Three Bean Salad - the Lazy Way

The basics of this recipe are from Simply Recipes.  Her recipe is prettier.  Mine is faster, because I am lazy shrewd like that.

 

Ingredients

• 1 15-oz can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 15-oz can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 15-oz can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 Tbsp fresh finely chopped rosemary

• 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

 

Directions

In a large bowl, mix the beans.  In a separate small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, sugar, olive oil, salt, pepper, and rosemary. Add the dressing to the beans. Toss to coat.

Chill beans in the refrigerator for several hours, to allow the beans to soak up the flavor of the dressing.

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Sweet Potato Fries

We eat these a couple of times a week - they are quick, easy, and healthy!

Ingredients
1 large sweet potato, cut into fries
1 1/2 Tbs olive oil
sea salt and pepper

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Coat sweet potato fries with olive oil and then add sea salt and pepper.  Bake for 18-24 minutes, depending on the thickness of your fries, turning after 10 minutes.

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Quick and Easy Baked Beans

These baked beans have a nice flavor that's sweet, but not too sweet.  This recipe serves 5-6, but it's easy to double.  Or quadruple.

Ingredients
1 can ranch style beans with vidalia onion
1 can bush's original style baked beans
4 slices bacon

Directions
Microwave the bacon between paper towels for 3 minutes or until just done.  Cut into 1/2" pieces and mix with both cans of beans in sauce pan.  Heat on medium-low until warmed through.   This is a great side for chipotle beef.

I was going to take a picture, but we were really hungry and ate all the beans before I got a chance.  I'll add one next time!

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Easy Roasted Potatoes Recipe

My daughter made these tonight to go along with our baked pork chops.  Easy and delicious.

Ingredients
4 small red potatoes, cut into 4-6 wedges each
2 Tbs. olive oil
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. paprika (smoked paprika, if you have it)  OR 1 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary

Directions
Preheat oven to 350.  Line a baking dish with aluminum foil and add all ingredients.  Swish the potatoes around in the oil and spices until they are all covered.  Bake 25 minutes, then turn potatoes.  (If you are baking these with the pork chops, now is when to add the pork chops to the oven.)  Bake about 30 more minutes until lightly browned and crispy.

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Stuffed Eight-ball Squash

Recipe #5.  We picked peaches and blackberries at an orchard on Friday and while we were there I picked up a few vegetables.  The eight ball squash was new to me and the farmer told me it would be great grilled or stuffed.  I decided to stuff, bacon style.

Ingredients:
2 eight ball squash
3 strips bacon
1/4 cup green bell pepper, diced
1/2 cup red onion, diced
1/2 cup Italian herb panko
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
2 Tbs. fresh parsley
salt and pepper

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°.  Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.  Cook the bacon in a skillet until crispy over medium heat.  Remove and crumble, reserving 1 Tbs. bacon grease.  Add green pepper and onion and cook until onion is translucent.  While pepper and onion are cooking, trim stems of squash and cut in half.  Scoop out squash pulp and add to green pepper and onion.  Season with salt and pepper.

While veggies are cooking, parboil squash shells for 2-3 minutes then drain.

To the vegetables, add crumbled bacon, panko, parmesan, and chopped parsley.  Stuff shells with mixture and bake 15 minutes.

We all enjoyed this and I'll definitely make it again.  Next time I might add an extra squash to overfill the shells and add more veggie goodness.

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Spinach Salad with Bacon, Boiled Eggs, and Blue Cheese

Recipe #4.  Okay, so this is not so much a recipe... you could just throw some stuff together with spinach and call it done.  But this version is yummy and we all enjoy it, so I wanted to post it here so I'll remember to make it again.  Next time with mushrooms!  Tonight we had it as a side with baked salmon and roasted carrots, but it could easily be served as a larger portion for a main dish.

Ingredients
baby spinach
boiled egg
cooked bacon, crumbled
blue cheese (on the side for picky kids)
sliced fresh mushrooms, if you have them
spinach salad dressing (I like Marzetti's), heated in microwave for 1 minute

Directions
Yeah... mix it all up and enjoy!

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Roasted Asparagus

Recipe #3.  Delicious and simple side dish.  We ate this tonight with our Sprout's sundried tomato meatloaf and saffron risotto (from a box).  And, yes, I had seconds of everything.

Ingredients
asparagus, washed and dried
olive oil
balsamic vinegar
salt & pepper

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Break ends off asparagus and discard.  Place asparagus on baking sheet and drizzle with a couple of Tbs olive oil.  Add a couple of shakes balsamic vinegar and swish it all together, ending with the asparagus in a single layer.  Add salt and pepper and bake for 15-20 minutes, depending on the thickness of your asparagus.

Variation
When we have this side with Asian dishes, I use sesame oil rather than the olive/balsamic combo.  Then sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds after baking.

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