Side Dishes Archives | Carson Tahoe Health

Get ‘Dutch Oven’ Cookin’!

Delicious, Healthful Recipes and Tips for Preparing Food in a Dutch Oven Summer eatin’ is simply the best. It’s that time of year when we have access to a plethora of fresh fruits and vegetables, when we’re able to sip refreshing lemonade to cool off from the heat, and when we can enjoy some outdoor cooking! One way to prepare food in the great outdoors is by using a Dutch oven. A Dutch oven is a thick-walled ceramic, clay, or cast iron pot with a tightly fitted lid. It’s traditionally used atop burning charcoal. Maybe this is a little out of your comfort zone? No need to be intimidated, though. Local and self-proclaimed “Dutch Diva”, Terry Bell, has given us …


Mexican Cauliflower Rice

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with this nutritious spin on a classic Mexican side dish! Cauliflower makes an excellent low-carb replacement for rice in this traditional recipe. Each serving has only 120 calories, which is less than half the calories in the traditional white rice version. Enjoy this dish served next to enchiladas, tacos or your favorite entrée. Time: 15 minutes Serves: 4 Serving size: 1 cup Ingredients: 1 head small/medium cauliflower 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon ghee 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, finely minced 2 tablespoons tomato paste 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1/2 cup chicken broth (or vegetable broth) Fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish   Instructions: Grate the cauliflower using a box grater or …


Comfort Food Gets Healthy!

  They call it comfort food for a reason — you feel good when you eat the foods you love! Unfortunately, a lot of those dishes are packed full of calories, fat, and cholesterol. Rather than giving up your favorite recipes, try making healthy substitutions — you’ll maintain the flavor and a healthy diet.   Peach Cobbler Fruit cobblers are a great dessert. The secret to keeping calories and cholesterol low is in how you prepare the batter — only a little margarine is necessary, and you’ll never miss the eliminated sugar with sweet peaches to fill the void. Try Everyday Health’s 1-2-3 Peach Cobbler 271 calories; 4 grams of fat; .5 mg cholesterol Breaded Pork Chops If you oven-bake …


5 Healthy Veggie Dips

Vegetables are part of a well-balanced diet, but they’re not always a crowd favorite. Make healthy taste delicious with these guilt-free dips. You’ve heard it so many times that it’s practically drilled into your head: If you want to be healthy, you have to eat your veggies. From the green and leafy to the orange-and-red crunch, vegetables are packed with good stuff such as vitamins A and C, fiber, folate, and potassium. That said, they’re not everybody’s favorite, but slathering them in high-calorie sauces or tossing them in the fryer negates all nutritional benefits. If you’re looking for a way be healthy and please your taste buds, you’ve come to the right place. Whip up these five dips to get …


4 Creative Cauliflower Recipes to Try This Week

  When it comes to cruciferous veggies (think cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage), Brussels sprouts tend to get all the glory. But its oft-ignored cousin cauliflower is just as delicious — and even more versatile. In fact, when pulsed in a food processor, cauliflower makes a tasty, low-cal substitute for carbohydrates like rice and potatoes. As the following recipes show, the veggie can be transformed into anything from a calzone crust to an “everything bagel.” Plus, just one cup of cauliflower contains only 27 calories and provides more than half the daily recommended dose of vitamin C. It also offers a solid dose of protein, fiber, zinc, potassium, iron, and magnesium. What’s not to love? Try these five recipes that take cauliflower from boring …