Easy as 1, 2, Steam

For last night's dinner I had my usual job of being in charge of the veggies or "sides" while Scott was in charge of grilling.  As a newlywed, I'm just now starting to get the hang of putting meals together on a daily basis and I'm learning more every day...

For starters:

• I should never, EVER try to grill....ever.
• When cooking chicken, it can't just be pulled from the freezer, aka the "black hole".  Triple-check the date isn't from 2007: whoops!
• I should really just avoid cooking meat, unless it's for breakfast, ground or heated up in a microwave.

One thing I'm pretty good at by now is putting together sides for the main attraction that Scott will be cooking or grilling for us that night.  I like going to the grocery store and changing up the veggies we eat, since I try to stay away from a lot of startchy sides as much as I can.

Scott grilling meat + veggie sides = my favorite healthy meal to cook at home.

In doing so, I've become pretty chummy with my steamy side-dish cooker: The Black and Decker Handy Steamer Plus.

Granted, the exact model we have lived has been with Scott longer than I have, so it's not as fancy or Rico Suave as this one.  Regardless, it gets the job done and makes putting side dishes together as easy as 1, 2, STEAM!  Since the one we have at home is somewhat of a dinosaur now, you can find tons of newer steamers online or at kitchen supplies stores.  Bizrate.com is a great source to compare products and brands and you can find a ton of varieties of what you need.

It's so easy....
Step 1: Prep veggies or side of choice by slicing, dicing or peeling.

Step 2: Fill your steamer with water.

Step 3: Put your veggies in the container.

Step 4: Cover and set your timer. 

*TIP: there is usually a steaming time guide on the back of the steamer to advise you how long to steam what.

Step 5: (optional) add seasonings while steaming for taste.

10 minutes later...

Your fabulous side is ready to serve!

So easy a newlywed could do it...wait... ;)

Question:
What's your favorite side to steam?

Mine's definitely artichokes...bet you didn't think that, huh?

Broccoli Slaw

Is it ever a challenge to get your family to eat vegetables?  Both my husband and I could be considered veggie-lovers, me being more of the raw veggie fan, while he prefers to dress his greens up a little.  It's easier to get your family on board with veggies when you find recipes and ways to dress up your greens.

One of my favorite things to keep in my vegetable drawer is a bag of broccoli slaw.  They sell 12 oz. and sometimes 16 oz. bags in the produce section of the grocery store.  You can steam it, mix it into a salad or add a few easy ingredients to it to make a great side dish for your next pot luck or backyard barbecue.

Whenever the bags of veggies go on sale at the grocery store I stock up.  I like to pre-make side dishes I can put in the fridge and quickly pull out for dinner that night, or even to snack on for a few days.  I'm going to start with a broccoli slaw recipe I make when I'm bringing it to a party or event, but I have a quicker and easier 5-minute version a little later on in the post.

Broccoli Slaw: Pot Luck Style

4 slices turkey bacon
1 12-16 oz. bag shredded broccoli slaw
1/4 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 teaspoons (or 2 packets) sugar or artificial sweetener
1/2 teaspoon salt
freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup finely diced red onion

cooktime: 20 minutes
servings: 8, 3/4 cup each

To make broccoli slaw: cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat, turning frequently.  I use Jennie-O brand turkey bacon.

If you prefer to microwave, do so on High for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes.  Drain bacon on paper towels, chop coarsely, and put it to the side.  Next, dice your onion.

Whisk mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper in a large bowl. 

Add turkey bacon, onion and broccoli slaw and toss to coat.

Chill until serving time.

 

*TIP: You can dress this slaw recipe more by adding any of the following:

1/4 cup of non-fat plain yogurt
1 8 oz. can of low-sodium sliced water chestnuts, chopped
2 packages ramen noodles (cooked, without adding seasoning)
1 cup sunflower seeds

You can change up your broccoli slaw each time you make it by simply changing an ingredient or two to find what combination you like best!  As for an every day snack, I like to have something handy to snack on that will take me less than 5 minutes to make.  Here is my every-day version of a plain, healthier broccoli slaw:

Broccoli Slaw: Snack Style

1 bag 12 oz. broccoli slaw
1/8 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise
1/8 cup cider vinegar -OR- 1/8 cup balsamic vinegar (sweeter)
2 teaspoons (or 2 packets) artificial sweetener
salt and pepper to taste

cooktime: 5 minutes
servings: 6-8, 3/4 cup each

To make broccoli slaw snack: Whisk mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper in a large bowl. 

Add in broccoli slaw and toss.  Enjoy immediately or store in fridge for up to 2 days.

*TIP: Have you ever tried Nature's Seasoning? It's made up of salt, pepper, garlic, onion and a few other natural seasonings for a one-stop seasoning addition to your food. 

 
I LOVE this stuff and will often even replace the need for salad dressings with it.  It's great on cucumbers, tomatoes, cottage cheese and especially broccoli slaw!  If you go with Nature's, just skip the salt and pepper step of the recipe.

What are some of your favorite slaws or slaw recipes?