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I love Eat Smart's Broccoli Slaw and almost always have some in the house since it is healthy and versatile.  It's great for topping salads, adding to stir fry, and for making different types of slaw.  Good thing I had some on hand because I hadn't really thought about slaw being a great side to last night's dinner, thanks mom for the suggestion!  In a rut, I searched online for a broccoli slaw recipe and found a great one to base my creation off of.  I had to do a bit of  improvising due to what I had in stock, but it worked out great!  This Broccoli Slaw is creamy, sweet, and guilt-free.

Asparagus has gained popularity over recent years and it has taken me some time to come around to them. I must admit that I am partial to the size of asparagus that I care for. I am not a fan of the big, thick stalks, but I really love the thin, pencil sized asparagus. Whenever I pass a bunch in the produce section that is full of the "skinny" ones, I have to grab it.  Asparagus is even a good find when I don't know what's on the week's menu  since it goes well with all meats and fish (although I dislike when they stick it in my sushi roll).

You can mess with asparagus by boiling/blanching or steaming it, but I really like to roast it. Aside from it being real easy to do, I like the softer texture and the flavors that come out when it is cooked at a high temperature. I am sure there is a chef out there that would say I am ruining or overcooking the vegetable, but I think you'll agree when you try this simple preparation, that the texture is fun to eat (kinda like cooked green beans) and the taste is excellent thanks to an uncomplicated combination of balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper.

The other day my mom met me for lunch (@ Max's Grill), and as usual, brought me a couple of "gifts."  She got me flowery photo clips since  I love to display pictures and green avocados.  A strange combo, but Mom knows what I like.  I immediately started thinking of the possibilities, and thought "I'll make guacamole for a Mexican meal."

But, right before I went to defrost the chicken and get the fajita fixin' check list out, I had a change of heart.  I wanted to do a fish dish and use up the rest of my veggies (see Ratatouille) but still wanted to get use out of these "alligator pears."  So I opted to make an ideal for the summer, Avocado Salad.  It is a refreshing dish with a bit of zest and of course tons of health benefits from lowering cholesterol to cancer prevention.

Tired of the old Green Bean Casserole?  Me either, but why not change it up this year and bring a new green veggie (masked by creamy deliciousness) to the table!  My husband's aunt likes to liven up our holiday menu with this Broccoli Casserole (thanks to my personal demand) and was sweet enough to give me the recipe.  After going over the ingredients, I was not surprised to find out why this darn thing tasted so good- aside from the broccoli, everything else is what I consider to fall under the "bad for you" category.  Fortunately, most everything comes in a lighter version and the dish tastes just as good with the substitutions! Take my lead and skip out on some of the calories or live on the edge and go full out with the regular version of the ingredients.

I'm not sure what took me so long to finally make one of my favorite preparations of broccoli, but just this afternoon, I asked my mom how she makes her casserole and hours later, we were enjoying it for dinner.  Had I known how easy it really is to make, I probably would have been serving this side dish for years.  The simplicity of its ingredients and preparation make it a no brainer and the added bonus is that it is low in fat, while still nutritious.  This recipe works well with cauliflower too!

Move over sweet potato casserole (but not too far 'cause I like you too), there's a new side dish in town-  Butternut Squash Souffle.  This recipe of sweet, cinnamony, warm goodness is derived from one that a family friend used to make years ago for Thanksgiving.  Since then, I have made it a number of times and tweaked it to the point where it has minimal fat, but still gets the rave reviews.  Add this sweet side to your holiday table and they'll be sure to ask for it every year- and you won't have to worry because a simple list of ingredients, including frozen squash, along with the 4 step directions, makes this recipe so easy to replicate.

Every family seems to have their own rendition of the traditional stuffing side dish.  Even within my own, we have a few different varieties going on!  After discussing the variations out there with my foodie friend Julie, she bragged about her mom's dressing, so I offered to give it a try and post it on the site.  This past weekend I conducted my Caravia Cornbread Stuffing trial and it went over very well.  I used a different cornbread (I was experimenting with low fat muffins), and didn't have the turkey drippings (I used extra chicken broth instead), but the concept of combining the herb stuffing, cornbread, and the other goodies was all there.  I was curious as to why Momma Caravia grates the veggies (since I love the crunch of the celery), and Julie explained it was to trick the picky eaters who say they don't like them-  I'm sure many of you out there have the same issue in your group ;)

A fan posted a picture of some lovely Chapati on my Facebook page while I had some Chicken Curry cooking up in the crock pot.  I thought it was too coincidental, so it inspired me to make some of my own to go with our curry dish (it must have been really inspiring considering I made it while the A/C was broken).   The results turned out much better than the last time I made Roti.  I was cramped for time (and cold air) so the shape of my Chapati were less than perfect, but they still tasted great!  We enjoyed each piece for its light, fluffy, and warm texture and it made the Chicken Curry Quinoa meal complete!

These Cinnamon Apples are a super simple dish that it almost seems silly to have a "recipe," but I just had to share it with you because they were a hit. They make a great side dish for dinner (try them with the Saurbraten), yet are good enough to eat on their own. Cinnamon apples also make a great topping for ice cream and can be used for a pastry filling- Do I see an apple pie in your future? Add a little sweetness to your life real quick with this recipe that takes under 15 minutes!

With record heat hitting across the US, it's a great time to share a super easy recipe to cool off with.  Cucumber Salad is a refreshing side that can be enjoyed at home after a day in the sun and it also makes a great a picnic or bbq item.  The prep time only takes 10 minutes, making it a quick fix with great results.