Side Dishes--Plain or Fancy?

[barbszy]

I've noticed that the side dishes I make are increasingly "plain."

I don't buy flavored rice or noodle mixes anymore. We use either brown rice or jasmine, pasta, or boiled, mashed, or roasted potatoes. Of those, only the roasted potatoes are seasoned. I also tend to prepare vegetables very plain, except for pickled beets.

Now, no one in the family is complaining (though my Big DS has discovered that he likes garlic mashed potatoes). I don't know if it's because I don't want the side dishes "clashing" with the main dish in terms of seasoning & flavors.

What about you? Do you make fancy sides, or are yours mainly plain?

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Some of my sides are very plain like mashed potatoes or green beans because my DH likes things plain. I also like to make sides that aren't so plain like pierogi casserole or creamed spinach. A low-carb said is spaghetti squash patties. If I think of any others, I will share here. I believe the creamed spinach was posted by Cat lover and I may have posted the pierogi casserole here, but it is definately posted at FC. Even my DH likes it.

[cat lover]

If we are having fresh vegetables they are plain because we only steam them and add nothing, no salt,pepper, or margarine; just plain, plain, plain. W like to reallt taste the vegetable itself and of course much healthier for us too!

If I make something else I usually am fixing a "fancy" side dish with lots of goodies in it. I've posted lots of side dishes in the side dishes forum. But that also depends on what time we are eating supper and how tired I am when it comes time to cook. When we eat past 10 at night it is usually just something steamed for sure!

[ajrsmom]

It's mostly plain for us here too, although I do buy seasoned rice packs once in a while. I have a hard enough time getting my crew to eat veggies let alone making them fancy. lol!!

Me, on the other hand, I love fancy sidedishes!

I usually save the fancier things for holiday meals.


I'm off to look for DeBora's pierogie casserole! :)

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Tami, if you cannot find it here, try FC because that is where I originally got it. I LOVE it.

[rhi]

I tend to season everything I cook...even my side dishes. It's gotta have some flavor to it or it gets old and stale and then I don't want to eat it anymore. usually it never goes beyond anything to wild....but herbs, salt, pepper and maybe butter. Other than that I just want to enhance what I'm making not overload it. I dont do a lot of pre-packed rices or noodle dishes, we tend to stick to rice, beans, potatoes and veggies.

[cat lover]

rhi, do you something particular you season your rice dishes with? We eat a lot of rice and I'm always on the lookout for new ways of seasoning it!

[rhi]

Hi Cat lover!! I sometimes replace the water with chicken stock and I've added herbs to it before, usually basil if it's a chicken type dish. I've also used canned soups to make my own type of flavored rices. The brocolli and cheese soup that campbell's makes actually does a decent job. I think I did it like the chicken and rice made with the mushroom soup says.. 3/4 rice, mushroom soup and 1 cup of water..I think that's what the recipe is..I just use a different type soup. And then again we eat it just plain and if we make rice for breakfast we add butter, milk and cinnamon sugar.

[cat lover]

Sounds good, I'll have to give some of those a try. When my DS's were growing up I bought my rice in the 25 lb size, did that once awhile back and after I used it I went to a smaller size. But I think I'm going back to the 25 lb. size, can't beat the price and I store it in glass jars so it keeps!~

[sonya]

My side dishes lack pizazz, especially during the week. One easy way to add something to green beans is to brown a few slivered almonds (be frugal and a little can go a long way) and toss in with the cooked beans. My family loves the nutty flavor and the crunch.

[cat lover]

Oh; that sounds very appetizing sonya! Makes a good "dressed up" veggie quick and easy! Do you do the browning in butter or olive oil? Thanks for sharing!:D

[sonya]

Catlover...I use a heaping teaspoon of butter, and about 1/8 cup of almonds for a serving of 4. The smell of toasting the almonds in butter delights my senses.:D

P.S.... Now I know where you have been posting! 3000+!!! Whew!

[cat lover]

Glad to see you sonya! I make it over to FC here and there, mostly in the games! Try to divide my time up between the two. but you're right; here I am! LOL

[Bilby]

Sides as in the vegetables/salads that go with your meat?
I've found that sprinkling grated cheese over boiled vegetables gives them a lift and doesn't detract from most meat dishes and makes them 'look' a bit fancier. With salad even if the veges there are the same I cut them differently or let them serve themselves or put a different dressing on the table each time, they choose how much dressing and that keeps them happy.

Greens beans are nice with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and thin sliced onion.

I never season veges with salt but I do add pepper mill to the table.

[cat lover]

Bilby, do you toast the sesame seeds before adding them to the green beans?

[Bilby]

Green bean (sorta) salad, all I do it blanch my green beans and let cool, add some thinly sliced onions, (if you like lots do lots if not do less) mix with a bit of mayo, only need a liltle, a crack of pepper, and then I sprinkle untoasted sesame seeds, about teaspoon full depends on amount of beans, and mix. I don't toast them never made the time, I guess you could and see how it goes. I'ts just so easy to do.

[cat lover]

Oh that sounds good! Defintely going to print this out and make it! Never have seen one like this; thanks for sharing!

[Bilby]

I think that came out of a recipe book and I didn't like the dressing so I just did mayo, my kids love it.

I hope you enjoy it to.