Side Dishes

Parmesan Garlic Toast

June 9, 2020 by Sweet Ordeal Leave a Comment

Parmesan Garlic Toast Recipe

Turn any meal into a hearty feast with Parmesan Garlic Toast at the table. Great by itself, but it’s so good slopping up any sauce on your plate. The buttery garlic flavors go beautifully with soups and salads, and the parmesan cheese turns a crunchy golden brown under the broiler.

Always the first to go, because who doesn’t love garlic toast? Take just one to be polite, but you better keep an eye on the bread basket. You’ll want that second piece for slopping up whatever’s left on your plate. I’m not even a…

Black Bean and Corn Salad

February 19, 2020 by Sweet Ordeal Leave a Comment

Black Bean and Corn Salad Recipe

Savory black beans with sweet corn in a salad topped with tart yogurt and salsa. Easy to make ahead and colorful enough to dress up any meal. Black Bean and Corn Salad is perfect for any occasion like Easter, Mother’s Day, or backyard picnics.

Make the Black Bean and Corn Salad ahead of time to let the flavors blend together. You’ll love the creaminess of the dressing over the same-size beans, corn, and crunchy celery and red bell pepper. For that added…

Cheesy Garlic Tomato Pinwheels

February 1, 2020 by Sweet Ordeal Leave a Comment

Cheesy Garlic Tomato Pinwheels Recipe

It’s a bird, it’s a plane…oh, wait, wrong channel. It’s a bread roll, it’s a cracker, no…they’re Cheesy Garlic Tomato Pinwheels. Such a fun side to serve with soup, spaghetti, or anything you would have a dinner roll with.

The shape of these Cheesy Garlic Tomato Pinwheels alone makes them fun to serve, but they taste great, too. There are subtle hints of cheese and garlic powder, plus…

Lemon Basil Broccoli

December 19, 2019 by Sweet Ordeal Leave a Comment

Lemon Basil Broccoli Recipe

Broccoli doesn’t have to be boring – dress up your steamed broccoli with buttery lemon juice and sweet basil. Lemon Basil Broccoli is such a great side dish for so many entrees, so let’s mix it up a bit and take the boring out.

Steamed broccoli is a super common side dish in my house. It’s easy to cook, tastes great, and it’s healthy. Once in a while, though, it’s nice to…

Less Boring Wild Rice

March 2, 2019 by Sweet Ordeal 1 Comment

Less Boring Wild Rice Recipe

Here’s a quick and easy way to make your boxed rice less boring. Let’s face it, we’re all busy and boxed rice can be pretty darned tasty. We don’t necessarily want it to look boxed, though, right? We want it to look and taste like we put a lot of heart into it. So let’s do that. I love sauteed mushrooms and almonds, which made it Less Boring Wild Rice.

Making Less Boring Wild Rice

While preparing your boxed rice according to the directions, take some sliced mushrooms and saute them in a little butter. Kick it into high gear and add some garlic; either fresh minced or some garlic powder. I just want enough garlic to make my kitchen smell amazing, but heap in on if you’re a garlic…

Lime Queso Salad

January 2, 2019 by Sweet Ordeal Leave a Comment

Lime Queso Salad Recipe

Enjoy serving a salad that looks as beautiful as it tastes! It has red tomatoes, green lettuce and cilantro, red onions, and the white queso cheese crumbles on top. So pretty, but why do they call them red onions when they’re purple? This Lime Queso Salad is a light delicious salad you’ll enjoy all year long.

Making Your Lime Queso Salad

Start by mixing your dressing, which is made of lime juice, fat free yogurt (I prefer plain, vanilla makes it a bit sweeter), honey, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper. If you’re a garlic lover, have at it; you can always…

Classic Ambrosia Salad

December 5, 2018 by Sweet Ordeal Leave a Comment

Classic Ambrosia Salad Recipe

Here’s a salad that’s great for potlucks, picnics, or just for fun. And who doesn’t love the idea of Cool Whip as your dressing? Classic Ambrosia Salad is a wonderful combination of flavorful fruits, throw in some pecans for a crunch, then your smooth and creamy dressing made of Cool Whip with sour cream. Oh! And definitely don’t forget the mini marshmallows.

What’s the trick?

Drain those cans. Simple, right? It’s easy, just drain the juice until you think all of the juice is gone, then drain them some more. I use a wire basket strainer that rests on top of the sink, but drains into the sink. It has a handle that makes it easy for tossing, so every once in a while I give it a toss and more juice…

Italian Pasta and Lettuce Salad

September 8, 2018 by Sweet Ordeal Leave a Comment

Italian Pasta and Lettuce Salad Recipe

That’s right, we’re putting pasta and lettuce together into one salad. This Italian Pasta and Lettuce Salad is full of spicy bold flavors like salami, Gorgonzola cheese, and radicchio. The Italian dressing of olive oil and red wine vinegar perfectly compliment the intriguing flavors and blend of the tomatoes, cucumbers, and romaine lettuce. This recipe makes 7 cups, so it’s perfect for a potluck or picnic.

Making your Italian Pasta and Lettuce Salad

An easy salad to assemble, start by cooking your pasta as directed on the box or bag. While that’s cooking, start chopping your fresh vegetables and drain your can of garbanzo beans. You can slice your…

Mom’s Cucumber Noodle Salad

June 28, 2018 by Sweet Ordeal Leave a Comment

Mom’s Cucumber Noodle Salad Recipe

My mom was a great cook. She did things the simple old-school way and today that seems to still be what works best. This is a recipe I wrote down back in the 80’s when I was trying to fill my own recipe box. I would ask Mom which recipes where her favorites, then I’d sit down and write them onto my own recipe cards. In so many ways, Mom’s Cucumber Noodle Salad brings back some amazing memories for me and I’m so happy to share the recipe with you.

Making a Pretty Salad

The different textures in my Mom’s Cucumber Noodle Salad is part of the fun. The noodles cooked al dente are soft and smooth, the cucumber is slightly crunchy, the egg yolks are a nice soft yellow, then the celery is crisp and pretty green. I try to cut everything to be approximately the same size as the pasta so it looks uniform when presented.

Having Fun Making a Pretty Salad

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