Recipe tips: Spice up your sides!

Wow, it's been a while since my last post. Sorry for the brief absence... I started a new job, which I love, but has obviously been taking up a lot of my time. I also traveled to Northern Virginia last weekend to celebrate my niece's first birthday. So I have been busy!

Since I have been busy, I have been making quicker meals. Now, when making a quick meal, the quality of the dish can sometimes waver because I omit steps or don't put as much love and care into the meal as I should. :-) So below I found and tested a couple of ideas to spice up your sides for a quick, tasty dish...

#1 Red pepper flakes are your friend.

Pictured above is frozen broccoli that I thawed in the microwave, then added to a skillet with olive oil and garlic. After sautéing for a little while, I sprinkled some red pepper flakes in and what a difference it makes! Now, don't go crazy with the red pepper flakes because they can overpower the dish if there are too much, but a couple dashes should be great. Taste as you go to get your perfect amount. The great thing about this tip is you can use it in pretty much any veggie dish... so give it a try!

#2 Why hello balsamic... we meet again and again.

I need to admit, I have a bias here... I love balsamic vinegar. I got this idea from a coworker of mine about a year ago and I love making this dish. It could be a main dish or a side and it is very versatile, so you can really make it however you wish.

What you will need: water, garlic, pasta (any kind), vegetables (any kind; fresh or frozen), salt, pepper, olive oil, balsamic vinegar

Here are the main steps:
- Set a pot of water to boil on the stove
- Slice up some garlic (very thin)
- When the water is boiling, add salt, garlic and pasta
- Cook pasta per package directions or desired doneness
- Add veggie(s) to boiling water before you strain or cook separately
- Strain pasta, but reserve some pasta water (just in case you need it)
- Combine pasta, veggie, olive oil, and balsamic (add pasta water if dish seems sticky or too dry)
- Salt and pepper to taste

There are no measurements for this recipe because it is all to taste. I know some people don't like that, but this dish is best done by taste testing. Also, I make it differently every time, so a set recipe just would not work.

Pictured above is refrigerated cheese tortellini and frozen peas. You could probably even do this dish without the pasta and just dress up some veggies. Have fun with it and make it your own!

#3 A simple sauce can go a loooooong way.

I love my sauces! If I could have a delicious sauce with every single meal, I would be one happy girl. This is a very broad tip because there are SO many sauce possibilities out there, but I wanted to point it out because it really can bring a quick meal to the next level. Many sauces are also very easy and quick to make, so they are a perfect match for a fast dish.

Whatever you are making, just look up some sauce ideas online and go for it! I made steak the other night and made my own version of A1 steak sauce. It wasn't perfect, but it didn't need to be because it was still yummy. And be creative - just because you don't have one or two ingredients for the sauce... try a substitute or work the sauce a different way. Again, your taste buds don't lie - so taste as you go and see what you come up with! This was one of the best ways I started to gain confidence as a cook. Tasting sauces will teach you what flavors go well together and help you in all areas of cooking.

Pictured above is an avocado cream sauce I made with some spicy tilapia to help cool it down. It had 4 ingredients and whipped up in the food processor - easy and quick! It was delicious!

I hope you find these tips helpful! Happy cooking. :-)