup per serving)
Calories Per Serving: 315 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 2 Tablespoons coconut oil
  • ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
  • cups jasmine rice uncooked/rinsed
  • ¾ cup water
  • 14 ounces canned coconut milk (light or full fat) stirred or shaken, divided use
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • chopped parsley for garnish (OPTIONAL)
Instructions
  1. Melt coconut oil in medium or large saucepan on Medium heat. Add coconut; stir to combine. Cook and stir coconut 1-2 minutes, until it is lightly toasted. Add rice; stir/cook 2 minutes or until it begins to "pop" in the pan from heat.

  2. Stir canned coconut milk; remove 2 Tablespoons into separate bowl; set aside.

  3. Add water, salt and remaining can of coconut milk to rice. Bring to a simmer, and then reduce heat to LOW. Continue to cook rice on low heat, stirring often so rice doesn't stick to bottom of pan. Cook 17-20 minutes on LOW heat. As it cooks LOW and SLOW, the rice will absorb coconut milk. Don't turn up heat, because it needs time to fully cook rice until tender.

  4. When coconut milk is absorbed, and rice is tender (about 18-20 min.), remove pan from heat. TIP: If rice is not tender enough, simply add a bit more water; continue cooking until tender. Remove pan from heat; immediately cover with lid. Let rice sit (covered) for 5 minutes, then add reserved 2 T. coconut milk back into rice. Stir milk in, and fluff rice with a fork.

  5. Transfer rice to serving platter or bowl. Garnish with chopped parsley, if desired (optional). Serve rice hot, and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

NOTE: Lite coconut milk was used for the nutritional calculation.

Nutrition Facts
Creamy Coconut Rice
Amount Per Serving (1 (1/6 of total))
Calories 315 Calories from Fat 126
% Daily Value*
Fat 14g22%
Saturated Fat 13g81%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Sodium 449mg20%
Potassium 95mg3%
Carbohydrates 41g14%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 16mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Creamy Coconut Rice is prepared with coconut oil, coconut milk and shredded coconut, and is a wonderfully flavored side dish you'll enjoy!

Double Stuffed Potatoes

Double Stuffed Potatoes are a tasty side dish! Potato skins are filled with mashed potatoes, sour cream, bacon, cheese, butter and scallions!
Double Stuffed Potatoes are a tasty side dish! Potato skins are filled with mashed potatoes, sour cream, bacon, cheese, butter and scallions!

Today I want to share my recipe for making double stuffed potatoes. Most of the time they are called “twice baked potatoes”, but I like to call them double stuffed (like OREO cookies-wink, wink), because there is so much extra yummy stuff piled onto the potato skins!

The process is fairly simple. Russet potatoes are baked, and then the insides are scooped out and combined with bacon, cheese, butter, sour cream and green onions. The mixture is loaded back into the potato “shells”, topped with more cheddar cheese and baked for a brief time. The result? An absolutely lip-smackin’ side dish, appetizer, or party treat! Each serving is half of a potato (or have two halves if you want to make an entire meal out of it), and they are very filling, if you ask me. Here’s how to make them:

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

First Step – Bake The Potatoes!

Preheat your oven to 400°F. Begin by washing two large Russet potatoes. I recommend russets because their skin is fairly sturdy and tends to hold its shape after the insides are scooped out. After they’re cleaned, dry them very well with paper towels. Rub each potato with vegetable oil to cover the entire surface, then sprinkle with a little bit of salt.

Use a sharp knife to pierce the potatoes a couple of times (per side). Lay the potatoes on a foil-covered baking sheet, then place them into the preheated oven. Bake the potatoes for 50-60 minutes, OR until they can be easily pierced with the blade of a sharp knife. NOTE: If the potatoes are REALLY large, you may have to bake them 10-15 minutes more.

Two large russet potatoes are covered with oil before baking.

Prep The Other Ingredients While The Potatoes Bake

While the potatoes are baking, you will have time to prep the other ingredients. Cook the bacon in a large skillet until it is very crispy. When done, transfer the bacon slices to paper towels to absorb the grease, and let the bacon cool. Once cooled, crumble it into small pieces.

Grate cheddar cheese and slice the scallions (green onions), so they are ready to go once the potatoes are done baking. The potatoes are stuffed fairly quickly (while hot), so I recommended having the prep work done ahead of time.

Bacon is cooked in skillet until nice and crispy, and it can be crumbled.Crispy bacon is cooled on paper towels, then crumbled into small pieces.Chopped green onions, bacon crumbles and grated cheddar are ready to add to potatoes.

Let’s Make Some Double Stuffed Potatoes!

When the potatoes are finished baking, remove them from the oven. TURN THE OVEN HEAT DOWN TO 350°F.. Let the potatoes rest for 2-3 minutes, then slice them in half lengthwise (be careful- they’re HOT). Place 2 Tablespoons of butter in a large mixing bowl. 

Use a large spoon to remove the potato pulp from each half, making sure to leave a  ½” rim of potato left in the shell around bottom and the edges. That “rim of potato” left in the shell will help support the filling that will be added. Place the potato pulp on top of the butter in the bowl, and mash lightly with a fork. The hot potato pulp will help melt the butter! 

Hot baked potatoes are sliced in half before scooping out the insides.The baked potato insides are scooped out with a spoon, leaving a rim of potato intact.Hot, cooked potato is scooped onto butter in a large bowl, so the butter melts.

Now Add The REALLY GOOD STUFF!

Add the crumbled bacon, cheddar cheese and sliced green onions to the potatoes. Combine (and lightly mash) the potatoes with these ingredients with a fork until well combined. They don’t have to be creamy! Add the sour cream, and stir until it has been incorporated into the potato mixture.

Crisp bacon crumbles, green onions, and grated cheese are added to the cooked potato.Sour cream is added to the potato mixture before stuffing it into the potatoes.

Bake, Then Serve The Double Stuffed Potatoes

Place the potato shells on the foil-lined baking sheet (again). Divide the potato mixture evenly between the four halves, mounding the filling up on top. Sprinkle each of the double stuffed potatoes with additional grated cheddar cheese.

Place the baking sheet back into the 350° F. oven. Let the double stuffed potatoes bake for 15 minutes (uncovered). This baking time will allow time for the potatoes to re-heat, and for the cheese topping to melt. Once done, remove the potatoes from the oven, and serve! They taste great on their own, OR paired with beef, chicken, or pork. I really think you’re gonna love these potatoes!

The double stuffed potatoes are topped with grated cheese before baking.One of the double stuffed potatoes on a white plate, ready to eat and enjoy!

I hope you enjoy these yummy double stuffed  potatoes as much as we do! This recipe can easily be doubled… or tripled! Thank you for stopping by, and I invite you to come back soon for more family-friendly recipes. Have a GREAT day!

Looking For More POTATO Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have lots of yummy recipes featuring potatoes for you to enjoy, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest:
The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram:
jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes
Double Stuffed Potatoes
Prep Time
0 mins
Cook Time
1 hr
Additional Baking Time
15 mins
Total Time
1 hr 15 mins
 

Double Stuffed Potatoes are a tasty side dish! Potato skins are filled with mashed potatoes, sour cream, bacon, cheese, butter and scallions!

Category: Side Dish, Vegetable
Cuisine: American
Keyword: double stuffed potatoes
Servings: 4 (1/2 potato per serving)
Calories Per Serving: 438 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 2 large russet potatoes
  • 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil or oil of choice
  • 1 teaspoon salt to sprinkle on potatoes
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 4 slices bacon
  • 2 stalks scallions (green onions) sliced (white and green parts)
  • ½ cup grated cheddar cheese
  • cup sour cream
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 4 Tablespoons grated cheddar cheese for topping potatoes
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

  2. Wash potatoes; dry completely with paper towels. Rub potatoes with vegetable oil to cover entire surface; lightly sprinkle with salt. Using a knife, pierce potatoes a couple of times (per side). Lay potatoes on foil-covered baking sheet. Bake 50-60 minutes, or until they can be easily pierced with the blade of a sharp knife. TIP: If potatoes are REALLY large, you may have to bake 10-15 minutes more.

  3. Cook bacon in skillet until very crispy. Transfer slices to paper towels to absorb grease. Once cool, crumble into small pieces.

  4. Place 2 Tablespoons of butter in a large bowl. When potatoes are done, remove from oven. **TURN OVEN HEAT DOWN TO 350°F.. Let potatoes rest 2-3 minutes, then slice in half lengthwise Use a spoon to remove potato pulp from each half, leaving a  ½" rim of potato on the bottom and around edges. Put potato pulp on top of butter in bowl; mash lightly with fork. 

  5. Add bacon, cheese and green onions to potatoes. Combine ingredients, mashing potatoes with a fork (they don't have to be creamy) until well combined. Add sour cream; stir until incorporated into potato mixture.

  6. Place potato shells on foil-lined baking sheet. Divide filling evenly between potatoes mounding filling on top. Sprinkle each potato half with additional grated cheese (1 T. per potato)

  7. Place potatoes back into oven. Bake at 350° F. for 15 minutes (uncovered). Once done, remove potatoes from oven, and serve! (Leftovers will keep 2-3 days in refrigerator and can be reheated in microwave). Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Double Stuffed Potatoes
Amount Per Serving (1 (1/2 of potato))
Calories 438 Calories from Fat 252
% Daily Value*
Fat 28g43%
Saturated Fat 13g81%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g
Monounsaturated Fat 9g
Cholesterol 60mg20%
Sodium 1087mg47%
Potassium 896mg26%
Carbohydrates 36g12%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 13g26%
Vitamin A 535IU11%
Vitamin C 12mg15%
Calcium 222mg22%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Double Stuffed Potatoes are a tasty side dish! Potato skins are filled with mashed potatoes, sour cream, bacon, cheese, butter and scallions!

Asparagus Cashew Stir Fry

Asparagus Cashew Stir Fry is a simple, delicious side dish, with fresh asparagus, cashews, garlic and ginger in a yummy stir fry sauce!
Asparagus Cashew Stir Fry is a simple, delicious side dish, with fresh asparagus, cashews, garlic and ginger in a yummy stir fry sauce!

If you are looking for a tasty veggie side dish that comes together in about 10 minutes and tastes amazing, may I share this recipe for asparagus cashew stir fry with you? We LOVE it!

The recipe only takes about 5 minutes to prep, and about 5 minutes to cook. BOOM! A YUMMY side dish you can serve with your favorite meat dishes!

My youngest sister Joni made this recipe originally for us several years ago when she came to visit us in Oregon. I liked the recipe so much I asked her to write down the recipe for me, and am excited to share it here with you today.

I don’t know where she got the original recipe, but it definitely is a KEEPER! Here’s how easy it is to make this tasty side dish:

SCROLL DOWN FOR A PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE

Prep the Asparagus For Cooking

Fresh asparagus is used for this recipe, but it needs to be trimmed before cooking. Snap the “woody”, tough ends at the bottom of the asparagus stems to remove.

You can also cut them with a sharp knife, if you prefer. Discard the “woody” ends. Cut the asparagus stalks into 2″ long pieces.

Before cooking, the tough ends of the asparagus stalks are removed.The asparagus stalks are cut into 2" long pieces before cooking.

Cook The Asparagus

Heat 2 Tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Once oil is quite hot, add the asparagus pieces. Cook, stirring occasionally for about 3-4 minutes.

When done, add the piece of ginger and the minced garlic, and cook (stirring continually) for 30-45 seconds. The reason for the continual stir and short cooking time is so the garlic won’t burn (then it becomes bitter)!

NOTE: You can choose to either add the whole piece of ginger (and remove it later just before serving), or you can finely grate it into the dish. I’ve done it both ways, but usually add the entire piece whole, let the flavors get into the dish, then remove it before serving. You will still get the flavor the ginger imparts, but using the grated ginger will yield a more intense flavor. Your choice.

Asparagus pieces are cooked in olive oil for 3-4 minutes in a large skillet.Minced garlic and ginger are added to the cooked asparagus in the skillet.

Make And Add The Sauce To The Skillet

In a small bowl, quickly stir together the chicken broth, cooking sherry, water, soy sauce and cornstarch until smooth. This will only take a second to mix up. Make sure there are no lumps in the sauce before adding it to the asparagus.

Pour the sauce over the asparagus into the skillet. Stir to combine the ingredients, and cook 1-2 minutes on medium-low heat or until the sauce thickens. The sauce will  thicken fairly quickly, so stir the sauce as it cooks to coat everything well.

Stir fry sauce is poured into the skillet with the asparagus and cooked until thickened.The stir fry sauce has thickened in the skillet with the asparagus.

Final Step – Add The Cashews

Once the sauce has thickened, add the cashews to the skillet, and stir to combine. Heat the asparagus cashew stir fry for an additional minute. This will ensure all the ingredients are coated with the yummy sauce and are heated through.

TIP: If you added a WHOLE 1″ piece of ginger previously, this is the time to remove it from the skillet, before serving! If you grated the ginger, you’re good to go.

Roasted cashews are added to the asparagus cashew stir fry in the skillet.After heating through, the asparagus cashew stir fry is ready to remove from the heat and be served.

Serve The Asparagus Cashew Stir Fry

Transfer the finished asparagus cashew stir fry to a serving bowl… and enjoy! The asparagus will be crisp-tender, and the crunch from the cashews and yummy sauce make it absolutely DELICIOUS!

This dish will compliment a number of main dishes. We enjoyed the asparagus cashew stir fry served with slices of roasted pork tenderloin and mashed potatoes on the side. It was a delicious meal, and I am confident you will enjoy it, too.

Asparagus Cashew Stir Fry is served in a white bowl.Sliced pork loin and mashed potatoes are served with the asparagus cashew stir fry.

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you have the opportunity to make this delicious veggie side dish for yourself or those you love. You can store any leftovers in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Have a great day, take care, and I invite you to come back again soon for more family-friendly recipes.

Looking For More ASPARAGUS Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have some delicious asparagus recipes for you to enjoy, including:

Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc..
Would you like to join our growing list of subscribers?

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use.
You can submit your e-mail address there, to be added to my mailing list.

Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest:
The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram:
jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

Original recipe source: I received this recipe from my sister Joni several years ago.

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes
Asparagus Cashew Stir Fry
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
10 mins
 

Asparagus Cashew Stir Fry is a simple, delicious side dish, with fresh asparagus, cashews, garlic and ginger in a yummy stir fry sauce!

Category: Side Dish, Vegetable Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: asparagus cashew stir fry
Servings: 4
Calories Per Serving: 153 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 pound fresh asparagus
  • 2 cloves garlic , minced
  • 1 inch piece of fresh ginger
  • ¼ cup chicken broth
  • ¼ cup water
  • 2 Tablespoons soy sauce low-sodium, if possible
  • 1 Tablespoon cooking sherry
  • 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
  • ¼ cup roasted cashews
Instructions
  1. Snap or cut "woody" ends of the asparagus off (discard). Cut asparagus stalks into 2" long pieces.

  2. Heat olive oil in large skillet on medium heat. Once oil is hot, add asparagus. Cook, stirring occasionally for 3-4 minutes. Add ginger and garlic; cook (stirring continually) for 30-45 seconds. Don't let garlic burn or it will turn bitter. NOTE: You can choose to either add the whole piece of ginger (and remove it later just before serving), or you can finely grate it. Your choice.

  3. In a small bowl, quickly stir together chicken broth, sherry, water, soy sauce and cornstarch until smooth. This will only take a second to mix up. Make sure there are no lumps. Pour sauce into skillet. Stir to combine; cook 1-2 minutes on medium-low heat until sauce thickens.

  4. Once sauce thickens, add cashews; stir to combine. Cook for 1 minute. TIP: If you added a WHOLE 1" piece of ginger previously, remove it from the skillet, before serving! If you grated the ginger, there's no need to remove.

  5. Transfer to a serving bowl, serve it hot and enjoy! Leftovers can be stored in airtight container in refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Nutrition Facts
Asparagus Cashew Stir Fry
Amount Per Serving (1 (1/4 of total))
Calories 153 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 7g
Sodium 326mg14%
Potassium 320mg9%
Carbohydrates 11g4%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 858IU17%
Vitamin C 8mg10%
Calcium 37mg4%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Asparagus Cashew Stir Fry is a simple, delicious side dish, with fresh asparagus, cashews, garlic and ginger in a yummy stir fry sauce!

 

Roasted Sweet Potato Fries

Roasted sweet potato fries with a sweet/spicy seasoning are a yummy treat! They’re a great side dish, served with burgers and sandwiches.
Roasted sweet potato fries with a sweet/spicy seasoning are a yummy treat! They're a great side dish, served with burgers and sandwiches.

Do you like sweet potato fries? We sure do! There are many ways to make them, and this is the method I came up with to roast sweet potatoes fries for our meals. You will need to plan ahead, because the fries are first soaked in water for an hour before roasting to remove some of the starch from the potatoes. I know people lead very busy lives, so if you don’t have that kind of prep time, simply leave that step out, and your fries will still turn out really tasty!

The oven-roasted fries have a wonderful spice mix on them. This seasoning is a little “sweet” thanks to brown sugar, and a tiny bit spicy, from chili powder, salt/pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. These ingredients give the roasted sweet potato fries really nice flavor! They pair wonderfully with burgers, hot dogs, hot sandwiches and a variety of meals, and I think you will enjoy them! Here’s how to make them:

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Preparing The Sweet Potatoes

Before beginning, preheat your oven to 450°F.  and line a large (13×9) baking sheet with parchment paper. You will want your oven to be really hot before adding the sweet potatoes.

Now it’s time to prepare the sweet potatoes for roasting. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the peel from the sweet potatoes. Once peeled, cut the sweet potatoes into thin slices lengthwise. The slices should be around 1/4″ thick. Once sliced, cut each piece into fries by cutting lengthwise again. Try to keep the size of the fries about the same, so they will roast more evenly.

Sweet potatoes are peeled, then sliced into thin wedges.The sweet potatoes are cut into french fry-sized pieces.

Soak the potatoes, covered with water, in a large bowl for about an hour. This will help to remove some of the starch from the sweet potatoes. This does take a while, but it really is inactive prep time. Let the sweet potato fries soak, and do whatever else you want while they “take a bath”. NOTE: AGAIN… I know we all have busy lives, so if you don’t have that kind of time, simply leave this soaking step out, but still toss the fries with the cornstarch. Your fries will still turn out really tasty!

After soaking, drain the potato fries, and pat them dry with paper towels. Once dry, toss the fries with cornstarch (this helps them crisp up a bit more).

Soaking the sweet potatoes in water helps remove starches.Cornstarch is tossed with the fries to coat them before baking (to help crisp them).

Seasoning The Sweet Potato Fries

Now it’s time to season the fries. In a small bowl, stir and combine chili powder, salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika and brown sugar. Toss the sweet potato fries with vegetable oil until coated, and then add the seasoning mix. Continue to mix until all the sweet potato fries are coated with the seasoning mix.

Spices are combined in bowl to season the roasted sweet potato fries before cooking.Spice mixture covers the sweet potato fries.Lay the seasoned fries out on the parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Be sure to keep them all in a single layer for best results when roasting.

Fries are cooked on a single layer on parchment paper-lined baking sheet.

Anybody Want Some Roasted Sweet Potato Fries?

Bake the sweet potato fries at 450°F. for 20-23 minutes, flipping them over halfway through the roasting time. Oven temps can vary greatly, so keep an eye on the fries! When done, the roasted sweet potato fries should be slightly browned, a bit crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. They are now ready to serve, alongside a favorite main dish!

Roasted sweet potato fries are fully cooked, and ready to enjoy!

We really enjoy these fries, especially when served with burgers or a yummy hot sandwich! I hope you enjoy them, too! Thanks for stopping by today, and I hope you will come back again soon for more family-friendly recipes. Have a great day.

Looking For More SIDE DISH Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have some really delicious side dish recipes you might enjoy, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest:
The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram:
jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

0 from 0 votes
Roasted Sweet Potato Fries
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
INACTIVE SOAKING TIME
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 35 mins
 

Roasted sweet potato fries with a sweet/spicy seasoning are a yummy treat! They're a great side dish, served with burgers and sandwiches.

Category: Appetizer, Side Dish, Vegetable
Cuisine: American
Keyword: roasted sweet potato fries
Servings: 4
Calories Per Serving: 138 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 2 medium sweet potatoes
  • 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
  • ½ teaspoon brown sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon chili powder
  • ¼ teaspoon paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 450°F.  Line a large (13x9) baking sheet with parchment paper.

  2. Remove peel from sweet potatoes. Cut sweet potatoes into ¼" slices lengthwise. Slice each of these wedges into fries by cutting lengthwise again. Keep fry size about the same, so they'll roast evenly.

  3. Soak fries covered with water, in a large bowl for about an hour. This helps remove some starch from the potatoes. NOTE: We all have busy lives, so if you don't have that kind of time, simply leave the soaking step out, but still toss the fries with the cornstarch. Your fries will still turn out really tasty! After soaking, drain the fries; pat dry with paper towels. Toss fries with cornstarch (this helps them crisp).

  4. In a small bowl, stir/combine chili powder, salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika and brown sugar. Toss sweet potato fries with vegetable oil until coated. Add seasoning mix. Continue to stir until fries are coated with seasoning.

  5. Lay seasoned fries in single layer on prepared baking sheet. Bake at 450°F. for 20-23 minutes, flipping them over halfway through roasting. When done, roasted sweet potato fries should be slightly browned, a bit crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Serve, and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Roasted Sweet Potato Fries
Amount Per Serving (1 (1/4 of total))
Calories 138 Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Fat 3g5%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Sodium 210mg9%
Potassium 391mg11%
Carbohydrates 25g8%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 16131IU323%
Vitamin C 3mg4%
Calcium 36mg4%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Roasted sweet potato fries with a sweet/spicy seasoning are a yummy treat! They're a great side dish, served with burgers and sandwiches.

 

Green Beans and Bacon

Green Beans and Bacon is a simple, yet delicious veggie side dish to serve with a variety of main dishes! This recipe makes 4-5 servings.
Green Beans and Bacon is a simple, yet delicious veggie side dish to serve with a variety of main dishes! This recipe makes 4-5 servings.

I don’t know about you, but in our home we really enjoy eating green beans! Our little backyard raised bed garden has been our source of fresh green beans every summer for the past 10 years. A large part of our harvest of beans is home-canned each summer and lasts us until the following year. HOWEVER, nothing beats using fresh green beans in other dishes, so we always save a lot of them to eat fresh!! I’ve been making fresh green beans like the ones in this recipe for years.

When I was growing up, I didn’t really like green beans that much. My mom was a great cook in every way, but she would BOIL our green beans for a LONG time before serving. The beans were always a greyish green color and were really soft by the time we got to them… ugh… not a fan! I prefer them to be nice and green with a tiny bit of firmness to the bite.

The recipe I am sharing today is a delicious way to cook fresh green beans and bacon together for a nice side veggie side dish. These green beans are first blanched, then sautéed in a skillet to finish the dish. I will also share a tip (below) for ensuring your green beans stay a nice shade of GREEN, and don’t turn a pale olive/grey color while being cooked.

Scroll Down for A Printable Recipe Card At the Bottom Of The Page

Cook The Bacon And Onions First

The first thing I do when making this dish is to cook the bacon and onions first. Cut the strips of bacon into small pieces (I use kitchen scissors, but a knife will do just fine). When I cut the bacon into small pieces, it really helps it to cook faster!

Cook the bacon and chopped onion for about 4 minutes, then add minced garlic and continue cooking for 30 seconds (don’t burn the garlic). Remove from heat. Drain off any accumulated grease and set aside. The bacon may only be about ¾ of the way cooked at this point, but that is okay. It will finish cooking later in the process.

Bacon pieces are cooked in skillet along with chopped onion.

Tip For Cooking Green Beans So They Keep Their Color

Did you know that cooking fresh green beans with a lid on the pan will result in loss of some of the green color pigment? Much like tree leaves, green beans have chlorophyll in their cell structure which give them their nice green color. For example, in the Fall, we see the leaves on trees lose a lot of their natural chlorophyll (these nutrients are stored in the trunks for the following Spring). This results in the leaves changing color from green to orange, red, yellow or brown.

The same thing happens to green beans when heated with a lid on, because their green pigment is heat sensitive. Heating will reduce the amount of natural chlorophyll, which then changes their color. When a lid is placed on a pot of cooking green beans, any natural acids present in the green bean cell structure will condense on the lid. and then drip back into the pan full of green beans. This diminishes the natural green color even more to a more greyish olive green color. By cooking the beans without putting a lid on the pan, you will end up with a more vibrant true green color.

Now… there’s nothing different about the taste, but the color sure looks better when green beans are cooked this way. So, there you have it… a simple tip to keep those green beans GREEN. The End. And now… back to your regularly scheduled recipe.

Time To Cook the Green Beans And Bacon

Now we’re on to blanching the green beans. Be sure to trim off the stem end, then snap or cut the beans into approximately 3″ pieces. Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil, then add the green beans and the bacon/onion mixture.

Cook the green beans for 5 minutes UNCOVERED in the boiling water. After 5 minutes, pour the beans into a strainer to drain off the water. Immediately after draining put the hot green beans into a bowl of ice water and let them chill for 3-4 minutes. This ice bath prevents the beans from continuing to cook, and the process is called “blanching” the beans. After 3-4 minutes, drain off the water and ice from the green beans.

Green beans and bacon are cooked in boiling water for 5 minutes.Immediately after cooking, the green beans are immersed in ice water to stop the cooking.Draining the green beans in a colander.

Time To Sauté The Green Beans And Bacon

Melt a teaspoon of butter in a large skillet. Add the strained green beans (with bacon and onion) to the skillet. Sauté the beans on medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 7-10 minutes. When done, they should be tender to the bite, with just a little bit of firmness. As it cooks, the bacon will “brown up” more as it cooks in the skillet.

When the green beans and bacon have heated through and are at your desired tenderness, add a Tablespoon of butter to the skillet. Stir until butter melts, then season to taste with salt and pepper (approx. ½ teaspoon each, or as desired).

The green beans and bacon are cooked in butter in a large skillet.Butter is added to the green beans in the skillet.

Time to Eat!

Transfer the hot green beans and bacon to a serving bowl and serve immediately (while hot) alongside your favorite main dish. The green beans pair well with chicken, pork, turkey, beef and fish. You typically will get 4 nice sized servings, and you can get 5 servings if the portions are a bit smaller.

The hot green beans and bacon are served in a white serving bowl.You can see the nicely browned bacon with the green beans.

I hope you have a chance to try this recipe for green beans and bacon. Basically it is a simple veggie side dish that is fairly easy to make, and I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you will come back soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care!

Looking For More VEGETABLE SIDE DISH  Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have lots of wonderful veggie recipes to check out, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest:
The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram:
jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

0 from 0 votes
Green Beans and Bacon
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 

Green Beans and Bacon is a simple, yet delicious veggie side dish to serve with a variety of main dishes! This recipe makes 4-5 servings.

Category: Side Dish, Vegetable
Cuisine: American
Keyword: green beans and bacon
Servings: 4
Calories Per Serving: 136 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 2 slices bacon
  • ¼ small yellow onion , chopped
  • ½ teaspoon minced garlic
  • pounds fresh green beans , de-stemmed, cut or snapped in 2-3" pieces
  • 1 teaspoon butter
  • ½ teaspoon salt , approx., season to taste
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper , approx., season to taste
  • 1 Tablespoon butter
Instructions
  1. Cut bacon into small pieces. Cook bacon and chopped onion for about 4 minutes, Add garlic; continue cooking for 30 seconds (don't burn garlic). Remove from heat. Drain grease; set aside. Bacon will finish cooking later.

  2. Trim off stem from beans; snap or cut into approx. 3" pieces. Bring a large saucepan half full of water to a boil. Add green beans and bacon/onion/garlic mixture to boiling water. Cook beans for 5 minutes UNCOVERED. Remove from heat; pour beans into a strainer to drain water. Immediately after draining put hot green beans into a bowl of ice water for 3-4 minutes. . After 3-4 minutes, drain off water and ice from beans.

  3. Melt a teaspoon of butter in a large skillet. Add green beans (with bacon and onion) to skillet. Sauté uncovered on medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 7-10 minutes. When done, beans should be tender to the bite, with just a little bit of firmness. Add a Tablespoon of butter. Stir until butter melts, then season beans to taste with salt and pepper (approx. ½ teaspoon each, or as desired).

  4. Transfer hot green beans and bacon to a serving bowl; serve immediately.

Recipe Notes

Caloric calculation made based on 4 servings.

Nutrition Facts
Green Beans and Bacon
Amount Per Serving (1 (1/4 of total))
Calories 136 Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Fat 9g14%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 3g
Cholesterol 17mg6%
Sodium 408mg18%
Potassium 394mg11%
Carbohydrates 13g4%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 1298IU26%
Vitamin C 21mg25%
Calcium 68mg7%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Green Beans and Bacon is a simple, yet delicious veggie side dish to serve with a variety of main dishes! This recipe makes 4-5 servings.

Southwestern Skillet Corn

Southwestern Skillet Corn is a healthy, easy side dish, flavored with Tex-Mex seasonings, lime juice, cilantro and tomato. It’s delicious!
Southwestern Skillet Corn is a healthy, easy side dish, flavored with Tex-Mex seasonings, lime juice, cilantro and tomato. It's delicious!

If you’re looking for a quick and simple veggie side dish that can be ready in about 10 minutes, may I suggest Southwestern Skillet Corn? This simple side dish is full of flavor, with spices, cilantro and lime juice!

It tastes really GOOD, and I think you will enjoy it as much as we do. I found the original recipe in one of my old cooking magazines (from 2008), and “it’s a KEEPER”.

The recipe calls for frozen corn, which is very convenient, too. Once done, you will have enough southwestern skillet corn for approximately four, ½ cup servings. Any leftovers can easily be reheated in the microwave, so how can you go wrong? Here’s how EASY this yummy dish is to make:

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Making This Veggie Dish Is EASY!

Melt butter in a large, nonstick skillet. Add the bag of frozen corn (not thawed) to the skillet. Cook on Medium heat until tender and heated through (just a few minutes). At that point, turn the heat down to Medium-Low.

Frozen corn is added to a large skillet with melted butter in it.

Add the spice mixture (salt, cumin and chili powder), followed by chopped tomatoes and fresh squeezed lime juice. Stir, to combine, while continuing to cook for 3-4 minutes, or until heated through.

Salt, cumin, & chili powder ready to season Southwestern Skillet Corn.Seasoning mix and chopped Roma tomatoes are added to corn in skillet.Southwestern skillet corn is cooked until heated through in the pan.

Final Step Before Serving

The final step in making Southwestern skillet corn is to remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the chopped cilantro until combined with the other ingredients. Now your side dish is ready to be served while hot!

Chopped cilantro is added to the hot corn in the skillet, before serving.The Southwestern skillet corn is cooked for 3-4 minutes, then served.

Time To Eat Southwestern Skillet Corn!

Transfer the southwestern skillet corn to a serving bowl, and garnish with a few cilantro leaves, if desired. Serve hot, and enjoy, alongside a favorite meat dish. The corn has wonderful flavor, and is NOT too spicy. 

The corn is transferred to a white serving dish, and topped with cilantro leaves.A close up look at the Southwestern skillet corn in a serving bowl.

I hope you have the chance to make this simple, yet delicious vegetable dish for those you love, and trust you all will enjoy it!

Thank you for stopping by, and I sincerely hope you’ll come back soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, and have a wonderful day, friends!

Looking For More VEGGIE SIDE DISHES?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have some delicious veggie dishes for you to enjoy, including:

Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc..
Would you like to join our growing list of subscribers?

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use.
You can submit your e-mail address there, to be added to my mailing list.

Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest:
The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram:
jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

Original recipe source: “Taste of Home Healthy Cooking Magazine”, September 2008 issue, page 62, published by Reiman Media Group, Inc.

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes
Southwestern Skillet Corn
Prep Time
9 mins
Cook Time
9 mins
 

Southwestern Skillet Corn is a healthy, easy side dish, flavored with Tex-Mex seasonings, lime juice, cilantro and tomato. It's delicious!

Category: Side Dish, Vegetable Dish
Cuisine: Southwestern
Keyword: Southwestern Skillet Corn
Servings: 4 (approx. - 1/2 cup per serving)
Calories Per Serving: 142 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1 Tablespoon butter
  • 16 ounces frozen corn kernels
  • 1 Tablespoon lime juice
  • 1 medium Roma tomato ,chopped
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon chili powder
  • cup minced fresh cilantro
Instructions
  1. Melt butter in a large, nonstick skillet. Add frozen corn (not thawed) to the skillet. Cook on Medium heat until tender and heated through (a few minutes). Turn heat down to Medium-Low.

  2. Add spices (salt, cumin and chili powder), followed by tomatoes and lime juice. Stir, to combine; continue to cook 3-4 minutes, or until heated through.

  3. Remove skillet from the heat. Stir in chopped cilantro until combined. Transfer corn to a serving bowl, and garnish with cilantro leaves, if desired. Serve hot with a favorite meat dish. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Southwestern Skillet Corn
Amount Per Serving (1 (1/4 of total))
Calories 142 Calories from Fat 36
% Daily Value*
Fat 4g6%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Cholesterol 8mg3%
Sodium 325mg14%
Potassium 389mg11%
Carbohydrates 28g9%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 353IU7%
Vitamin C 12mg15%
Calcium 11mg1%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Southwestern Skillet Corn is a healthy, easy side dish, flavored with Tex-Mex seasonings, lime juice, cilantro and tomato. It's delicious!

 

Zucchini Carrot Lime Coleslaw

Looking for a yummy low-calorie side salad? Try Zucchini Carrot Lime Coleslaw, with grated zucchini and carrots in a lime, cumin cilantro dressing!
Looking for a yummy low-calorie side salad? Try Zucchini Carrot Lime Coleslaw, with grated zucchini and carrots in a lime, cumin cilantro dressing!

If you enjoy the crunch and taste of traditional coleslaw, then I believe you will really like this zucchini carrot lime coleslaw. I found this low calorie recipe in one of my old Weight Watcher cookbooks. The freshly grated zucchini and carrots give this side salad it’s crunch, and a lime cilantro and ground cumin dressing gives it a delicious flavor.

This coleslaw is super easy to prepare, and since it makes 4 servings, it’s a quick and easy side dish for your family or friends. Basically a salad dressing is made, and then used to top the fresh grated veggies. That’s it!

Zucchini Carrot Lime Coleslaw is easy to make, colorful, tasty, and low in calories (about 51 calories per serving)! That’s what I call a great side dish! Here’s how to make it:

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Prepare The Coleslaw Dressing

The first thing you will need to do is prepare the coleslaw dressing. Before combining the ingredients, you will need to lightly “toast” the ground cumin spice. To do this, place the ground cumin in a “dry” skillet. Stir and cook, over low heat for about one minute, or until you begin to smell it’s fragrance. Transfer the cumin to a small bowl.

To the cumin, add mayonnaise (light or regular), fresh lime juice, lime zest, chopped cilantro, salt and pepper. Stir these ingredients until they are combined well. This is the dressing for your zucchini carrot lime coleslaw.

Ground cumin is lightly "toasted" in a skillet over low heat to enhance the flavor.Mayonnaise, cumin, cilantro, lime juice, zest, salt and pepper are used to make the coleslaw dressing.

Prepare The Zucchini Carrot Lime Coleslaw

Now it’s time to grate (or shred) the zucchini and carrots.  Cut off the ends of the zucchini, and grate it, using the largest size holes on a grater (can also use a food processor with a grating blade). Place the shredded zucchini on several thicknesses of paper towels. Press down firmly with more paper towels to remove as much of the natural wetness of the zucchini as possible.

Peel the carrots, and cut off both ends of each carrot. Grate the carrots, using the largest size holes on the grater (can use a food processor with a grating blade for this, too). 

A zucchini is shredded, then moisture is blotted out using paper towels.Two carrots are shredded to use in the zucchini carrot lime coleslaw.

Place the shredded zucchini and carrots in a medium-sized serving bowl. Pour the coleslaw dressing over the top (using ALL the dressing). Toss the coleslaw until all ingredients are fully combined. Now your zucchini carrot lime coleslaw is ready to be served, OR you can cover the bowl and refrigerate until ready to be served.

The dressing is combined with shredded zucchini and carrots in a mixing bowl.

Serve The Zucchini Carrot Lime Coleslaw

Transfer the zucchini carrot lime coleslaw to a serving dish (if desired), and garnish the top with a slice of lime, and a couple of cilantro sprigs. This side dish is best served on the same day you make it!

This coleslaw still tastes great (and crunchy) on subsequent days, but you may have to remove a bit of liquid that accumulates on the bottom of the bowl (thanks again to those juicy zucchini!). No big deal! Store any leftovers covered in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

Zucchini Carrot Lime Coleslaw is garnished with lime wedge and cilantro sprigs to serve.Delicious zucchini carrot lime coleslaw is served in a white bowl, with cilantro/lime garnish.

I really hope you enjoy this simple veggie side dish. We sure do! Thank you for stopping by today, and I sincerely hope you will come back soon for more family friendly recipes. Take care, and have a wonderful day! May God bless you with encouragement, and His peace today.

Looking For More Coleslaw Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe index, located at the top of the page. I have some delicious coleslaw recipes you might be interested in, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest:
The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram:
jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's Signature

Original recipe source: “Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook, page 305, published in 1998 by Wiley Publishing, Inc.

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes
Zucchini Carrot Lime Coleslaw
Prep Time
7 mins
Cook Time
0 mins
Total Time
7 mins
 

Want a yummy low-calorie side salad? Try Zucchini Carrot Lime Coleslaw, with grated zucchini and carrots in a lime, cumin cilantro dressing!

Category: Salad/Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: zucchini carrot lime coleslaw
Servings: 4
Calories Per Serving: 51 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For Coleslaw Dressing:
  • 3 Tablespoons light mayonnaise , can substitute regular
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • ½ teaspoon lime zest* , *finely grated peel
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh cilantro
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • teaspoon ground black pepper
For Coleslaw:
  • 2 large carrots , peeled/grated
  • 1 medium zucchini , grated
Instructions
  1. Place cumin in a "dry" skillet. Stir and cook on low heat for one minute, or until smell it's fragrance. Transfer cumin to a small bowl. Add mayonnaise, lime juice and zest, cilantro, salt and pepper. Stir until combined well. Set aside.

  2. Cut off both ends of zucchini. Grate, using large holes on a grater (or food processor with grating blade). Place shredded zucchini on several thicknesses of paper towels. Press down firmly with more paper towels to blot out as much of the natural wetness of zucchini as possible. Peel carrots; cut off both ends. Grate carrots, using large holes on grater (or food processor with grating blade).

  3. Place shredded zucchini/carrots in a medium bowl. Pour dressing over the top (use ALL the dressing). Toss until all ingredients are combined. May serve immediately, or can be covered/refrigerated for later.

  4. To serve, transfer to serving dish. Garnish with lime wedge, and 2-3 cilantro sprigs. Coleslaw is best served on the same day you make it! Coleslaw still tastes great on subsequent days, but you may have to remove liquid from bottom of bowl (thanks juicy zucchini!). Store leftovers (covered) in refrigerator for 2-3 days.

Recipe Notes

Caloric calculation is based on the use of light mayonnaise.

Nutrition Facts
Zucchini Carrot Lime Coleslaw
Amount Per Serving (1 (1/4 of total))
Calories 51 Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Fat 3g5%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Cholesterol 2mg1%
Sodium 253mg11%
Potassium 261mg7%
Carbohydrates 7g2%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 6130IU123%
Vitamin C 12mg15%
Calcium 26mg3%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Looking for a yummy low-calorie side salad? Try Zucchini Carrot Lime Coleslaw, with grated zucchini and carrots in a lime, cumin cilantro dressing!

Creamy Garlic Mashed Cauliflower

If you like mashed potatoes, you’ll enjoy Creamy Garlic Mashed CAULIFLOWER! Seasoned with garlic & onions, this healthy side dish is amazing!
If you like mashed potatoes, you'll enjoy Creamy Garlic Mashed CAULIFLOWER! Seasoned with garlic & onions, this healthy side dish is amazing!

We love mashed potatoes! However, sometimes you feel the need to eat a bit healthier variety of foods! This creamy garlic mashed cauliflower is a fantastic way to enjoy a side dish that looks and tastes like mashed potatoes, without the additional calories.

Cauliflower florets are boiled (or steamed), then cooked with sautéed onions. This mixture is then pureed, and lightly browned garlic cloves are added to the party, for extra flavor. Once pureed until smooth (in a food processor or blender), this healthy veggie side dish is ready to serve! It doesn’t take too much effort, and tastes wonderful. Here’s how to make it:

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Preparing The Cauliflower

Okay… first thing you will need to do is prepare the cauliflower! Unwrap the cauliflower, and begin by removing the leafy green leaves around the bottom of the cauliflower. Then turn the cauliflower upside down and very carefully cut out the core, and discard it.

The outer leaves of a head of cauliflower are removed first.The core of the cauliflower is cut out of the underside (and then discarded)

Cut and separate the cauliflower into florets, removing/discarding some of the longer thick, hard stems. Bring a large pan of water to a boil. Place the florets into the pan of boiling water and continue to cook until tender (approx. 5-6 minutes). Drain the cauliflower, once done. NOTE: You can also steam the cauliflower, if you prefer.

Cauliflower is cut into florets before cooking.Boiling the cauliflower florets until tender.

Putting It Together

While the cauliflower cooks, melt 2 teaspoons of butter in a large skillet, and sauté the chopped onions for 3-4 minutes. When done, add the cooked cauliflower florets to the onions in the skillet. Cook the onions and cauliflower on medium-low heat for about 7-8 minutes, stirring often.

Once they are finished cooking, transfer the onion/cauliflower mixture to a food processor or blender, and process until it becomes somewhat smooth. Scrape down the sides of the processor, as needed during processing.

Chopped onions cooking in butter, in a large skillet.Onions and cauliflower are cooked together in skillet for about 7-8 minutes.

Finishing The Creamy Garlic Mashed Cauliflower

Melt a teaspoon of butter in a skillet on low heat. Add the chopped garlic. Cook and stir this ONLY until the garlic is just beginning to turn brown (about a minute). Don’t let the garlic get too browned or burn, or it will become bitter. Remove this from the heat as soon as it is done.

Add the cooked garlic, and the remaining Tablespoon of butter to the pureed cauliflower, and continue processing until the mixture is fully smooth. Scrape down the sides as it is processed. It should be similar in texture to mashed potatoes, once done. Season to taste with a couple pinches of salt, if desired.

Cooking chopped garlic in butter until lightly browned.Butter and chopped garlic are added to pureed cauliflower in a food processor.

Time To Serve The Creamy Garlic Mashed Cauliflower!

Once the cauliflower is completely mixed and is very smooth (like mashed potatoes in texture), remove from the food processor (or blender). Transfer the hot creamy garlic mashed cauliflower to a serving dish, and add a few chives for garnish, if desired. Dish it up, and dig in while it’s hot! This mashed cauliflower recipe makes four servings, and I really think you will enjoy it.

Our favorite way to have it is served alongside meatloaf and other veggies (shown below). It looks so much like mashed potatoes it will fool your eyes, but is a bit healthier, in the long run. YUM.

A serving bowl filled with creamy garlic mashed cauliflower, ready to eat.Creamy Garlic Mashed Cauliflower is served along with green beans and meatloaf.

I truly hope you enjoy this delicious veggie side dish! It pairs very well with beef, pork and chicken dishes, and it’s flavorful, creamy texture will surprise those to whom you serve it. Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you will come back for more family-friendly recipes soon! Take care, and have a GREAT day!

Looking For More VEGETABLE SIDE DISH Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have lots of delicious veggie recipes to choose from, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest:
The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram:
jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

Recipe Adapted From: The book “New Life Promise- Food Meets Faith, Total Trifecta Of Weight Loss”, by Isabel D. Price, published 2019, page 87

0 from 0 votes
Creamy Garlic Mashed Cauliflower
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 

If you like mashed potatoes, you'll enjoy Creamy Garlic Mashed CAULIFLOWER! Seasoned with garlic & onions, this healthy side dish is amazing!

Category: Side Dish, Vegetable Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: creamy garlic mashed cauliflower
Servings: 4
Calories Per Serving: 100 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1 medium cauliflower
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 1 medium yellow onion , chopped
  • 3 medium garlic cloves , finely chopped
  • teaspoon salt , or more- season to taste
  • chives (optional for garnish)
Instructions
  1. Unwrap cauliflower; remove green leaves. Turn cauliflower upside down; carefully cut out the core. Cut/separate cauliflower into florets, removing/discarding thick, hard stems. Bring large pan of water to a boil. Place florets into boiling water; cook until tender (approx. 5-6 minutes). Drain once done. *You can also steam the cauliflower, if you prefer.

  2. While cauliflower cooks, melt 2 teaspoons of butter in large skillet. Sauté chopped onions for 3-4 minutes. When done, add cooked cauliflower to onions in skillet. Cook on medium-low heat for 7-8 minutes, stirring often. Transfer onion/cauliflower mixture to food processor or blender. Process until mixture becomes fairly smooth.

  3. Melt a teaspoon of butter in skillet on low heat. Add chopped garlic. Cook and stir ONLY until garlic begins to turn brown (about a minute). Don't let garlic get too browned or burn, or it will become bitter. Remove from the heat when done. Add cooked garlic and remaining Tablespoon of butter to pureed cauliflower. Continue processing until fully smooth. Scrape down sides, if necessary. Finished texture should be similar to mashed potatoes, once done. Season with salt, to taste.

  4. Once cauliflower is smooth (like mashed potatoes in texture), remove from food processor. Transfer to serving dish; add a few chives to the top for garnish, if desired. Serve hot, and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Creamy Garlic Mashed Cauliflower
Amount Per Serving (1 (1/4 of total))
Calories 100 Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Fat 6g9%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Cholesterol 15mg5%
Sodium 191mg8%
Potassium 481mg14%
Carbohydrates 10g3%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 176IU4%
Vitamin C 72mg87%
Calcium 44mg4%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!If you like mashed potatoes, you'll enjoy Creamy Garlic Mashed CAULIFLOWER! Seasoned with garlic & onions, this healthy side dish is amazing!