Side dish recipes

YUM Mashed Potatoes For a Group

These mashed potatoes are so creamy and delicious you'll keep going back for more.  This recipe feeds a group, but you can always half the recipe if just for two and be glad you'll have a few leftovers.

*5 russet potatoes & 11 Yukon gold potatoes
* 8 cloves of garlic
*3 tablespoons salt (for the water)
*16 oz cream cheese
* 8 oz butter
*1 1/2 cup sour cream
*Milk (to make creamy)
Dash of salt & pepper

Optional Herbs- 1 teaspoon of each- chives, sage, & thyme or 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1. Cut the potatoes into cubes, peel the garlic cloves and dice- put into large pot with water just covering the potatoes & add your 3 tablespoons salt. Boil until potatoes & garlic are tender with a fork.
2. Drain water from potatoes/garlic and add the cream cheese, butter, sour cream, and a little bit of milk.  Stir.  Check to see if the potatoes are creamy enough and if not add more milk. 
3. Dash with salt & pepper. 

You can bake at 400 degrees until brown or you can serve just like this.
 

Broccoli Quinoa Casserole
I really like this recipe.  It's the perfect healthy side!  You get the nutrition of the broccoli and the protein of the Quinoa all in one.  I usually make it with steak, fish, chicken, etc.  It's one of David's favorites and he usually goes back for seconds.  This recipe goes fast!  You can even add chicken to it and make it a meal if you want, but we like it as a side best.  Make sure the broccoli is fully cooked and really soft or you will end up with big hard chunks in your casserole... and that is never fun!

1 head of Broccoli - Chopped
8 oz package of cheddar cheese (You can also use Italian blend, etc)
2 cups cooked quinoa
1 cup milk
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 small onion chopped
Olive oil
Salt & Pepper

Cook the broccoli (I usually cook in the oven or you can steam) then chop into small pieces.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Cook onions in skillet with olive oil until tender and cook your quinoa until done.  Combine quinoa, broccoli, 1/2 cheese, milk, soups, onion, and salt & Pepper.  Stir well to combine. Top with more cheese.  Bake for about 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and casserole is bubbly.

Hash Brown Casserole

This is my Aunt Sandi's recipe.  We had this one for Thanksgiving over at my grandparents house and we couldn't get enough!

1 bag of frozen diced hash browns (slightly defrosted)

1 stick of margarine (melted)

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 1/2 cups sour cream

1 pkg shredded sharp cheddar cheese (2 cups)

Let potatoes defrost @ 30 mins in large mixing bowl - be sure to separate any large frozen chunks.  Drizzle with melted margarine, add salt/pepper and toss.  Add soup, sour cream and cheese - mix thoroughly.  Pour into 9x13 casserole dish.  Top with a mixture of 1 1/2 cups crushed corn flakes + 1/4 cup melted margarine.

Bake 60-75 min. @ 350.

Creamy Mashed potatoes
I made these mashed potatoes for Valentines day and they were to die for!  Cream cheese & half & half is the secret in this recipe! ;)

You will need: 

4 white potatoes 
4 tablespoons minced garlic
Fresh thyme and oregano (About 2 tablespoons or to taste) - Optional
Salt & pepper
1/2 stick of butter
1/4 - 1/2 cup half & half (or more if needed for creamy consistency) 
1/2 rectangle of cream cheese 

1. Boil the potatoes in water with a tablespoon of minced garlic.  Boil until soft
2. Drain excess water and turn burner off.  Add butter, cream cheese, salt & pepper (to taste), fresh thyme and oregano, and half and half.
3. Mash all together.  Add more half and half if needed to make more creamy.