Side Dish Saturdays: Your New Guide to Win at Meal Time

Side Dish Saturdays: Your New Guide to Win at Meal Time

Hey all! Thanks for tuning into my new segment Side Dish Saturdays. Over the next 10 weeks I will issue a new side dish recipe every other week. We will talk about pairing foods and flavor profiles so you can get the best out of your everyday meals. At my house, sides are easily as loved as the main dish! These top 5 side dishes I’m going to share are my boys favorites. I serve these the most frequently.

Post 1: Posted on 10/31/2020

Scalloped potatoes. These creamy, cheesy sauced potatoes are a wonderful compliment to many different main dishes. Equally at home at a BBQ with pulled pork & ribs or on a holiday table with roasted turkey & ham. The cheese can be swapped for your favorites ones making it a truly taste customizable side dish.

The potatoes can be assembled ahead of time then baked on site for a dish to pass. Just use a disposable tin foil baking pan and you can go straight from the fridge to the oven without worries! And bonus to that: No pan to clean! Win-Win!

Scalloped potatoes would be best reserved for American style meals. Meaning, it pairs great with a lot of American classics such as:

• pot roast
• meatloaf
• roasted chicken
• ribs
• pulled pork sandwiches
• turkey
• ham
• braised short ribs
• sloppy joes
• Salisbury steaks

Post 2: To Post on 11/14/2020

Mac-N-Cheese is the second installment of Side Dish Saturdays. This version of Mac-N-Cheese can be baked or left as is and broiled to golden brown deliciousness. It starts with a basic rue but the flavor comes through in the cheese that you select. Cooking the pasta Al Dente is the trick to not having mush at the end of the cook time.

A great dish for many occasions including standing on its own as a meal, Mac-N-Cheese is a classic comfort side dish. It pairs great with the same type of main dish recipes as the scalloped potatoes But it is fully capable of being eaten as is for a meal.

Post 3: To Post on 11/28/2020

Fresh Green Beans. Third on the list is this very common veggie that needs no introduction. We stopped eating canned beans a while ago when I discovered how easy it was to use fresh, how they tasted better and even had a different bite to them. Yes, fresh takes longer then canned but it is worth it.

The go to way I make green beans is in a broth of butter and garlic. I have even added bacon to bring in a salty smoke flavor. This side dish can easily be inserted anywhere you would have previously popped a can open, including that holiday favorite, green bean casserole.

Post 4: To Post on 12/12/2020

Baked beans is the fourth installment. An actual baked bean recipe that is a perfect potluck recipe, party side or holiday dish. By the time you try this recipe you will be shocked where the base comes from! I get tons of compliments on this dish, everyone always wants the recipe.

While baked beans go best with BBQ pork ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, grilled pork chops, and ham, it also goes great with beef ribs, steak and grilled chicken. The spicy sweetness compliments and brings out the subtle smokiness of many different grilled meats. The sauce it makes is great with cornbread or buttered white bread for a little dipping & cleaning you plate. Great for all year round meals not just during the summer.

Post 5: To Post on 1/2/2021

Street Corn. The fifth and final installment is my version of elotes. I do both on the cob which is the most traditional version and a deconstructed version in a bowl. We have this side dish with every Mexican/Latino/Tex-Mex flavor inspired dish. The crunchiness of the kernels, spices, and creaminess of cheese just bring it altogether for the perfect bite.

I use corn on the cob when I can get it in season because that is best and we grill it for extra flavor. During the winter months I use a frozen bagged corn in a steam-able pouch then add in the ingredients and you got a deconstructed elote.

Stay tuned for the rest of the installments of Side Dish Saturdays. Each installment with have more in depth explanations, recipe cards and optional swaps. I hope y’all like them as much as we do!