Side Dishes

Easy Cast Iron Home Fries (not just for breakfast)

August 16, 2021 by Sylvia Rose 11 Comments

These crispy cast-iron home fries beg to be dipped into runny egg yolks, but they’ll be just as happy paired with a juicy hamburger or a tender steak.

CRISPY SKILLET POTATOES FOR BREAKFAST

Crispy home fries. That’s one thing I look forward to when I go out for breakfast.

I don’t make breakfast potatoes very often, but when I do, it’s always a treat.

Maybe I would fry them up more often if I did the prep the night before.

It’s harder for me to dice potatoes when I’m bleary-eyed and trying to stop my three-year-old from nicking cheese from the fridge.

That’s why I’m going to show you how to make easy skillet potatoes that you can prep in advance so that mornings go smoother.

This article may contain affiliate links, meaning that if you choose to purchase something after clicking on one of the links in this post, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

And of course, we’re going to make them in a cast-iron skillet.

If you don’t have one of these weighty beasts, don’t sweat it. You can get by without one, but if you’re curious about cooking with cast iron, here’s a learning opportunity.

Mind you, these skillet potatoes don’t need to be saved for the breakfast table. Have them any old time you need a side dish!

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Pickled Fried Green Tomatoes (with Old Bay)

August 7, 2020 by Sylvia Rose 4 Comments

Pickled fried green tomatoes are the perfect way to use an early or late tomato harvest. Pull out your trusty cast-iron skillet and get ready to make this super simple (and flavourful) recipe.

pickled fried green tomatoes with sriracha mayo dip

MAKING PICKLED FRIED GREEN TOMATOES

Maybe you have an abundance of green tomatoes in your garden that need to get used up, or maybe you just have a hankering for this classic Southern side.

In any case, pickling the tomatoes before frying them really gives them an extra punch and imparts them with incredible flavour.

Here’s what we’ll need.

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Cucumber Salad: a Victory Garden Recipe

June 26, 2020 by Sylvia Rose 5 Comments

Looking for a cucumber salad recipe? When cucumbers and herbs are plentiful in the victory garden, it’s time to make this refreshing cucumber salad. Tossed in a light and creamy herbed yogurt dressing, it will leave everyone wanting more!

VICTORY GARDEN-GROWN IS BEST!

I’ll be honest.

I make this cucumber salad year-round, but only when cucumbers are less than $1 apiece.

I wish I was joking about this, but I’ve seen cucumbers selling for $3 each on more than one occasion.

Crazy!

By the way, there are many reasons why I call gardens victory gardens, which you can read about in my victory garden post.

Whichever way you cut it, victory garden-grown herbs and cucumbers are best.

Let me tell you why.

Did you know that most produce loses 30% of their nutrients within three days of being harvested?

Unless you’re buying the herbs and cucumbers from a farmer’s market, it’s pretty hard to pinpoint when they were picked and how long they’ve been sitting on the shelf for.

Fortunately, cucumbers aren’t on the EWG’s Dirty Dozen list for 2021, but they have been on that list in the past.

Unless you’re buying organic produce, it’s more than likely that storebought cucumbers have been treated with something.

Therefore, not only are garden-grown cucumbers fresher and more vibrant, but they’re safer and more nutrient-dense, too!

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Bacon Parmesan Dandelion Salad (a way to eat your wild greens)

June 12, 2020 by Sylvia Rose 3 Comments

A dandelion salad in spring is a gift to your liver. It turns out that those pesky dandelions growing in your backyard are one of Nature’s greatest gifts!

DANDELIONS ARE NATURE’S GIFT

At some point in history, someone decided to go to war against the dandelion.

Troops of herbicidal homeowners were riled up to destroy this sunny plant and the war continues to this very day.

I really don’t understand it, because dandelions are one of the healthiest plants out there, and they’re FREE!

Dandelions are truly God’s gift to humankind because they are brimming with vitamins and minerals.

These nutrient-dense weeds are full of vitamins A, B, C, K and E, and pack more potassium than a banana.

Sulphur, magnesium, manganese, calcium, iron, and silicon, are just some of the other minerals found in dandelions.

One thing that might turn some folks off from eating dandelions is that they are bitter, but not so fast!

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Asparagus and Cherry Tomato Sesame Salad

April 24, 2020 by Sylvia Rose 5 Comments

This asparagus and cherry tomato sesame salad is as striking as it is flavourful. Tossed in an Asian-inspired vinaigrette, this summery salad aims to please.

THE BEST ASPARAGUS SALAD EVER

The idea for this salad probably would have slipped by me completely had I not worked in pastry.

For a couple of years, I worked for a boulangerie that not only sold bread and pastries, but also breakfast, lunch and dinner. This included hot meals, sandwiches, soups and salads.

One of these salads was this asparagus and cherry tomato salad with an Asian-inspired dressing that always knocked my socks off.

It was (and still is) my favourite salad in the whole wide world, but despite working there for two years, would you believe I never got the recipe?

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Classic Cauliflower Gratin (Cauliflower Cheese)

February 7, 2020 by Sylvia Rose 2 Comments

This classic cauliflower gratin (also known as cauliflower cheese) is the perfect devise to sneak veggies to picky eaters! Coated in a creamy white sauce and smothered in cheese, this cauliflower bake is a smash hit as a side!

A TRADITIONAL SIDE DISH

Prior to writing this post, I had always thought cauliflower gratin was a classic French dish. I mean, gratin, right? It turns out I was wrong!

Traditionally, this classic cauliflower gratin goes by another name: cauliflower cheese. And you know what? It’s an English dish!

Can you blame me for thinking it was French though? I mean, look at their classic ham and cheese melt: it’s blanketed in béchamel and covered in cheese.

Whatever the case may be, this is a traditional side dish and a popular one around the table, too!

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