Tag Archives: side

Potato Pancakes

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.

Potato Pancakes
Potato Pancakes

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.

Couscous with Tomatoes and Cucumbers

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

Couscous with Tomatoes and Cucumbers
Couscous with Tomatoes and Cucumbers

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.

Sauted Portobellos

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.

Sauted Portobellos
Sauted 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.

Potatoes in Foil

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

Potatoes in Foil
Potatoes in Foil


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.

Greek Veggie Salad

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.

Greek Veggie Salad
Greek Veggie Salad

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.

Corn Salad

Even my young teenage nephew liked this one ! So it’s kid approved 🙂 Lotsa flavor, lotsa veggies, and a great side to just about anything.

Corn Salad
Corn Salad

7 servings
140 calories per serving

Dressing:
¼ c oil
1 T chopped parsley
3 T rice vinegar
1 T soy sauce
½ t crushed red pepper

Salad:
1 lb. frozen corn
¼ c shredded carrots
¼ c sliced radishes
¼ c sliced green onions (green part only)

Combine all dressing ingredients and refrigerate. Bring a pan of water to a boil and cook corn 2 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool then pat dry and add to all the rest of the ingredients. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours so flavors mix.

Cheesy Green Bean Casserole

I bet this gets your kids eating their green beans ! And maybe even asking for more 🙂 Cheese, sauce, stuffing – what’s not to like?!?!

Cheesy Green Bean Casserole
Cheesy Green Bean Casserole


14 servings
157 calories per serving

2 16 oz. packages frozen French cut green beans, thawed
1 can low fat cream of mushroom soup
8 oz. Velveeta, cut into ½ inch cubes
1 1/2 c hot water
1/4 c butter
8 oz. stuffing mix (I like Stove Top)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix beans and soup and place in a baking dish then top with cheese. Mix water and butter and melt butter all the way. Stir into stuffing and then spoon that over the casserole. Bake 40 minutes.

Spanish Rice

Spice it up with some homemade Spanish rice. This recipe is easy to do and gives you a great side dish ! You could easily substitute the type of tomatoes and peppers to make this exactly how you like it.

Spanish Rice
Spanish Rice

6 servings
144 calories per serving

½ c finely chopped shallots
½ c chopped bell pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1 T oil
1 t chili powder
28 oz. can diced tomatoes and their juice
¾ c long grain rice
4 oz. can diced green chilies
Hot pepper sauce to taste
1 c water
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat oil and cook shallots, pepper and garlic until tender. Add chili powder and cook 1 minute then add tomatoes, rice, chilies, hot pepper sauce, water, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil them reduce heat, cover and simmer 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.

Buttery Carrots

The honey, orange and vanilla make a great glaze – just sweet enough without being too sweet. Serve these next to any dish for a colorful and fun carrot recipe.

Buttery Carrots
Buttery Carrots

4 servings
81 calories per serving

2 c diagonally cut carrots
½ c water
2 T honey
1 T light butter
1 t grated orange zest
¼ t vanilla
1/8 t salt

Place carrots and water in a pan and bring to a boil over medium high heat then reduce heat and simmer 8 minutes. Drain and return to pan and add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil. Cook 1-2 minutes or until the liquid has reduced to a glaze.

Spaghetti Salad

This is a great lunch size serving. You could also halve the portion and serve as a dinner side. The pasta and veggies are just a perfect lunch !

Spaghetti Salad
Spaghetti Salad

4 servings
280 calories per serving

8 oz. FiberGourmet spaghetti broken in thirds (without FiberGourmet, you have to add 70 calories per serving)
2 c frozen mixed vegetables
¾ c grape tomatoes, cut in half
½ c low fat zesty Italian dressing

Cook spaghetti according to package instructions and in the last 5 minutes, drop in the frozen veggies. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool down. Toss pasta mix and the rest of the ingredients then cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour so flavors blend.

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