DIY Network

Side Dishes Learn how to add pizzazz to your side dishes. From "Home Made Easy" episode DHME-130

No meal is complete without a good side dish, but they tend to get a bit boring. Guest Karen Bussen, Home Made Easy's Cooking Made Easy expert, joins host Stephanie Lydecker to reveal how you can add a little pizzazz to some of your favorite side dish staples. She prepares a great spinach recipe and reveals a fun twist on sweet potatoes.

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Creamed Spinach

Creamed Spinach

Ingredients:

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 Tbs. flour
1 pkg. frozen spinach
1 cup whole milk
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp .nutmeg
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt

Preparation:

Drain and rinse the spinach, squeezing out as much water as possible. Frozen spinach is wonderful—it has all the flavor of fresh spinach, but is easy to have on hand since you can keep it frozen and it is a wonderful money-saving solution.

In a medium skillet, melt 1/4 cup butter and add 1 medium chopped onion, and saute until it is translucent (about 4 minutes). Add 1 tablespoon of flour and stir to form a paste. Then whisk in one cup whole milk, 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon.

Simmer this for 1-2 minutes and then add the spinach. Simmer until the spinach is hot and serve.

Note: This side dish is so good you could make a whole meal out of it, but it is fantastic with salmon, steak, pork chops, chicken—really anything at all.

Easy Garlic Kick Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Easy Garlic Kick Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients:

2 cloves garlic, peeled
1/2 cup low fat milk
3 Tbs. butter
1-1/2 lbs. medium sweet potatoes
2 Tbs. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt

Preparation:

Note: Sweet potatoes are a great year round dish. They are a very good source of vitamin A (beta-carotene), C and manganese. Also, a good source of fiber, potassium and iron.

Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them in half. Place them in a heavy stock pot along with 2 whole peeled garlic cloves. Fill the pot with water to cover the potatoes and bring to a boil. Simmer for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender.

Drain the potatoes and add 1/2 cup low fat milk, 3 tablespoons of butter, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Use a mixer or a fork to mash the ingredients together and you have wonderful side dish that goes with just about anything.

GUESTS :

Karen Bussen
Author, Simple Stunning Weddings
E-mail: Karen@karenbussen.com
Website: www.karenbussen.com