A Side of Sweet

Beautiful Food, Travel & Design

Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Vinegar & Parmesan

A roasted asparagus recipe with balsamic vinegar and parmesan that is easy to make and super healthy! The best time to buy asparagus is in spring, from March to May.
Easy Roasted Asparagus Recipe with Balsamic Vinegar and Parmesan

One of my favorite things about spring is that it is asparagus season! Now that it’s March, I starting to incorporate asparagus into every meal possible, like this zucchini noodle pasta recipe. One of my favorite ways to eat asparagus is also one of the most simple – roasted and topped with balsamic vinegar and parmesan cheese. This recipe is also very similar to the dish that was served at our wedding.
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Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts Skewers

Bacon wrapped brussels sprouts skewers, drizzled with maple syrup, because bacon makes everything better! Easy to make and just four ingredients.
Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts Skewers - Easy Appetizer Recipe

This recipe for bacon wrapped brussels sprouts skewers comes with a million potential bacon cliches, which I shall now list for you in the form of hashtags. #TeamBacon #BaconWrappedEverything #BaconMakesEverythingBetter, #365DaysofBacon, #AllTheBacon, #BaconForDays…

Help me out here, there have to be dozens that I missing! 🙂

These skewers are easy to make, and will disappear in a blink on your special day. I should know, as I was well on my way through my second skewer when I realized that I needed to show a little restraint so the guests could enjoy them as well! I love brussels sprouts on in their own right, but obviously wrapped in bacon they will convert even the most veggie-hating guest in your midst…. Read More »

How to Host a Fabulous Friendsgiving

How to Host a Fabulous Friendsgiving – everything from a copper and navy table design to easy menu ideas, including a spicy cranberry cheese dip recipe!Easy and Cheap Thanksgiving Design Garland with Vegetables, Gourds, and Fruit

Thanksgiving is my FAVORITE day of the year. In fact, if I had my way, I’d celebrate it at least monthly all year round! We got an early start on the Thanksgiving season this year by hosting a Friendsgiving last weekend. I just love throwing a good party, and I tend to completely immerse myself in the planning leading up to an event. Amazing food was a given, but I also wanted to have a lovely table setting that would wow our guests and make the mood really festive…. Read More »

Southern Style Cheddar Biscuits from FIVE Berkeley

A recipe for perfectly flaky southern style buttermilk cheddar biscuits from FIVE restaurant in Berkeley, California. Try to eat just one!

Best Flaky Southern Style Cheddar Biscuits Recipe

Even though cooking at home is one of our favorite ways to spend time together, Pat and I also love exploring the amazing cuisine of the San Francisco bay area. We average about one meal out on the town a week, which you can see more of on my Instagram account or my San Francisco restaurant reviews page. Even though there are so many options for dining in San Francisco, we try to explore the cities that surround SF as well…. Read More »

Lightened Up Potato Salad with Golden Beets

This lightened up potato salad is honestly the BEST you’ll ever eat and so easy to make! The addition of golden beets is delicious and healthy. Perfect for a picnic or a potluck. Plus, info on a fun San Francisco event.Easy Lightened Up Potato Salad Recipe with Golden Beets and Shallots

Fact: I hated potato salad growing up. I wanted nothing to do with the heavy, creamy, chilled version that is standard at every potluck and deli counter in the Midwest. And that weird bright yellow color. Yuck. It just seemed so unnatural.

The great thing about this potato salad recipe is that’s fairly light compared to your traditional potato salad recipes. There’s no mayonnaise or heavy fats. The addition of golden beets practically makes it guilt free! The addition of multicolored potatoes also makes it colorful and delicious. Plus, it’s great served either warm or cold…. Read More »

Spicy Potato Skins & Greek Yogurt Dip

Spicy potato skins are SO good and they’re healthier than french fries. Dip them in a spicy Greek yogurt dip for the ultimate party recipe. Enjoy with a Vinho Verde wine from Portugal.
Spicy Potato Wedges Recipe - easy to make and SO delicious! Gluten free and vegetarian

French fries are trouble. I used to waitress in college and french fries were my nemesis. It’s literally impossible for me to stop eating them. I gained five pounds within the first few months of starting.

These spicy potato skins totally bring me back to my service industry days. They taste great and with just a bit of oil and absolutely no frying they aren’t quite as bad for you either. Good thing, because they are just as hard resist as a plateful of fries…. Read More »

Chilled Green Gazpacho Soup

Chilled Green Gazpacho Soup is your new summer recipe. It’s healthy and almost entirely made ahead of time. Try it with an Alvarhino wine from the Vinho Verde region in Portugal.
Healthy Chilled Green Gazpacho Soup Recipe - Perfect for Summer!

Gazpacho is the perfect summer soup. It requires no slaving away over the stove and it’s served chilled, which makes it super refreshing. Because of all of the Vinho Verde wines I’ve been enjoying lately, I was also inspired by Portuguese Soupa Verde Frio (Cold Green Soup) to put a green spin on gazpacho with tomatillos and leafy greens instead of tomatoes.

This gazpacho has another twist – it has bread it in! I recently enjoyed a a similar one at a local restaurant. I thought the bread added a really nice richness and made the super really special. It’s also super convenient because it’s marinated overnight meaning minimal prep at mealtime. I couldn’t resist trying it in this recipe, and the result was wonderful…. Read More »