Category Archives: Sides

Man and woman do not live by main courses alone. Sides are the chorus that makes the meal come together in all its symphonic elegance. Whatever.

Recipe: Buttermilk Onion Rings

Buttermilk onion rings are sweet and delicious when made with giant Vidalia or Texas 1015 onions. Buttermilk is used as the batter component instead of eggs, so you need really thick buttermilk.  Serves 4. Ingredients: 1 large Vidalia or other … Continue reading

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Recipe: Pickled Tripe

Apparently in Pennsylvania’s Dutch/Amish country you can buy pickled tripe right off the grocer’s shelf. What bliss. Luckily it’s very easy to make at home. About 1 pint (serves 8-12 as part of an assortment of pickled items). Ingredients: 1 … Continue reading

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Recipe: Pickled Ramps

Ramps are a wild leek that’s plentiful in marshy areas and farmers markets in early spring, where I live in upstate New York. They’re small and delicate so I use the green parts as well as the bulbs for pickled … Continue reading

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Recipe: Mom’s Green Bean Casserole

Mom food from the 1950s. I  followed the green bean casserole recipe from the French’s coupon insert but it was pretty bland so I doctored it up a bit with some ingredients that were probably present in the original. Serves … Continue reading

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Recipe: Broccoli Slaw with Red Onion and Cranberries

It’s pretty hardcore to bring a sweet slaw with onions to a neighborhood potluck, but this broccoli slaw works beautifully. (And it’s great with ham which is why I’m publishing the recipe this week.) When the perpetrator would not identify him/herself … Continue reading

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Recipe: Tomato Aspic

You can’t get past the first serving station at the Highland Park Cafeteria without encountering an array of tempting congeals. Tomato aspic is one of my favorites. This prep is sure to warm the heart of anyone with roots in … Continue reading

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Recipe: Mock Som Tam (Green Papaya Salad)

Real green papaya can be hard to come by, hence the workarounds. The flavor base of this is very strong and good so experiment until you get a vegetable combination you like. Serves 4-6. Ingredients: 4 c cabbage (½ head), … Continue reading

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Recipe: Curtido (Salvadorean-style cole slaw)

Curtido is the slaw that’s served on the side with pupusas (Salvadorean-style stuffed tortillas). It’s a bit intense to eat on its own, but that intensity makes it ideal for any recipe where you want to add the crunch of cabbage … Continue reading

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Recipe: Scrapple Croutons

These morsels marry the crunch of a crouton with the porky unctuousness of bacon—what’s not to like? Scrapple is very delicate until it reaches its final cooked state, however, so follow the instructions carefully. ½ pound of scrapple will produce … Continue reading

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Recipe: Kale Caesar Salad with Creamy Dressing

Here’s a creamy Caesar dressing without eggs or mayo that can sit on the picnic table without turning into a petri dish. Toss with some sturdy kale for a salad that’s actually better if you prep it an hour or … Continue reading

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