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Vegetables

How To Make Delicious Home Made Tater Tots!!!

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Tater Tots in a frying basket

Frozen tater tots are good, but homemade tater tots are better!

My husband Steve turned me on to these. For instance I was a skeptic. I had thought that homemade tater tots wouldn’t be worth the trouble to make, but boy was I wrong!

The first time Steve made tots, he and Toby ate most of them and only left a few for me.

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How To Make Korean Potato Side Dish

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Korean Potato Side Dish and Chopsticks

Kim’s Galbi Restaurant Korean Potato Side Dish

There is a restaurant in San Antonio where I live called Kim’s Galbi, aka the Lighthouse Restaurant. 🙂

Kim's Galbi Restaurant
Kim's Galbi Restaurant Lighthouse

I love visiting this restaurant with my mother. We often went for lunch, and were always treated to the MOST DELICIOUS banchan. Banchan are the side dishes that are served to accompany Korean meals.

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How To Make Nasu Dengaku – Miso Glazed Eggplant

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This page may contain affiliate links. So I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about the classic Japanese dish called Nasu Dengaku!

Nasu Dengaku

Japanese eggplant is called Nasu. If you’ve never tried it, you MUST! We have had a Japanese eggplant plant in our front garden for several years now. This year, we are having a bumper crop! So I look forward to trying many new ways to enjoy this delicious fruit! Yes, it’s actually a fruit. 🙂

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Roasted Rutabaga and Carrots

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Roasted Rutabaga and Carrots

What is a Rutabaga?

What is a rutabaga you ask? It’s a swede! What’s a swede? 🙂

In North America we call this vegetable, which is a cross between cabbage and turnips, rutabaga. My husband knows it as a swede, which is what they call it in England, where he is from.

Wikipedia has a fascinating article on rutabaga’s etymology, history, use in cuisine, and other uses which you can read here.

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Incredibly Delicious Brussels Sprouts

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Brussels Sprouts

Honestly I don’t know many people who would state that Brussels Sprouts are their favorite vegetable, but I found someone recently on Instagram who told me that! And pan frying produces Incredibly Delicious Brussels Sprouts!

What Are Brussels Sprouts?

Brussels sprouts are a member of the cabbage family. Don’t they look like little cabbages? 🙂 They have long been popular in Brussels, Belgium, and it may be this popularity that helped give these sprouts their name.

Please visit this Wikipedia link for more information on Brussels Sprouts.

I have to say maybe they are not my favorite veg, but I LOVE eating them every time I have them, so perhaps I should prepare them more often?

An AWESOME Way to Prepare Brussels Sprouts

My sister June normally hosts Thanksgiving meals at her home. I am so grateful for my sister. 🙂 She puts on the most delicious and beautiful Thanksgiving meals.

One of my contributions to the Thanksgiving feast is pan fried brussels sprouts.

I really have to say I am so very proud of these for two reasons.

Reason #1: a die hard carnivore told me that he was impressed by my brussels sprouts!

Reason #2: my sister’s mother-in-law Margie gave me the ultimate compliment this year by saying that she had enjoyed last year’s brussels sprouts and she hoped that I would bring them again. I did. 🙂

Pan Fried Brussels Sprouts

Brussels Sprouts Pan Fried

I have roasted brussels sprouts before. They are FAB, don’t get me wrong. However, pan frying the sprouts is a quicker way to get absolutely delicious tasting sprouts in less time.

This method involves pan frying the sprouts in a combination of melted butter and olive oil. They are cut in half and then fried cut side down for a bit until golden toasty brown, and then turned over and pan fried again until the other side is golden toasty brown.

Brussels Sprouts

These are simply seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste.

Simple, quick, easy and delicious. What more do you want in a side?

Try these pan fried brussels sprouts at Thanksgiving or Christmas, or ideally when in season which is from September to mid-February.

Ready to give these a shot? I hope so! Enjoy this most delicious and amazing vegetable!!!

Brussels Sprouts

You may also enjoy these other recipes for mouthwateringly delicious vegetables!

Okra Fries

Okra Fries
Okra Fries

Roasted Broccoli With Parmesan

Roasted Broccoli With Parmesan
Roasted Broccoli With Parmesan
Pan Fried Brussels Sprouts

Incredibly Delicious Brussels Sprouts

Grace
Pan fried brussels sprouts are absolutely incredible and you can make this in the fraction of the time it would take for roasting them!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 18 mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb brussels sprouts
  • 3 tbsp olive oil plus additional if needed
  • 3 tbsp butter plus additional if needed
  • salt to taste
  • pepper to taste
  • garlic powder to taste

Instructions
 

  • Wash your brussels sprouts and then cut in half (from top to stalk).
  • Heat your frying pan (preferably cast iron!) to medium high heat. Add 3 tbsp each of olive oil and butter until butter is melted and mixture is hot.
  • Add the sliced brussels sprouts cut side down and cook for approximately 5-7 minutes until browned. You'll want to check on them (turn over) periodically to make sure that they are not browning too much or burning.
    Brussels Sprouts Pan Fried
  • Once the cut side is browned, turn over and cook the other side for approximately 5-7 minutes. Again, turn over and check periodically to ensure that they are not over browning or burning.
    Pan Fried Brussels Sprouts
  • Toss everything together a bit, and then add salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste.

Notes

Simple, quick, easy and delicious. What more do you want in a side?  These brussels sprouts are delicious and even the most die hard carnivore will appreciate!!  
Keyword Brussels sprouts, vegetablesidedish

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Korean Spicy Bean Sprouts

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One of my favorite spicy foods is Korean Spicy Bean Sprouts!

Korean Spicy Bean Sprouts

I honestly do not know when my taste buds turned toward spicy. My belief is that that some people just have a tendency toward highly spiced foods….and my husband and I are of this tendency.

This is a good thing for our marriage! So there is generally no fighting over whether to have spicy food or not. 🙂

Korean bean sprout side dish

Korean spicy bean sprouts can be considered banchan. I almost LOVE the banchan (Korean side dishes) more than I adore the main meal itself!

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North Carolina – Okra Fries

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about the most AMAZING North Carolina Okra Fries!!

Okra Fries

I almost jumped for joy when I found the recipe for these okra fries!! These are not just ANY okra fries. These are Chai Pani okra fries. 🙂

In April 2018 we visited Ashville, North Carolina. We stayed in a fantastic VRBO rental, and the host left a booklet with recommendations on things to do and places to eat. One of the recommendations was to dine at Chai Pani, an Indian Street Food restaurant.

Chai Pani Asheville, NC

We didn’t need much convincing to go there as we looove Indian food! The booklet not only recommended going to Chai Pani, but it also said that trying the okra fries was a must. So try them we did!

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Roasted Broccoli With Parmesan

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Roasted Broccoli With Parmesan on a plate with a fork

I love vegetables in all forms, however roasting vegetables brings out the most amazing flavors in them and this is true especially with broccoli.

Simple Is Best

Roasted Broccoli With Parmesan is simplicity at its best. This highly nutritious vegetable is simply tossed in olive oil, salt and pepper, and roasted until tender and gently browned.

Roasted Broccoli With Parmesan

The added parmesan cheese gives it a lovely salty flavor boost. When roasting broccoli, the sweetness of the vegetable shines through and the addition of the saltiness from the parmesan is a fantastic combo that can’t be beat!

Roasted broccoli is beautiful. Serve this as a healthy and delicious side dish with your next meal.

Roasted Broccoli With Parmesan

Oh…and I think cheese makes most anything taste better, so enjoy a liberal amount of parmesan with your broccoli!

Here is my taste tester, Toby, taste testing my Roasted Broccoli With Parmesan. 🙂

Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!

Incredibly Delicious Brussels Sprouts

Brussels Sprouts

Okinawan Carrots

Okinawan Carrots

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Cheers!

Grace

Roasted Broccoli With Shredded Parmesan

Roasted Broccoli With Parmesan

Grace
Delicious on its own, or added to pasta.  Simple roasted broccoli is a delight!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Course Side Dish
Servings 4 people as a side dish

Ingredients
  

  • 1 large broccoli crown (or 2 small crowns)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • salt to taste
  • pepper to taste
  • parmesan cheese shredded or grated

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 450F
  • Cut up your broccoli into small bite sized pieces and place in a bowl
    Cut up broccoli florets on top of a yellow spoon
  • Add olive oil, salt, and pepper to your broccoli, and mix well
    broccoli florets seasoned with salt and pepper
  • Place your broccoli on a roasting pan, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Roast for approximately 10-15min.  If your broccoli is cut very small roast for 10…larger pieces roast for 15 or until tender and gently browned.  
  • Remove at the end of the roasting time, add parmesan cheese (amount to your liking), and place back in the oven for 1-2 minutes to allow the cheese to melt
    Roasted Broccoli With Parmesan

Notes

Roasted Broccoli With Parmesan is simplicity at its best!  In addition to the florets, the bottom part of the crown is delicious roasted too!  
Keyword broccoli

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Beautiful Roasted Beets and Spinach Salad

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post raves about a delicious Beautiful Roasted Beets and Spinach Salad!

Roasted Beets and Spinach Salad

Recently, my mother had mentioned that a friend of hers recommended eating beets to help lower her blood pressure. I did a little research online and found that in addition to help keeping blood pressure in check, there are many other health benefits of beets and they are a powerhouse when it comes to nutrients. Additionally, they may help improve athletic performance. I enjoyed this salad last evening and had a great run this morning…now I know why! 🙂

Recently a friend told me that she wasn’t too fond of beets. I hope that she might try out this recipe for Beautiful Roasted Beets and Spinach Salad and maybe change her mind. 🙂

My new resolution for this year is to eat more beets!!

My sister June’s Beautiful Roasted Beets and Spinach Salad

You can either roast your own beets (very easy!) or use prepared beets to make things even simpler. One good option is the Love Beets brand, which you can find here on Amazon.

Beets
Love Beets (Prepared Beets)

Either way, I hope you will enjoy this most delicious and healthy of salads soon!

Some Other Dishes You May Enjoy!

Californian Inspired Cobb Salad

Cobb Salad

Spicy Edamame

Spicy Edamame in a bowl
Roasted Beets and Spinach Salad

Beautiful Roasted Beets and Spinach Salad

Grace
Enjoy this beautiful, delicious, and healthy salad!  Use prepared beets for easier preparation, or roast your own beets using the instructions below.  
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 1 hr
Total Time 1 hr 10 mins
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people

Ingredients
  

  • 3 beets medium sized, without tops
  • 5 oz spinach leaves
  • balsamic vinegar
  • salt to taste
  • pepper to taste
  • parmesan cheese grated or shredded (if desired)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Rinse and pat dry each beet. Wrap each beet individually in foil. Place the wrapped beets on a cookie sheet or oven proof container, and roast for approximately 1 hr.
  • Remove from oven, and carefully check to ensure the beet is cooked through by piercing with a fork. If the fork is able to penetrate all the way through, the beet is ready. Open the foil, and allow the beets to completely cool. Once cool, you can peel the skin off very easily. You may want to use disposable gloves to keep your hands from staining. Slice each beet into thin slices.
  • Arrange spinach on a salad plate and add enough sliced beets to your liking. Add salt and pepper to taste, and finish with a splash or two of balsamic vinegar. Sprinkle some shredded parmesan cheese if desired.

Notes

You may have more beets than needed for your salad, so you can enjoy them over the course of a few days as a healthy snack!
Keyword Beets

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