THE PERFECT SIDES

The reason I named this section "The Perfect Sides" is because you don't normally have a main dish without a side. The side dish is somtimes as important as the main dish itself. These are some of my favorite side dishes, hopefully you will like them to!!!!

BALSAMIC-GLAZED CARROTS

Everyone in my little family HATES cooked carrots, but I love them! When I saw this recipe I knew I had to try them, I made them on Thanksgiving and everyone that likes cooked carrots, ate them!

What you need: 10 carrots peeled and quartered, 1/4 C kraft balsamic vinaigrette dressing, 3T brown sugar, 1 T butter, 1 T finely chopped parsley (optional, since I never have that on hand)
Cook carrots in boiling water in LG saucepan for 4-6min. Meanwhile, cook dressing, sugar, and butter in sm saucepan on low heat for 3-5 min, or until thick. Drain carrots; return to sauce pan. Add sauce and stir. cook 2-3 min until carrots are heated through and coated evenly. SPrinkle with parsley.
I of coarse have a different version so I will share both. I love crispy things! Meat, veggies, desserts you name it, I like it! SO instead of cooking the carrots in a saucepan, I did it in the skillet. I put a little EVOO in the pan, then added the carrots and sauce. I just stirred until the carrots were crispy and done. I then put them in the crock pot to stay warm, since we weren't eating them right away.


BLT SUMMER SALAD
This is my new favorite Summer salad. Thank You Sister Newman for sharing it with me! It was the best salad at the work party! It's like a BLT in salad form. I'll be honest. I don't love Pasta Salads that much, but this going to be a salad I take to parties and BBQ's from now on.


What You need: 1 lb bacon (cooked & crumbled) (use my bacon tip in the, helpful tip section), 1 pkg Bowtie pasta (cooked & drained), 3 tomatoes, cut up, 1 Bag romaine lettuce.
Mix these ingredients together in a lg bowl. Then make dressing and mix into salad mix
DRESSING: 1 C mayo, 1 t salt, 2 tsp sugar, 1/2 t pepper, 4 t apple cider vinegar. Stir these together before mixing in salad.


CREAMY GARLIC MASHED POTATOES

WHAT YOU NEED: 8 med potatoes, 4 cloves garlic, peeled, 1/3 c milk, heated, 1t salt, 1/8 t pepper, 1/4 C reduced fat sour cream

In a sauce pan, place potatoes and garlic. Add enough water to cover (Salt water). Heat to boiling, reduce heat and boil until potatoes are soft. Drain water. Mash potatoes and garlic until no lumps remain. Add milk a little at a time, beating after each time. add salt, pepper, sour cream. Mash until potatoes are light and fluffy. We like to add cheese and have cheesy garlic mashed potatoes. You don't need gravy with this unless your like my husband and then you have to make gravy.


EASY BAKED POTATOES


WHAT YOU NEED: Potatoes, 6-12 T of butter, grated parmesan cheese

Heat oven to 400

These are so good and easy to do if you have to feed a big crowd. Cut potatoes the long way (in half). Put the butter in a pan (I use a cookie sheet, but you can use cake pan to) Melt the butter in the pan (in oven). Take out and sprinkle grated parmesan all over in the butter. Lay potatoes face down in butter and cheese. Bake 40 min.


ORANGE CREAM FRUIT SALAD


Cream mix
Mix 1 sm pkg instant vanilla pudding, 3/4 C milk, let thicken. Stir in 3/4 C sour cream, 2-3 T sugar, 1/3 C frozen orange juice thawed.
Fruit mix
In a bowl mix together 1 can pineapple tidbits, 1 can lite peach slices, 2 granny smith apples, peeled and chopped, 1 can mandarin oranges, 2 banana's cut in chunks. Mix cream and fruit together. Double it if you need to take to a party. You can also add or take out fruits you maybe don't like. make it your own


REALLY DELICIOUS BROCCOLI

3 pkgs frozen broccoli, chopped and drained
Heat 350
Saute: 1 cube butter, 1/2 chopped onion, 1 C drained mushrooms. Add 1 C cream of mushroom, 1 bottle cheeze whiz, 1/2 t garlic salt.
Pour sauce over broccoli bake 30 min


MAGELBY FRESH BREADSTICKS

WHAT YOU NEED: Homemade roll dough or my favorite, frozen roll dough, Melted butter, Grated Parmesan cheese and parsley flakes

If you are Betty Crocker and make your own roll dough, then After you roll the dough into balls, then dip them in melted butter and then parmesan mixed with parsley flakes. Put on greased cookie sheet and let raise. Bake 350 for 15-20 min (depending on how big you let them raise)
Frozen roll dough- Let thaw all the way through and then dip in the butter and parmesan mix. raise all the way and bake. SO good with the chicken Alfredo!


POPPY-SEED SPINACH SALAD

What you need: 1 bag spinach salad greens, 1/2 sliced purple onion, 1 C bacon bits, 1 C cottage cheese, 1/4 C slivered almonds, 2 C grated swiss cheese, 2 T craisins
Toss together. You can also add cooked/diced chicken.

Poppy-seed Dressing: 3/4 C white vinegar, 1/2 C sugar, 1/2 purple onion (chunked), 1/2 t salt, 3/4 t dry mustard. Blend in a blender until well mixed. Add 1 C veg oil and 1/2 T poppy seeds. And gently mix- Pour over salad and mix.


ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

What you need: Medium butternut, acorn or banana squash, Cut in 1/2, seeds removed(I've only used banana), 2-3 T butter, cut into pieces and softened, Maple Syrup, Nutmeg and black pepper for seasoning.
Heat Oven 400
Place squash halves on cookie sheet with cut side up. Smear butter all over squash. drizzle each 1/2 with maple syrup and season with nutmeg and pepper. Roast for 40-60 min or until squash is tender.