Sidekicks

All great heros need a sidekick and all great meals need some kickin' sides, am I right?!  Today, I shall share with you all some of my favorite go-to side dishes for everyday dinners.  Most are simple; all are delectable!  Each recipe will serve 4 normal-appetite people.  Or 2 of me (if I were cloned or something.)  What can I say, I love my sides!

Asiago Cheese Rice

1 1/2 cups of rice
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup shredded asiago cheese
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

Place the rice and broth in a saucepan and bring to a boil.  Turn down the heat and simmer for 20 minutes, covered.  Remove from heat and add cheese and red pepper flakes.  Serve warm.

*This is the easiest thing to make but is a HUGE crowd pleaser.  It tastes SO GOOD with minimal effort and it'll make you look so creative for thinking of it. 


Twice Baked Potatoes

4 large russet potatoes
1/2 stick butter
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 onion, chopped
1/4 cup milk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Bake the potatoes for 45 minutes.  Cut each potato in half lengthwise and scoop the contents into a large bowl, reserving the skins.  Mix the potato with 1/4 stick butter, the sour cream, the milk, and the chopped onion.  Place the potato skins on a baking sheet and fill each one with a few scoops of the potato mixture.  Cut the remaining 1/4 stick butter into 8 equal chunks and push one chunk into the center of each filled skin.  Broil in oven for 5 minutes until just browned on top.  Serve hot.

*The recipe above is pretty basic.  Feel free to also add bacon, chives, cheese, or whatever floats your boat into the potato mixture...do what you love! 

Creamed Spinach

1 lb. fresh spinach
1 tbsp. butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 shallot, minced
2 tbsp. flour
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
¼ cup grated Parmesan
1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1/8 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg

In a large pot, bring 2 qts of water to a boil.  Add the spinach and boil for 2 minutes.  Drain in a colander and squeeze out as much moisture as you can.  In a skillet, melt the butter and add the garlic and shallot, cooking for about 3 minutes.  Add the flour and cook for 2 more minutes.  Slowly add the milk, stirring the whole time, until the mixture boils. Add spinach, cream, Parmesan, lemon juice, & nutmeg and cook, stirring, until thickened, about 5 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper to taste. 

*Man, I love creamed spinach!  If you like a thicker mix, use more cream and less milk.  If you're a cheese-a-holic, use 1/2 cup Parmesan (or even 1/4 parm and 1/4 asiago...woah!!)


Any way you serve them, sides are a necessity in the making of a great meal.  Where would be we without sidekicks?  What's Batman without Robin?  Moose without Squirrel?  Bert without Ernie?  Thelma without Louise?  Steak without potatoes?  Know what I mean? 

Try 'em.  You'll like 'em.

-Sam