Hello, friends. It’s been a while. How are you?
Like so many others, this year has thrown us some curveballs and we’ve been away from our dear blog longer than we planned. But, we’re really excited about getting back to it this fall with some fun, fantastic recipes for you. Let’s start this thing off with some Halloween Caramel Corn!
School is looking a whole lot different for most of us this year, but one thing that hasn’t changed? Hungry kids who need a good breakfast to start the day out right. Today we’re featuring Freezer Friendly Back To School Breakfast Recipes to make your mornings just a little easier (and way more nutritious).
What’s this? A new recipe? That’s right! We are BACK, ladies and gentlemen. Well, at least for this week. As you may know, we’ve been taking a little bit of a summer hiatus and revisiting tried and true recipes. It’s been a delightful respite and much appreciated. As the summer has moved on, however, I’ve slowly returned to the kitchen and this new recipe for No Cook Summer Bean Salad has been on repeat during these hot, lazy days.
Summer time is my favorite for entertaining. Grab a cold bottle of wine, throw something simple on the grill, and add an easy summer side dish or two and you’re all set. This year, thanks to the global pandemic, gatherings are smaller and simpler but that doesn’t mean we don’t all need a few good side dish recipes for those socially distanced gatherings. These recipes are simple, healthy, and easily made ahead of time. You can serve them cold or at room temperature. They are also easily scalable to feed a larger group! I promise, with these Easy Summer Side Dishes, summer entertaining can’t be easier.
01. Roasted Carrot and Quinoa Salad
I love this dish for so many reasons. It is just about the simplest thing in the world and is packed full of flavor and nutrition. You can make the quinoa and vinaigrette up to two days ahead, keeping them in separate containers until the day you are planning to serve it. Don’t have fresh parsley? Try it with basil instead. Not a fan of golden raisins? Leave them out. Don’t have pine nuts? Toasted almonds would be great, too. The possibilities are endless.
02. Skillet Roasted Broccoli with Lemon Shallot Vinaigrette
Another healthy yet hearty side dish, I love this both piping hot and at room temperature. The lemon shallot vinaigrette really adds a great pop of flavor to the broccoli. The pine nuts give a great salty crunch! I love to double this for entertaining.
03. The Best Herbed Picnic Potato Salad
When we developed this recipe last year, our intent was to have a potato salad without a mayonnaise base. We love a classic potato salad, but as doctors, we don’t love worrying about summer heat and food poisoning. This potato salad uses pickled onions, capers, and lots of fresh herbs to pack it full of flavor. You won’t miss the mayo. We promise.
04. Curried Cauliflower Quinoa Salad
If you’re looking for easy summer side dishes, this one completely fits the bill. The quinoa salad uses curry and a few other spices to put a spin on your typical picnic fare. Cauliflower is tossed in a little coconut oil and the beautiful spices and roasted until just golden. It then gets mixed into a big bowl of fresh quinoa and coated with a light, tangy vinaigrette. Pine nuts give it crunch and salt. You can easily make the quinoa and cauliflower a day ahead and toss it all together the morning you are going to serve it.
Still looking for side dish inspiration? Why not give these recipes from fellow food bloggers a try? I know I can’t wait to make them all!
Grilled Corn & Jalapeno Slaw
Strawberry Avocado Salad with Candied Pepitas
Easy Cucumber Salad
As we continue with a little summer break here at With Two Spoons, we’re highlighting recipes from our archives. This week we are talking Cocktail Time! Read on for Simple Summer Drinks perfect for lazy weekends at the lake, evenings on the porch, or a socially distanced driveway gathering. Cheers!
As we approach the upcoming holiday weekend and the world continues the process of reopening, many people will be entertaining (at an appropriate social distance!) for the first time in awhile. I don’t know about you, but I plan to celebrate the reentry into some social events with dessert. Lots of it. Here are my favorite Simple Summer Desserts!
I know that this probably isn’t a post you were expecting here. What does a food blog have to do with Anti-Racism work? Well, frankly, a lot. With Two Spoons is a food and cooking blog. But it is also a blog about community, and in particular, community building. Lately, the community we live in – and the world at large – has been hurting. Much of that hurt has stemmed from the racial injustices so heartbreakingly prevalent in the everyday lives of so many people. I am committed in my personal and professional life to breaking down the old, hurtful world and building up a new, better community. A table where all truly feel welcome.
A month has passed since my last Quarantine Distractions post and while parts of the world are opening up again, we are largely still in the midst of social distancing and I don’t know about you, but I am definitely continuing to search for the little bits of light that brighten up these days at home. Here are my Quarantine Distractions: Volume 2.
01. New Recipes to Try. While I’m still pretty sick of cooking some days (and all of the dishes!), I am still working on trying at least 1 or 2 new recipes each week. The recipes have come from cookbooks new and old, food magazines, and of course, from my favorite food blogs. What’s on my list for the next week or two?:
Skillet Roasted Salmon with Avocado, Pomegranate, and Bulgur
Instant Pot Egg Casserole Bites
Shaved Asparagus Salad
Caramel Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars
02. More Books to Read. With distance learning, my busy three year old, and working, my free time at home has been more limited than I would like. I’m still trying to sneak in as much reading time as I can and since my last update, have finished a few gems and added many more to my TBR. I particularly enjoyed Saint X and The Stationery Shop. (Side note: if you are looking for a great list of summer reads, I always love the Summer Reading Guide from Modern Mrs. Darcy)
03. Thought Provoking (or just plain entertaining!) Reads/Listens. Sometimes I can’t stomach watching the actual news, but I do enjoy keeping up with the world through interesting articles and links. Here are some I’ve enjoyed recently:
What Life is Like In Previously Tourist Heavy Cities Amidst The Coronavirus Outbreak
90’s Rom-Coms You Need to Revisit Now
A Dad Sharing Practical Knowledge on YouTube
04. Podcasts and Walks. I’ve been taking full advantage of our recently warmed up weather to get out and walk. I love the sun, a fresh breeze, and the bright colors of late spring. Here are some recent podcast favorites:
J. Screwed (NPR)
A Crate Full of Summer Reads (What Should I Read Next)
Tips to Organize Your Photos with Miss Freddy (10 Things to Tell You)
Lori Gottlieb: Does My Pain Count? (Everything Happens with Kate Bowler)
05. Miscellaneous Goodness. Just a few things I’ve stumbled across that were too good not to share!
Spotify Daily Wellness Playlist
How To Host Your Family’s Own Personal Summer Camp (NYT)
Write A Letter To Your Future Self
Need more? Check out Quarantine Distractions: Volume 1 or any of our Good Food Reads posts right here on the blog!
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Like many of you, I am OVER quarantine cooking. I started out excited. It was fun and cozy! And now? Well, I just want food that is easy, nutritious, and doesn’t take a lot of effort. Or a lot of dishes. These Almost Fancy Roasted Potatoes are the perfect side dish for all of your quarantine cooking needs.
It’s the end of April and, sadly, we’re still knee deep in the land of social distancing, shut downs, and home haircuts (ouch). There are some wonderful things about this slower season of life largely at home. And there are some really stressful things, too. In the midst of it all, I’m continuing to look each day for the little things to lighten the days. Need some fun inspiration for your quarantine day? Read on for my current favorites in Quarantine Distractions: Vol. 1.
