Category Archives: Side Dish

Orange and Avocado Salsa with Shrimp Tacos

Tonight I wanted a light and healthy dinner after a week of travel and more junk than I normally eat.

I made shrimp tacos with a fruit salsa – orange and avocado salsa.  It was a super easy meal to prep and very delicious!!!!

Orange and Avocado Salsa

  • 1 can mandarin oranges, drained
  • about 1/4 c red onion, chopped
  • 3 avocados, chopped (mine were on the small side – if you have bigger avocados you might not want 3)
  • cilantro to taste, chopped

Mix all ingredients.

salsa
salsa

We ate ours with shrimp tacos and cilantro rice.

shrimp taco
shrimp taco

The picture is sort of a mess to show all of the ingredients!

This is a great summer meal – less than 20 minutes to the table, no oven required!!!

Summer Corn

Last night we had steaks on the grill and I made this super easy corn salad to go along with it.  It was delicious!!!Summer Corn

  • 6 Roma tomatoes, chopped
  • red onion, chopped (about 1/2 of onion)
  • 4-5 c frozen corn (you could definitely use fresh corn!)
  • 1-2 T olive oil
  • 3 T minced fresh basil
  • 1 T minced fresh cilantro
  • Balsamic vinegar (about 1/4 c – I just drizzled some in, stirred, tasted)
  • 1 T Dijon mustard
  • 1 T minced garlic  (feel free to use cloves that you peel and chop – I’m all about convenience!)
  • salt & pepper to taste

Saute the corn in the olive oil – just a couple of minutes.  Mix  all ingredients.  Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.  See – quick and easy!!!Summer Corn

This stuff is good (and a bit addictive!!).

Corn & Zucchini Side Dish

I’m trying to add more variety to our vegetable rotation and still keep them healthy yet tasty.  This recipe was definitely on the tasty side!!!

  • 4 slices bacon
  • 2 zucchini, chopped
  • 2 c frozen corn
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • pepper to taste
  • 1/4 c shredded Colby/Monterrey cheese
ingredients
ingredients

In a large skillet, cook the bacon until crisp.  Remove bacon from pan (onto paper-towel lined plate to absorb grease) and let cool.

Heat the bacon drippings over medium heat.  Saute the zucchini, corn and onion until tender – about 10 minutes.

Saute veggies
Saute veggies

Season with pepper.  Break bacon into small pieces and sprinkle onto veggies.  Stir in cheese and serve.

Easy & Delicious!!
Easy & Delicious!!

I will make this one again for sure!!!  Fan favorite!!

Rice with Squash

adapted from Taste of Home Comfort Food Diet Cookbook

  • 1/2 c chopped onion
  • 1 T butter
  • a can chicken broth
  • almost 1 c rice
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • 1 yellow squash, chopped
  • 1 zucchini, chopped
  • grated carrots (a generous handful)

In a large skillet, cook onion in butter until tender.  Stir in broth, rice, salt & pepper.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 13 minutes.

Stir in squash, zucchini and carrots.  Cover and simmer 6-10 minutes longer or until the rice and vegetables are tender.

colorful dish
colorful dish

This was super easy and made a great side dish – veggies and carbs all cooked together!!!

Black Bean Avocado Salsa

This is one of my all-time favorites!  I have  taken it  to more functions than I can count!!!  (Plus, it is actually pretty healthy if you don’t eat too many of  the tortilla chips with it!!)

  • frozen corn (about 16 oz) – I never thaw it in advance
  • 2 cans sliced ripe olives, drained
  • 1 (or 2 depending on your preference!) can black beans, drained
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • minced garlic (your preference)
  • 1/3 c olive oil
  • 1/4 c lemon juice
  • 3 T cider vinegar
  • 1 t dried oregano
  • little salt & pepper
  • 4 (or more!) medium ripe avocados
  • Tortilla chips

Combine corn, olives, beans, red pepper and onion in a large bowl.  Mix garlic, oil, lemon juice, vinegar, oregano, salt  and pepper in a small bowl.  Pour over corn mixture and stir well.  Cover and refrigerate.  Just before serving, chop avocados and stir into salsa.

Black Bean Avocado SalsaSo  good!!!