Sweet or Savory – 2 Quick & Easy Side Dishes

You have a party to go to but really didn’t spend enough time brainstorming what side dish to bring?  Too busy online shopping for your new outfits, you didn’t spend enough time remembering your real holiday responsibilities?   Been there.   Will crispy chickpeas work?

I have 2 super easy side dishes to share.  I’ve shared both before but I’m pairing them up here so you have easy access & can pick which one works best for you.  I made a little twist on both.

My SAVORY dish sounds incredibly simple, but don’t count it out.  I brought this freaking rice recipe with me everywhere I went after my allergy attack because it was something I knew I could comfortably eat.  Everyone else, everywhere I went wanted my rice dish for themselves.  I’d be at a dinner with every comfort, delicious food you can think of & people would be grabbing my super simple rice dish.  There’s something about simple ingredients, no extra fat, sugar or cranberries that is attractive to almost everyone.  I’ve learned, as creative as we want to be in the kitchen –  A LOT of people love a simple, fresh, healthy mix!  I promise, you can’t go wrong with this dish – bring it to the table & the guests will help it shine.

Holiday Rice Melody:

Ingredients:

2 Cups Uncooked Brown Rice (I used THIS, but use any rice you want! Wild rice, white rice, quinoa, whatever!)

1 Small White Onion

3 Carrots

5 Celery Stalks

4 Tablespoons Olive Oil (favorite: here)

2 tsps Garlic Powder (or you can use garlic cloves!)

1 tsp Onion Powder/Salt

Salt & Pepper

Directions:

Rinse rice.  Cook according to the package directions.  For some of you, maybe that’s using a rice cooker or Instant Pot.  Maybe it’s the stove and boiling water.  It doesn’t matter.   Work with what you have, follow the directions exactly off the package and it’ll work.  While the rice is cooking, peel the onion & start chopping it.   You can dice the onion or slice it thin – don’t over think your chopping strategy.  Set it aside.  Rinse & scrub you carrots + celery.  I use this scrub brush (here).  Finely chop both celery & carrots.  Once you have your rice cooking, onion chopped, celery + carrots diced – take out a saute pan.  Pour 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the pan and heat over medium heat until oil is hot.  Throw in all your veggies – onion, carrot, and celery.  Top with garlic powder, onion powder, salt & pepper.  Mix & saute for 10ish minutes, until they soften.  Add more olive oil if it starts to get dry! (Don’t be afraid of olive oil!)  When softened, turn off heat until rice is ready.  When rice is ready, mix everything together & transfer to serving dish! Decorate in the outside of the bowl w crispy chickpeas & parsley, top w a few chia seeds or hemp seeds – to look cool & more complicated than it is.  Then, bring to the table, sit back & watch the people EAT!  This dish also travels really well.

TIPS:

+ Feel free to add:: Garlic, chia seeds as a topping when you finish, cilantro, almond slivers, spices, crispy chickpeas, pumpkin seeds – get creative!

+ Make sure the celery & carrots are chopped small so they don’t hurt your teeth when you’re trying to eat them with the rice

My SWEET dish isn’t a cookie!  Because, so many cookies!  This is easier.  And mixing it up with a little popcorn (hi fiber) & dark chocolate is again very simple – my theme of the year.  I promise, you’ll mix this baby up in a few quick minutes & you’ll have ZERO leftovers.  I’m not sure how that happens.  Make sure you make 4+ trays because you’ll be sure to run out!

Christmas Crack Recipe:

Ingredients:

Popcorn (you can make this even easier by using popped popcorn: HERE)

Pretzels (try gluten-free so everyone can enjoy! HERE)

White Chocolate (optional)

Dark Chocolate (perhaps dairy-free chocolate: HERE)

Coconut Oil

**(the amounts you use for each ingredient is up to you! Extra popcorn? lots of chocolate?  go for it! )

Directions:

1- Layer pretzels, then popped popcorn in a single layer on a baking sheet.  Make sure it’s either non-stick, aluminum foil, or spray with nonstick cooking oil to make sure the chocolate doesn’t stick once it’s chilled.

2- Melt white chocolate + 1tsp coconut oil (keeps chocolate smooth) in the microwave or on the stove. Don’t over melt, the more you mix the better it’ll melt.

3- When just melted, immediately drizzle over prepared pretzels & popcorn

4- Melt dark chocolate the same way as white chocolate & drizzle over mixture

5- Let baking sheet cool completely in the refrigerator (approx 20 min), break apart and ENJOY!!

**Add green or red sprinkles for a holiday twist & throw it in a pretty bowl to make it look fancy! People are going to love this in the mix of all the cookies!  Perhaps have it as a munchie before dinner?

Don’t be afraid to make either of these recipes any day of the year.  I make the rice dish almost once a week and leave it in the refrigerator to have as a side for a few days – just because it’s so easy & delicious.

I’m spending Christmas with Wafiq & Bernice.  And working on finding ways to convince Wafiq to be interested in a ham.  Did I mention he grew up Muslim, they don’t eat pork.  Challenging.  But something about ham is calling my name, we’ll see.

Have a relaxing end of your work week & holiday week/weekend!  If you make either of these recipes be sure to let me know!! It’s my absolute favorite thing to see!

Be thoughtful, always

Xx