Simple Fancy Fan Garlic Potatoes

I really love yukon gold potatoes & usually use them to make mashed potatoes but recently I tried making hasselback potatoes with them instead. A hasselback potato (or what I’m calling a fancy fan potato) is simply a potato that is cut in very thin slices almost to the bottom (but not quite through) so that the potato still holds together like a fan. All that really means that these potatoes look really pretty & you can stuff yummy ingredients in between the slices (like lots of garlic!). They were a hit (read: Chris loved them) so they’ll be making more guest appearances on our dinner plates in the near future. Although these taters look fancy they’re pretty easy to make once you get the slicing down.

Crispy Cauliflower Nuggets

In the words of my husband, “these don’t even taste like cauliflower.”

I gave these to Chris as an appetizer one night. They were a great way to tide him over while I finished cooking dinner, so I know they’d be perfect for the holidays too without getting your overstuffed before the stuffing. These are a great way to make cauliflower fun to eat & don't really taste like "veggies" they just taste good.

P dot S cauliflower has a ton of vitamin c in it - who knew? So make these & feel good about ’em!

Baked Sweet Potato Fries with a Creamy & Spicy Dipping Sauce

Chris doesn’t like sweet potatoes but he liked these! (Tiny win!!) I found these purple & white sweet potatoes in my regular super market. Maybe it was mind over matter that made Chris enjoy these more than he usually does or maybe it was the addictive dipping sauce that we ate along with them. Or maybe it was because I called them “fries”.  Whatever it was I’ll take it & will be making these again (similar to the method I used to make these home fries).

Roasted Cajun Potato Wedges

I've always been a potato lover. My mom says it comes from her Waspy heritage while my grandmother (my father's Italian mother) says it's because her father loved them.  I have an Irish last name now - so really you be the judge.  I've never really met a potato I didn't like.

I had a bunch of yukon gold potatoes left from what I didn't put into these mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving so I roasted them with some spices for a tasty side dish to crab cakes & shaved asparagus dinner.

Thanksgiving Sides

Clockwise from top left corner: Parsnip Puree | Simple Herb-Lime Farro | Celery Root Puree | Root Vegetable Stuffing

'Twas the Monday before Thanksgiving & you haven't gone grocery shopping yet. You're not hosting but you said you'd bring a side dish to dinner. What will it be?

Truth be told, I've yet to host Thanksgiving or cook a whole turkey (or chicken) myself.  Each year I usually bring a dessert or side or both. This year I will be making mashed potatoes for an army - the request was specific so potatoes it is. If someone else is whipping up your mashed potatoes this year & you're looking for a tasty side dish to make these are some that I've made before that are super tasty & a little bit different.  Let me know if the comments below if you try them or if you have another side you recommend.

Baked Root Vegetable Frites

Yesterday, I posted about mussels. Other than great bread to soak up the yummy sauce you should definitely eat them some some sort of "frites."  Instead of your traditional pomme frites (potato french fries), Chris & I munched on a tasty alternative: root vegetable frites.

Lately, I'm trying cook more with coconut oil. It's a bit lighter then olive oil & has some really great benefits too - whether you eat it or rub it on like a body lotion - it can help boost your immune system, help you to lose weight & does wonders for skin care. Check out more about these benefits here.

Click through for this tasty & guilt-free recipe.