Category Archives: Sides

Onion Blossom

June 11, 2011 admin 1 Comment

My family declared that this tastes better than the Blooming Onion at Outback – that has a bajillion calories while this…only 70 per serving 🙂 If there are any leftovers save them for soups, mixing with potatoes, etc.

4 servings
70 calories per serving

1 large Vidalia onion
2 T A.1. Steak Sauce
3 T grated parmesan cheese
½ t kosher salt

Peel onion and cut partially into 6 wedges – do not cut all the way down , just get close to the bottom. Place on a sheet of foil and loosen the layers so that the sauce and cheese will sink in. Drizzle with the steak sauce and sprinkle with cheese and salt then wrap rightly and grill for 40 minutes. Alternately place foil pouch on a baking sheet and bake at 450 degrees for an hour or until desired tenderness.

Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Gruyere Cauliflower

June 5, 2011 admin 1 Comment

How completely decadent this is !!! The cheese sauce is just fantastic – I think gruyere and cauliflower were meant to go together. If you don’t like gruyere, swap out the cheese – but makes sure it is a harder cheese (less calories) and one that has a pretty distinct flavor – maybe a nice shaved romano or provolone.

6 servings
151 calories per serving

1 head cauliflower, cut into florets
Pam
1/2 t kosher salt, divided
2 t buttery spread
1/3 c panko breadcrumbs
1/2 c shredded Gruyere cheese, divided
1/2 c onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
3 T flour
2 c skim milk
3 T chopped parsley
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 2 quart baking dish with Pam. Top cauliflower with salt and pepper and bake one half hour. Preheat broiler. Melt spread and stir in breadcrumbs then mix in ¼ c of the cheese and set aside.

Heat a pan and spray with Pam. Cook onion 5 minutes adding water if necessary to keep the onion moist. Add garlic and cook another 30 seconds. Add flour and cook 1 minute stirring constantly and then gradually add mill whisking constantly. Bring to a boil then lower heat to medium and continue cooking 3 minutes to thicken up the sauce. Remove from heat and still in the rest of the cheese, some salt and pepper, and the parsley. Pour the cheese sauce over the cauliflower and broil 3 minutes.

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Sides, Vegetables

Corn and Broccoli

May 30, 2011 admin Leave a comment

The natural ‘sugariness’ of the corn and the addition of a little bit of sugar make this a very sweet dish. It was just great served next to a mild flavored broiled pork chop. If you prefer less sweet, just leave out the sugar and this will still turn out a great side dish !

6 servings
133 calories per serving

15 oz. can creamed corn
½ c Egg Beaters
2 t sugar
2 T flour
1 t salt
½ c shredded low fat cheddar cheese
10 oz. package frozen broccoli, thawed and drained

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine corn, eggs, sugar, flour and salt and then fold in cheese and broccoli and place in a baking dish and bake 1 hour.

Salads, Sides, Vegetables

Cucumber Tomato Salad

May 27, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Always a great side – such a nice change from a regular green salad !

4 servings
70 calories per serving

4 small tomatoes, thinly sliced
2 small cucumbers, thinly sliced
1 small red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
½ c lite Zesty Italian dressing

Arrange all veggies on a plate and drizzle with the dressing.

Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Rice and Veggies – Very Cheesy !

May 24, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Another great dish where your veggies and your starch are all together in one place. This whips up quickly and is a great side to chicken and fish dishes.

6 servings
226 calories per serving

2 c hot cooked rice
¾ c shredded low fat cheddar cheese
½ c egg beaters
¾ t garlic salt

10 oz. package frozen broccoli florets, thawed
4 oz. chopped mushrooms
½ c chopped green bell pepper
½ medium onion, chopped
1 c egg beaters
½ c skim milk
½ t onion salt
½ t pepper
½ t salt
4 oz. shredded low fat cheddar cheese
Pam

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine the first 4 ingredients and press into the bottom of a 2 quart baking dish sprayed with Pam. Steam the broccoli, mushrooms, bell pepper and onion for 5 minutes. Mix egg, milk, onion salt and pepper and stir into the veggies and pour it all over the rice crust. Sprinkle with cheese and bake 25-30 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean.

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Sides

Potato Pancakes

May 12, 2011 admin Leave a comment

These are more vegetable pancakes than potato pancakes, but there’s still enough potato in there to call them ‘potato pancakes’ and hopefully get the kids to eat them 😉 They are sooooo nutritious and so good.

8 servings
148 calories per serving (1 serving = 2 pancakes)

2 large potatoes (1/5 lb.)
2 medium zucchini
2 large carrots
½ c finely chopped onion
2 eggs, lightly beaten
½ c flour
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ t salt
½ t basil flakes
½ t garlic powder
½ t onion powder
1 T oil

Coarsely shred the potatoes, zucchini and carrots and drain on paper towels. Mix ½ the potato mix with ¼ c onion in a food processor and chop finely then move to a bowl and add the eggs, flour, garlic, basil, salt, onion powder, garlic powder and rest of the onion and rest of the veggies. Heat oil in a skillet and drop batter by ¼ cupfuls and flatten then fry until golden brown turning once.

Dinner, Lunch, Sides

Couscous with Tomatoes and Cucumbers

May 7, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This is just as great served fresh as it is chilled and served the next day. A great side salad for dinner or lunch !

6 servings
126 calories per serving

1 c uncooked couscous
2 Roma tomatoes, chopped
1 cucumber, chopped (I like to use the virtually seedless English cucumber)
¼ t oil
¼ t vinegar
¼ t garlic powder
¼ t onion powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Boil 1 c of water, add couscous and stir well, then cover and remove from heat and let sit 5 minutes. Fluff with fork and stir in the tomatoes and cucumbers. Then stir in the oil, vinegar and spices.

Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Sauted Portobellos

May 6, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Portobellos have such a great earthy flavor that you don’t want to douse these with too many spices and cover up the natural flavor. Just a little garlic, salt and pepper will do with Portobellos.

4 servings
51 calories per serving

12 oz portobello mushrooms (or a mixture of your favorite mushrooms including some portobellos)
1 T oil
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cloves garlic, minced
5 large basil leaves, cut in thin strips
½ c chopped parsley

Heat oil in a skillet on medium high heat. Saute garlic for 1 minute. Add mushrooms, salt and pepper, lower heat to medium, and cook to desired doneness. I like my mushrooms cooked down quite a bit. Sprinkle herbs on during the last minute of cooking.

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Sides, Vegetables

Potatoes in Foil

April 22, 2011 admin Leave a comment

These potatoes come out so tender and the spritz of citrus at the end gives them a great flavor !

4 servings
167 calories per serving

1 ½ lb. new potatoes, halved
4 garlic cloves
1 T oil
Kosher salt to taste
Pepper to taste
¼ c cilantro leaves or basil leaves
Lemon or Lime wedges

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make a large double layer square of foil and place potatoes and garlic on it and drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Close up tightly and grill, rotating packet often, 25 minutes or until done. Before serving, add in cilantro, extra salt and pepper, and spritz with lime.

Dinner, Mediterranean, Salads, Sides, Vegetables

Greek Veggie Salad

April 19, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Some time the best thing about a salad is all the stuff OTHER THAN the lettuce. So this one takes out the lettuce and leaves all the good stuff leaving you with a perfect serving of delicious veggies. If you don’t have Greek vinaigrette around the house, use any vinaigrette and add a splash of lemon and some oregano.

4 servings
164 calories per serving

3 large tomatoes, chopped
1 medium cucumber sliced
½ c kalamata olives
½ c low fat Greek vinaigrette dressing
¼ c low fat crumbled feta cheese

Mix veggies and add dressing and toss to mix well.