Last weekend we had some beautiful weather, and I thought it would be the perfect time to finally try out the recipe for pork barbecue sandwiches that it took me so long to procure from my dad. While I can’t give you that recipe (I’ve been sworn to secrecy), the sides are pretty darned awesome too. One of my favorites for barbecue is potato salad, but I do mine with a tangy twist. Instead of using mostly mayo as many recipes do, I use mostly mustard, and a good blend of them at that, and throw in a few savory seasonings that make this not your normal potato salad. The result will make your taste buds tingle and beg for more! (more…)

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Dairy free, Gluten free, Lunch, Quick and Easy, Salad, Side Dish, Vegetarian by Courtney

Chile Pepper Magazine featured these potato skins in a 2006 story about tailgating fare, and I’ve drooled over them ever since. Potato skins have always looked like a lot of work to me, so I put off making these for over 4 years. When I finally decided to tackle this recipe, I wondered why I had put it off for so long. Yes, it takes a while to bake then scoop the potatoes, but there’s a lot of downtime during baking, and really, this recipe ends up not being much more effort than some of my weeknight meals. And they taste so much better than any frozen version you’ll get; the effort is definitely rewarded!

Since I like a hit of habanero, I quadrupled the amount called for in this recipe (Come on, 1/2 a habanero for 40 skins? Craziness!! Toss a couple in there, and keep the seeds in, unless you’re a wuss 😉 ). (more…)

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Appetizers, Gluten free by Courtney

Part of the beauty of making a South Indian Thanksgiving is the sides themselves are easily inspired by the vegetarian cuisine of Southern India. If you have a blended group of carnivores and vegetarians coming to dinner, this menu is sure to please both. The vegetables will be full of flavor without any added meat (it really is possible to make vegetables without bacon fat!), and the tandoori turkey will be a perfect complement to the vegetables that will end up stealing the show.

Mashed potatoes are a must at every Thanksgiving, but these get a spicy makeover with ginger, curry leaves, mustard seeds, and tumeric. The result is a flavorful potato that will have your guests asking for seconds, thirds, and possibly fourths! (more…)

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Dairy free, Dinner, Gluten free, Indian, Thanksgiving, Vegan, Vegetarian by Courtney