Side Dishes

Thumbnail image for Asparagus Galette with Gruyere Cheese

Asparagus Galette with Gruyere Cheese

April 3, 2012

Mary Anne here. A galette is a term used to describe various types of flat, round or free-form breads and cakes. In this recipe, it’s used to describe more of a tart-like dish, while my Potato and Canadian Bacon Galette serves as a tart but actually bakes en casserole. Now that I’ve cleared that up… [...]

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Thumbnail image for Caribbean-Style Yuca Salad with Crispy Bacon, Sweet Onion and Celery

Caribbean-Style Yuca Salad with Crispy Bacon, Sweet Onion and Celery

February 14, 2012

Mary Anne here. I first sampled Yuca – aka Cassava – while visiting St. Lucia this past December. Michael and I took a tour of the Pitons, visiting the magnificent and explosive botanical gardens…explosive thanks to the neighboring active volcano. Never have I seen flora and fauna as lush and vibrant as the native flowers [...]

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Thumbnail image for Curried Chicken Salad with Crisp Green Apples and Soft Raisins

Curried Chicken Salad with Crisp Green Apples and Soft Raisins

February 9, 2012

Mariel here. Lately I’ve been highly suggestible when it comes to food ideas. I trotted past a Dunkin’ Donuts ad for their new Tuna Fish Croissant and, BLAMMO, that’s all I wanted for dinner. After fielding a question from a reader about our Penne alla Vodka, I just had to remake it myself. So the [...]

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Thumbnail image for Chile Con Queso aka Tex-Mex Style Nacho Cheese Dip

Chile Con Queso aka Tex-Mex Style Nacho Cheese Dip

January 31, 2012

Mary Anne here. Super Bowl Sunday is upon us, and this year I may actually watch the game as my New York Giants tackle the New England Patriots! Usually it’s all about the grub…and the commercials. My cheering section of the Ellicott-Rittenhouse team plans to keep up our spirits no matter what happens on the [...]

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Thumbnail image for Baked Onion Rings with Old Bay

Baked Onion Rings with Old Bay

December 13, 2011

Mary Anne here. True, I am an onion ring fanatic, but I believe there is nary a fried food that stacks up to a deep-fried, batter-crisped sweet onion. That being said, while December typically signals a break from bathing suit season, my annual trip to the tropics means I should probably be taking a plunge [...]

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Thumbnail image for Glazed Carrots with Ginger and Fresh Orange Juice

Glazed Carrots with Ginger and Fresh Orange Juice

November 23, 2011

Mary Anne here. Mariel is right – when it comes to our Thanksgiving feast, it’s all about the side dishes. I have to admit, I’ve gotten into a bit of a rut in terms of trying out new veggies, but who wants to mess with success and risk disappointing the “kids” on such an important [...]

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Thumbnail image for Thanksgiving Side Dish Inspiration

Thanksgiving Side Dish Inspiration

November 17, 2011

Mariel here. Sure, my mom’s turkey is to-die-for – check out her tips on what to do and what NOT to do – but let’s be honest, it’s all about the side dishes. On what other day is it socially-acceptable to attend a formal dinner wearing elastic-waisted cargo pants – or cargo pants of any [...]

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Thumbnail image for Popovers aka Yorkshire Pudding

Popovers aka Yorkshire Pudding

October 27, 2011

Mary Anne here. So here at last is my final installment to our Sunday dinner of Roast Beef  and Horseradish Cream with Haricots Vert and Roasted Shallots. One Christmas, when I was still the proud mother of two (number three was my post-New year’s surprise!), we hosted a lovely family from London for the holidays. [...]

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Thumbnail image for Haricots Verts with Roasted Shallots

Haricots Verts with Roasted Shallots

October 18, 2011

Mary Anne here. As promised, here’s my second installment to a Rittenhouse “Sunday Dinner.” When my eldest son and I went shopping for our Roast Beef, the produce market was touting thin Haricots Verts for a mere $1.99/pound. Usually when I want to treat myself to this crisp cousin of the fatter green bean, they [...]

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Thumbnail image for Sweet and Smoky Roasted Cauliflower

Sweet and Smoky Roasted Cauliflower

October 13, 2011

Mariel here. At first I hesitated about posting this – I mean, do you really need me to tell you how to make such a simple side dish? But then I remembered a time not so long ago, when I would call my mom or hit up Google for instructions on basic tasks like boiling [...]

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Thumbnail image for Monday Night Salad ala The Palm Restaurant

Monday Night Salad ala The Palm Restaurant

September 8, 2011

Mary Anne here. So I suppose this is “How I Spent My Summer Vacation: Part II.” As I had mentioned in my Key Lime Pie post, Michael was not about to allow the absence of electricity interfere with his deep and abiding love of food, and so he hosted our Hurricane Irene hosts, D & [...]

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Thumbnail image for Potato, Leek and Prosciutto Parcels for Secret Recipe Club

Potato, Leek and Prosciutto Parcels for Secret Recipe Club

August 29, 2011

Mariel here. Since I spent last week camping out in the Adirondacks, I didn’t get a chance to sample my mom’s amazing-looking Potato, Gruyere and Canadian Bacon Galette. In fact, the description of this tasty creation seemed to burrow itself into my brain and lodge there, so much so that I did the unthinkable on [...]

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Thumbnail image for Potato and Canadian Bacon Galette with Sage and Gruyere

Potato and Canadian Bacon Galette with Sage and Gruyere

August 23, 2011

Mary Anne here. Mariel’s recent complaint about mayo-laden potato and macaroni salads got me thinking about this old catering standard of scalloped potatoes and cheese. But first, a little reminiscing. When I was a young girl, my mom used to dish up “Au Gratin Potatoes” when she was feeling gourmet-ish. Her genuinely thoughtful attempt at [...]

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Thumbnail image for Southern Sausage and Cheese Breakfast Biscuits

Southern Sausage and Cheese Breakfast Biscuits

August 11, 2011

Mary Anne here. This recipe was culled from my Nana’s book of “receipts.” She was a post-Civil War baby, raised on a plantation in Eufala, Alabama, and although my grandfather moved his bride to the icy cold of Buffalo, N.Y., her heart and palate remained south of the Mason-Dixon line. Nana’s leather-bound book of receipts, [...]

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Thumbnail image for Beggar’s Salad with Raspberries, Prosciutto, Chevre and a Chunky Almond Vinaigrette

Beggar’s Salad with Raspberries, Prosciutto, Chevre and a Chunky Almond Vinaigrette

August 9, 2011

Mary Anne here. I realize that given the ingredient list, the name for my salad is a bit of an oxymoron, since it’s certainly one of the most elegant combinations I’ve ever tossed into a bowl. But in my opinion, it’s a beggar’s salad because it was inspired by a bounty of fresh greens that [...]

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Thumbnail image for Orzo with Creamy Brie, Bing Cherries and Fresh Basil

Orzo with Creamy Brie, Bing Cherries and Fresh Basil

August 2, 2011

Mariel here. Recently I’ve been feeling like a neglectful bloghost. Where I’d normally stop by the back-end every other hour to tend to Feast‘s stat log and answer any reader questions, now it’s more like every other day. I’m in the throes of several new work projects and they’ve been all but consuming my life….which [...]

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Thumbnail image for Fresh Summer Fruit Salad Topped with Yogurt and Granola

Fresh Summer Fruit Salad Topped with Yogurt and Granola

July 26, 2011

Mary Anne here. Although the thermometer is taking a much-welcomed nosedive, this fruit salad has been a Rittenhouse family summer staple for  years, appearing on our table anytime the temperature lingers above 90 degrees. Recently Mariel has featured a few breakfast-for-dinner treats here at Feast, so I just had to put in my two-cents and [...]

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Thumbnail image for Broiled Corn on the Cob Rolled in Smoky Chili-Butter and Parmesan

Broiled Corn on the Cob Rolled in Smoky Chili-Butter and Parmesan

July 14, 2011

Mariel here. Ahh the simple joy of corn on the cob. This high-summer treat is the stuff of dreams – specifically, my dream of one day living on a farm surrounded by dogs, horses and a small brood of babies. Flash to the present: I’m an indoor kid. A caged city bird perched in a [...]

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Thumbnail image for Tortellini Salad with Roasted Peppers, Tomatoes, and Eggplant

Tortellini Salad with Roasted Peppers, Tomatoes, and Eggplant

July 5, 2011

Mary Anne here. My family often accuses me of being a hoarder, and if you ever took a peek into my freezer, I’m afraid you might just have to agree. This past weekend, I decided to clear out some of the “stock” that was taking up space…while simultaneously acquiring a deep-freeze burn. Out went enormous [...]

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Thumbnail image for Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries Seasoned with Old Bay

Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries Seasoned with Old Bay

June 13, 2011

Mariel here. It’s hard to believe, but it’s already been a month since the last Secret Recipe Club – some of you may recall the divisive Zucchini Brownies incident – so I spent part of Sunday scrambling to whip up a winner from my assigned blog, Mom’s Fridge. Intent on selecting a surefire favorite, I [...]

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Thumbnail image for Michael’s Black-Eyed Pea Salad with Crunchy Scallions and Fresh Cilantro

Michael’s Black-Eyed Pea Salad with Crunchy Scallions and Fresh Cilantro

May 26, 2011

Mary Anne here. Well, it seems Michael is getting the hang of contributing to our little blog. This afternoon, in preparation for the holiday weekend, he whipped up this salad (it’s become a standard in our home) and actually WROTE DOWN the measurements – yippee!! Michael is a pretty cute guy and I think he [...]

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Thumbnail image for Roasted Beets, Toasted Walnuts and Fresh Mint Drizzled with an Orange-Balsamic Syrup

Roasted Beets, Toasted Walnuts and Fresh Mint Drizzled with an Orange-Balsamic Syrup

April 28, 2011

Mariel here. A few weeks ago on our Facebook page, I posted some pictures from our inaugural installment of Cookbook Club, which was hosted by a friend of mine who also happens to be the taste-test editor at Epicurious. For our very first gathering, we plucked recipes from Rozanne Gold‘s Radically Simple, which combines intensely-flavored [...]

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Thumbnail image for Simply Salad: Mixed Greens with Walnuts and Dried Cranberries

Simply Salad: Mixed Greens with Walnuts and Dried Cranberries

March 31, 2011

Mary Anne here. Salad is the simplest of all preparations, and as far as I’m concerned, no dinner is complete without one. I love most things green, but nothing more so than the crisp snap of spinach or arugula tossed with dried fruits, cheese, and crunchy nuts. Often, when I’m just too tired to even [...]

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Thumbnail image for Easy Whole Wheat Mac ‘n Cheese

Easy Whole Wheat Mac ‘n Cheese

March 24, 2011

Mary Anne here. This past weekend the Rittenhouse/Baker/Goodson clan regaled Mariel with a birthday celebration fit for a princess. It’s not every year you face the daunting 3-0, so it needed to be a memorable occasion that would continue to make her smile for years to come. Since she was dreading the onset of a [...]

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Thumbnail image for Guest Post: The ABCs of Gluten-Free

Guest Post: The ABCs of Gluten-Free

January 27, 2011

Mariel & Mary Anne here: For awhile now, we’ve wanted to turn our attention to the gluten-free contingent, but since neither of us abide, we didn’t really know where to start. As luck would have it, we recently met the incredibly knowledgeable Lisa Cain, PhD from Snack-Girl.com: an arbiter of all things healthful, an evolutionary [...]

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Thumbnail image for Whole Wheat Parmesan Drop Biscuits

Whole Wheat Parmesan Drop Biscuits

January 18, 2011

Mariel here. On a mission to whip up whole wheat biscuits that weren’t like little mounds of lead, I worked and re-worked this recipe more times than I care to admit. I had three requirements: they had to be somewhat healthier, they had to be flaky, and they had to be delicious. I started with [...]

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Thumbnail image for Cranberry Pear Sauce

Cranberry Pear Sauce

December 14, 2010

Mariel here. Thanks to my love affair with Costco, I had a jumbo bag of cranberries hanging out in my fridge – taking up space, weighing down my crisper drawer. Cranberries are for Thanksgiving, so once the holiday comes and goes, what on earth are you supposed to do with any leftovers? Has anyone ever [...]

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Thumbnail image for Fall Fest: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Crispy Pancetta and Garlic

Fall Fest: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Crispy Pancetta and Garlic

November 8, 2010

Mariel here. Growing up in a caterer’s kitchen, dinner rarely relied on the ordinary. Spaghetti with plain tomato sauce? No way. Chicken fingers with honey? Not a chance. MacDonalds???? I WISHED. Instead we gobbled up Welsh Rarebit and fresh Tortellini al Pesto; Homemade Hoisin Chicken, Sausage-Spiked White Bean Soup and Jalapeno Crab Cakes – it [...]

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Thumbnail image for Creamy Butternut Squash Polenta with Fresh Parmesan

Creamy Butternut Squash Polenta with Fresh Parmesan

October 25, 2010

Mariel here. This was my very first stab at polenta. Like risotto, I assumed polenta required more finesse, patience and energy than I had on any given Tuesday. As it turns out, I was wrong. Polenta practically makes itself. This recipe requires the bare minimum in the effort department and it’s a delightful stand-in if [...]

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Thumbnail image for Homemade Applesauce

Homemade Applesauce

October 14, 2010

Mary Anne here. From the time my children were tiny tots, Halloween and fall festivals were two of our favorite things. Each year, in early October, I chose a crisp, sunny day and trundled my bunch up the highway to our favorite pumpkin patch in North Salem. Running, squealing and tripping amongst the stemmed squashes [...]

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Thumbnail image for Portabella Mushroom Risotto with Fresh Thyme

Portabella Mushroom Risotto with Fresh Thyme

October 11, 2010

Mariel here. I hadn’t made risotto in a dog’s age and since a recent trip to Costco left my fridge stocked with more ‘shrooms than a Phish concert, I figured it was high time to put them to use. My husband happens to be a huge fan of portabellas – and rice…and pasta…and butter – [...]

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Thumbnail image for Apple, Raisin and Celery Seed Slaw

Apple, Raisin and Celery Seed Slaw

September 2, 2010

Mariel here. We’ve got one more Labor Day dish to throw at you before you duck out for the long weekend. Inspired by the bushels of apples cropping up at a market near you, this Apple-y medley is the illicit lovechild of a Classic Cabbage Coleslaw and a Waldorf Salad. It doesn’t need much of [...]

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Thumbnail image for Root Beer Baked Black Beans

Root Beer Baked Black Beans

August 30, 2010

Mary Anne here. Ready…aim…fire up those grills! Labor Day is upon us and those coals will glow red-hot for summer’s last official chow down. My family will undoubtedly be expecting the traditional assortment of Slow Roasted Ribs,  Macaroni Salad, Deviled Eggs, Corn Salad, Tomato and Brie and Mariel’s Cheddar Black Bean Cornbread. This year, I’ve [...]

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Thumbnail image for Roasted Veggie Sandwiches with Sweet Herbed Ricotta

Roasted Veggie Sandwiches with Sweet Herbed Ricotta

August 26, 2010

Mariel here. By now I should be a pie crust whiz. Between my mom’s one-on-one training and our joint video demonstration – not to mention the hours I’ve spent fixing my own botched crusts – I’ve had a good deal of practice. That being said, unless I’m making a delicious dessert pie, I’d rather leave [...]

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Thumbnail image for Cheddar Blackbean Cornbread

Cheddar Blackbean Cornbread

August 19, 2010

Mariel here. I don’t need to remind you that Labor Day is just a hop, skip and a half a month away. Where the time went, we’ll never know, but since the summer’s biggest BBQ bash is right around the corner, I thought I’d whip up a suitable accompaniment to the Slow-Roasted Spare Ribs that [...]

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Thumbnail image for Homemade Bread and Butter Pickles

Homemade Bread and Butter Pickles

August 9, 2010

Mary Anne here. ‘Tis the season for Kirby cucumbers! Besides adding a crisp, clean crunch to green salads, veggie sandwiches, and summer crudités, they’re the perfect produce for pickling. Effortless to prep, these sweet-tangy treats make a deliciously unexpected hostess gift – just pour the pickled cukes, along with their cooking juices, into a pretty [...]

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Thumbnail image for Jalapeno Corn Fritters with Sweet Pepper Pineapple Relish

Jalapeno Corn Fritters with Sweet Pepper Pineapple Relish

August 2, 2010

Mariel here. My mother’s Jalapeno Crab Cakes with Mango Salsa are second-to-none. These snappy morsels aren’t loaded with filler like so many lesser cakes, instead they’re brimming with tender crab and the spice, well it’s just right. Because they’re so chock full o’ seafood, they’re also on the pricey side ($30 and that doesn’t include [...]

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Thumbnail image for Chunky Chicken Salad with Cherries and Walnuts

Chunky Chicken Salad with Cherries and Walnuts

July 19, 2010

Mary Anne here. Our frugal-yet-fabulous mantra would be a whole lot harder to maintain without scooping up seasonal fruits and veggies. And right now, in the midst of this sultry July, Bing cherries are at their peak. While we’ve all seen recipes for chicken salad with grapes, it occurred to me that it might prove [...]

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Thumbnail image for Watermelon Bites with Feta, Fresh Spinach and a Cilantro-Mint Pesto

Watermelon Bites with Feta, Fresh Spinach and a Cilantro-Mint Pesto

July 8, 2010

Mariel here. I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but this month’s crop of watermelon seems to trump any melon I’ve relished in years past…that or I’m suffering from seasonal amnesia. Inspired by a particularly tasty treat I enjoyed this past holiday weekend, I decided to try and incorporate this juicy summer staple into a non-dessert [...]

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Thumbnail image for Garden Pasta Salad with Chicken Sausage, Dried Apricots, and Walnuts

Garden Pasta Salad with Chicken Sausage, Dried Apricots, and Walnuts

July 6, 2010

Mary Anne here. The weather outside is frightful – and I’m not talking snow. Here in the Northeast, we’ve been hitting 90-degrees almost daily, and the Weather Channel is predicting we’ll top out at 100 by the end of the week…and it’s only the sixth of July! This past weekend, I was hankering for my [...]

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