There's no need to slave away making mashed potatoes at the last minute, not when this creamy, comforting potato side dish is so handy to prepare well in advance. Plus, it's an easy dish for people to...
I often fix this comforting dish for my grown children when they visit. They love it when I double the recipe so they can take leftovers home! This recipe can be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated before...
Green beans are a reliable standby, but they can seem ordinary on their own. Just a couple of extra ingredients give them a sweet and salty attitude. This is definitely my family's favorite way to enjoy...
Meet the Cook: Try these as an accompaniment to hamburgers or fried fish, or with steaks on the grill. The recipe's from my mom, and it's one of her most popular. (As a newlywed 15 years ago, I often found...
Chock-full of mushrooms, celery and green onions, this hearty side dish is an ideal accompaniment to cool-weather meals. Our Test Kitchen staff seasoned it with garlic, thyme and rosemary so it complements...
Sweet potatoes are a staple of Southern cooking here in North Carolina. Combined with russet potatoes, this recipe makes simple mashed potatoes a very special treat.
"The horseradish marinade sparks the flavor of this simple salad," says field editor Doris Heath of Bryson City, North Carolina. "The beets look particularly pretty on a bed of lettuce."
Here's a fast and easy way to dress up fresh green beans. Basil adds bright flavor, while lemon juice and garlic bring spring to mind. -Taste of Home Test Kitchen
My family fell in love with the combination of sweet and spicy in this potato side dish the very first time they tried it. It goes great with poultry...and looks so pretty on the dinner table. I try to...
When I found a potato recipe that called for vinegar, I was intrigued. But without all the ingredients on hand, I had to improvise and gave it a whirl using Italian seasoning and balsamic vinegar. It turned...
Mushrooms and spinach make a super fast combination that's perfect for two. It's easy to double or triple for a crowd. -Pauline Howard, Lago Vista, Texas
The recipe for this zippy side dish was given to me by my husband's grandmother. Convenient corn bread stuffing mix and a can of green chilies give fast flavor to sliced summer squash. Since I cook for...
This potato dish is perfect with prime rib and many other entrees. Make it ahead and have it ready to pop into the oven for the party. The topping of cornflake crumbs and Parmesan cheese adds crunch. -Paula...
"This tasty dish proves you don't have to feed a crowd to enjoy that delicious picnic salad flavor," says Ruth Wimmer of Bland, Virginia. "Hard-cooked egg makes it nice and hearty."
Even though Mom passed away years ago, her wonderful cornbread dressing lives on each year at Christmas dinner. It just wouldn't be the same holiday without it!
Looking for a festive dish to light up the buffet? This pretty green gelatin salad is eye-catching and has a delightful, tangy flavor. -Cyndi Fynaardt, Oskaloosa, Iowa
"When I want a super side dish that's real old-fashioned comfort food, I make a batch of this macaroni and cheese," notes field editor Joanie Elbourn of Gardner, Massachusetts.
My daughter and I love zucchini, and this casserole uses plenty for a hearty fall side dish. For extra color, I add fresh diced tomatoes. -Rachelle Stratton, Rock Springs, Wyoming
Quinoa is such a fantastic salad base-it's full of protein, it adds a nutty flavor, and it's the perfect vehicle to soak up any kind of dressing. If you like a little more heat, add more cayenne or curry...
Thai food lovers will go crazy for this soup. It has a deep flavor from the combination of onion, coconut milk and spices. -Susan Hein, Burlington, Wisconsin
I am a firm believer that fresh is best. I developed this recipe to take advantage of our garden veggies. It really shows off the full flavor of the green beans. -Carol Mayer, Sparta, Illinois
I had never tried mushroom spinach risotto until a trip to Paris a few years ago. Since then, I worked hard to create a recipe that tasted similar, and I think I finally succeeded with this version. It...
Roasted acorn squash slices are a favorite with my family. This recipe has a sweet maple flavor from syrup and an appealing nuttiness from pecans. It's easy, too, because you don't have to peel the squash....
This recipe has been in our family for years. We like turnips with turkey, so my mother used to serve this side dish with our turkey dinner at Christmas. Then I served this dish, and now my daughter, who...
As a comfy side dish, cheese grits have fantastic potential but sometimes need a flavor boost. For add-ins, try red pepper flakes, fresh rosemary or crushed garlic. -Paula Hughes, Birmingham, Alabama
In her Auburn, Kansas kitchen, Myra Innes cooks these rich, creamy mashed potatoes frequently. Garlic cloves are boiled and then mashed right along with the potatoes to give them extraordinary flavor.
The best part about this cheesy rice recipe is that it's great both hot or cold. It's a dish I make often since cheese and rice are staples in my pantry and because it travels well, I like to take it to...
My seven children and 15 grandchildren really look forward to carrots when they're prepared this flavorful way. As a cook at our local school, I served two generations of my brood, plus relatives and friends...
This dish is representative of my area of the country, and particularly the Texas-Louisiana border. The okra, corn and Creole seasonings are all popular here. -Ruth Aubey, San Antonio, Texas
Fresh, fruity flavor makes this pretty salad popular with all ages. Our whole family really digs into its fluffy goodness. I can put it together in the morning or even the night before and pop it in the...
A splash of lemon and hint of refreshing mint brighten up the medley of red tomatoes, creamy mozzarella and ripe avocados in this colorful, sensational salad. -Lynn Scully, Rancho Santa Fe, California
We like grilling because it's a no-fuss way to make a meal. This pleasing potato recipe is one we use often! The onion, cheddar cheese and Worscestershire sauce combine to make a super side dish for any...
I revamped my mother's potato salad recipe to taste more like baked potatoes with all the fixin's, which I love. It's now the most requested dish at family gatherings. Even my mother asked for the recipe!...
This hearty broccoli rice casserole is my usual choice to make for a potluck. With the green of the broccoli and the rich cheese sauce, it's pretty to serve, and it makes a tasty side dish for almost any...
Chopped onion, minced garlic and soy sauce add savory seasoning to this snappy side dish from Connie Moore of Medway, Ohio. At a mere 10ยข a serving, it's easy to stir-fry on the stove top when time is...
Basic gluten-free biscuits are fantastic with brunch, dinner or even a bowl of soup for an easy lunch. This recipe is perfect for tweaking-stir in your favorite ingredients like shredded cheddar and garlic...
If you're new to grilling corn in the husk, season the ears with butter, Parmesan cheese and parsley. It's especially good! Be sure to give the corn a long soak before putting it on the grill. Hot off...
With five different dairy products, you know this make-ahead mashed potato casserole is going to be super rich and, of course, delicious. It gets even better topped with onions and bacon! -JoAnn Koerkenmeier,...
This creamy cheese sauce for broccoli is a great way to jazz up veggies. Try any cheese you like. For an elegant look, garish with minced parsley or grated egg whites. -Sandy Spackman, Trenton, Utah
You'll want to take this simple-to-assemble potato salad to all your picnics and outings. It's always on the menu when my tomato plants yield a bumper crop. Feel free to improvise by adding other fresh...
I came up with this recipe after my daughter had cheese fries at a restaurant and couldn't stop talking about them. She loves that I can fix them so quickly at home. Plus, the frozen fry packets can be...