Beside The Point
Often, in imaginary conversations that take place in my brain, people will ask me “Hey! What are some easy side dishes I can prepare in 5 minutes to complement the thing I cooked that took a lot of effort?” I have the answers.
1. Tomatoes + tarragon + olive oil + salt and pepper + red wine vinegar
— This looks and tastes as though it is not just a salad without lettuce. TRUST.
2. Sauteed or steamed spinach + garlic and/or lemon juice + olive oil
— This takes about 2 minutes and is hard to screw up. Just don’t over-cook it.
3. Asparagus sauteed in olive oil + tiny bit of butter + lemon + lemon pepper
— Also hard to screw up. A nice variation is soy sauce, ginger and garlic instead of lemon and lemon pepper.
4. Make-ahead pasta salad [shells or macaroni + olive oil + dijon mustard + fresh thyme + salt and pepper]
— <3 carbz
5. Rice + sauteed leeks (slice into rounds, then halve the rounds and sautee in butter and/or olive oil and some white wine until soft) + sauteed mushrooms (shiitake, button, portabella)
— Comfort food, goes great with chicken, absorbs sauces
6. Arugula + dried cranberries + candied pecans + vinaigrette
— Elegant, easy
