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Honey Glazed Carrots Recipe (Vegan Option)

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This Honey Glazed Carrots Recipe will have even the pickiest of veggie eaters enjoying the sweet taste of glazed baby carrots. Pair this simple side dish with almost any main course for a quick and simple dinner. 

These glazed baby carrots changed my whole outlook on carrots.  Originally, I had a variation of them at a friends house. Even though I was reluctant to try them, I still did and I’m so thankful for that. It’s one of the most simple side dish recipes that you can find, taking just about 10-12 minutes to make from start to finish.  These honey glazed baby carrots are the perfect side dish for almost any meal you could plan.

There’s also a variation of these honey glazed baby carrots in case you or someone you are serving is vegan or plant based. In order to make vegan glazed carrots, we make a quick swap and it takes the same amount of time.

What ingredients do you need for Honey Glazed Carrots Recipe?

In order to make this simple and delicious honey glazed carrots recipe, you’re going to need just 7 ingredients.  What is great about that is that 3 of them are spices that you likely already have on hand and make this simple side dish even easier. These  brown sugar glazed carrots are literally perfect for the pickiest of eaters, including those little ones.

The ingredients that you need for these honey glazed carrots are:

  • baby carrots
  • cinnamon
  • coconut oil
  • brown sugar
  • honey
  • salt
  • pepper

I know many people don’t think of salt and pepper going with something that has cinnamon and honey in it, but trust me this glazed baby carrots recipes will be one of your favorite recipes.

I am vegan. How do I make these into vegan glazed carrots?

Since writing this recipe, we are now vegan/plant based. Because of that, I now more fully understand the need of people adhering to this type of lifestyle and their dietary needs.  Luckily, this honey glazed baby carrots recipe, is insanely easy to swap to make into vegan glazed carrots. In fact, I even have two options for you depending on your preferences.

The only swap that you need to make to this brown sugar glazed carrot recipe in order to make vegan is to swap out the honey. You can make the swap by using either agave or maple syrup.  If using agave, you don’t need to make any other changes, follow the directions as written.  If you are using maple syrup, because it is less sticky, you should cook for an extra 2-3 minutes so the flavors can develop a bit longer.

I’m allergic to coconut. How can I make this a Top 8 Allergy Friendly recipe?

If you need to swap out the coconut oil because of an allergy for this honey glazed carrots recipe, all you need to do is replace it, in the same quantity, with a similar cooking oil.  If you are looking for a coconut oil substitute for these glazed baby carrots, I suggest grapeseed or sunflower oil.  However, any oil, or even butter (dairy free if needed) will work. It will change the taste slightly, so we do recommended replacing something that is mild, even slightly sweet, that won’t be very strong.

How to Make Glazed Carrots

Honey glazed baby carrots are such an easy side dish recipe to make. If you are short on time, you will definitely love trying to make this recipe. Simply melt coconut oil into a pan on medium high heat. Once you’ve done that, add in your carrots. Cook the carrots for 5 minutes. Then, add in salt and pepper to taste, along with cinnamon, honey, and brown sugar. Continue cooking until the carrots are fork tender. Then done! It’s seriously that simple.

Watch us make these honey glazed carrots with a delicious Honey Citrus Salmon in under 30 minutes!

What main dish pairs well with honey glazed carrots?

These honey glazed baby carrots are the perfect side dish for a wide variety of dinners. While the carrots themselves take just a few minutes to make, they pair well with quick or elaborate dinner ideas that you could make. Whether you are throwing dinner in the instant pot or creating an intricate meal, this easy baby carrots recipe is the perfect dish for you.

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Honey Glazed Carrots Recipe
Prep Time
2 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
12 mins
 

This Honey Glazed Carrots Recipe will have even the pickiest of veggie eaters enjoying the sweet taste of glazed baby carrots. Pair this simple side dish with almost any main course for a quick and simple dinner. 

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: side dish, vegetable dish
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 62 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil (swap if tree nut allergy - see notes)
  • 1 lb baby carrots
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp honey (swap with agave or maple syrup if veagn *See post notes)
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • salt and peper, to taste
Instructions

  1. Melt coconut oil over medium heat in a large skillet. 

  2. Once melted, add in baby carrots. Stir to coat with the coconut oil. Let cook for 3 minutes. 

  3. Add in remaining ingredients and stir well. 

  4. Reduce heat to medium low and cook carrots for an additional 7-9 minutes or until carrots are easily pierced with a fork. 

  5. Remove from heat and serve. 

Recipe Notes

**Nutritional facts are just estimates. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. 

Nutrition Facts
Honey Glazed Carrots Recipe
Amount Per Serving (0.25 cup)
Calories 62 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 45mg2%
Potassium 134mg4%
Carbohydrates 12g4%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 9g10%
Vitamin A 7820IU156%
Vitamin C 1.5mg2%
Calcium 24mg2%
Iron 0.5mg3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Pin this Honey Glazed Baby Carrots Recipe for later!

*This post was originally published on 8/13/2018. Text updated to add a vegan version. 

Green Bean Salad Recipe (Vegan Option)

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This easy green bean salad recipe may be simple, but it’s packed full of flavor. Be sure to take a potluck hit to your next get together with this simple side dish.

I’ve told the story before about how growing up, I’d only eat green bean in ketchup.  Thankfully, all my senses came together and had an awakening moment for my life. Slowly, but surely, I’ve came to love green beans and now, they are one of my favorite vegetables. I never realized at that time, but green beans are so versatile.  I remember reading before that you have to try new foods up to 10 times. I can totally see why now, because the versatility in what you can go with a set of ingredients, can completely change how you look at a food that you think you don’t like.

It’s also a great tool for teaching your children. For us, we explain to our kids that while you may not like something steamed, you may like it grilled, or roasted, or sautéed. You may like an ingredient mixed into something, but not by itself.  There are so many different ways to use and incorporate ingredients, that you should never give up on it the first time.

Green Bean Salad Recipe

This easy green bean salad recipe with feta is sure to be a crowd pleaser.  In our  home, it’s kid-approved, too! Our girls, love not only helping to make this, but being able to eat through all the flavor combinations as well. We start by sautéing fresh green beans in butter, with some freshly cracked black pepper and pink Himalayan salt.  While they are cooling down after cooking, we halve beautifully ripe cherry tomatoes. Then, we make a delicious, but simple lemon balsamic sauce. Finally, we combine everything with some sliced almonds and feta cheese. The end result is everything that you’ve wanted and more in a side dish!

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Easy Green Bean Salad Recipe with Feta
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
8 mins
Cooling Time
15 mins
Total Time
18 mins
 

While this easy green bean salad recipe may be simple, it's packed full of flavor. Be sure to take a potluck hit to your next get together with this simple side dish.

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: side dish, summer salad
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 154 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 lb fresh green beans, ends snipped
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter (use vegan butter if making vegan)
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice
  • 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • salt and pepper
  • 1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds (walnuts could be substituted)
  • 1/2 cup feta cheese (use vegan feta)
Instructions

  1. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat.

  2. Add green beans and saute for 8 minutes, stirring frequently. Add salt and pepper to taste. 

  3. Remove from heat and put inside bowl. Let cool for 15 minutes. 

  4. In a small bowl, combine, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and garlic powder. Stir together. 

  5. To bowl with green beans, add halved cherry tomatoes and thinly sliced red onions. Pour sauce combination over and stir gently, but well. 

  6. Taste test and add additional salt and pepper if necessary. 

  7. Add feta cheese and toasted almonds on top. 

  8. Serve warm or cold. 

Nutrition Facts
Easy Green Bean Salad Recipe with Feta
Amount Per Serving (0.5 cup)
Calories 154 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Cholesterol 15mg5%
Sodium 116mg5%
Potassium 339mg10%
Carbohydrates 10g3%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 810IU16%
Vitamin C 23.1mg28%
Calcium 101mg10%
Iron 1.4mg8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Pin this deliciously easy Green Bean Salad Recipe for later: 

Summer Side Dishes

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 Looking for delicious summer side dishes? We’ve got you covered! Check out the best summer side dishes to have you ready in a pinch for any summer cookout. 

SUMMMMMMERRRRRR!!!!

Every time I think of summer now, I can’t help but sing the Olaf song from Frozen. And secretly, sometimes wish I was in winter.  It’s funny because summer was my favorite season growing up.  I mean, no school, no worries, lots of outside time, pools, etc. What kids isn’t going to love that?  Now however, it means more sweating as I chase my kids around in the heat, bugs seem to annoy me way more as an adult, and as a homeowner, more work. Regardless, I do find joy in watching my children love summer, just as much as I remember loving it.

Whether you like the warmer weather or not, you likely are going to attend a cookout or twelve during summer. Typically, unless you are hosting, you are going to be responsible to bring some sort of side dish. Or maybe you are just looking for easy side dishes for your own dinner.  Whatever the reason, we have some of the best summer side dishes from the internet all combined for you in one awesome post.

So, what’s your favorite summer side dishes? For me, I always want corn on the cob. Other favorite summer side dishes would have to be a great pasta salad, baked beans, fruit salad, potato salad, and sometimes just a big chunk of watermelon.

Summer Side Dishes

Now, which dish are you going to go make first? We hope you love this collection of summer side dishes for cookout time; however, if you feel like we missed an amazing dish, feel free to let us know in the comments so we can add it! Enjoy the summer!


Spicy Garlic Grilled Corn on the Cob (Vegan Option Included)

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This Spicy Garlic Grilled Corn on the Cob is the perfect vegetable side dish for your next get together. Cooking corn in the husk on the grill will be your new favorite thing! 

Grilled corn on the cob just screams summer. We love going down to the local farm and grabbing fresh corn on cob throughout the summer season and we’re so sad when it ends. We all, especially our youngest, just love corn on the cob. I remember growing up and my mom would literally drench her corn in melted butter and sprinkle an absurd amount of salt all over one ear.  I used to laugh that she was eating corn soup and the butter was her broth. This recipe is much healthier, but every time I eat corn on the cob, I think about my mom.

How to Grill Corn in Husks

There’s so many ways to cook corn on the cob, but cooking corn in the husk on the grill is one of my favorites. First, soak the corn in water.  After that, carefully pull back the husk to about half an inch from the bottom. Then, remove the corn silks. Next, spread butter and seasoning mix onto the corn. Carefully pull the husks back up. Grill at approximately 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until fork tender, turning every 5 minutes.

How long do you have to soak corn before grilling?

When cooking corn on the cob on the grill, you should soak it in water for 30-60 minutes beforehand. Soaking in water softens the husks, making them easier to work with and get down as far as possible without breaking off.  Soaking corn also allows for more moisture to be retained so the corn doesn’t burn on the grill.

How long do you grill corn?

Grilling corn on the cob is easy peasy! Start by preheating the grill to 400 degrees.  Then, you want to place your corn on the cob in the husk on the grill for 20 minutes, rotating every 5 minutes. This will ensure perfectly cooked corn on the cob. After the 20 minutes, you can slightly peel back the husk and test with a fork. The corn kernels should be soft and easily pierced with a fork.

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Spicy Garlic Grilled Corn on the Cob in Husk
Prep Time
35 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
55 mins
 

This Spicy Garlic Grilled Corn on the Cob is the perfect vegetable side dish for your next get together. Cooking corn in the husk on the grill will be your new favorite thing! 

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: side dish, vegetable dish
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 188 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 6 ears corn on the cob
  • 6 tbsp unsalted butter (use vegan butter if needed)
  • 3 tsp chili powder, divided
  • 3 tsp garlic powder, divided
Instructions

  1. Soak corn in husk for 30-60 minutes. 

  2. Heat grill to 400 degrees.

  3. Peal back the corn husks without removing them and then remove all the corn silk.

  4. Liberally rub 1 tbsp of butter over each ear of corn. 

  5. Then sprinkle 1/2 tsp chili powder and 1/2 tsp garlic powder over each ear. 

  6. Pull husks back up and over the ear of corn. 

  7. Place on grill and cook for 20 minutes, rotating every 5 minutes. Corn should be tender when pierced with a fork.

Recipe Notes

*Nutritional facts are just estimates. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. 

Nutrition Facts
Spicy Garlic Grilled Corn on the Cob in Husk
Amount Per Serving (1 ear of corn)
Calories 188 Calories from Fat 108
% Daily Value*
Fat 12g18%
Saturated Fat 7g44%
Cholesterol 30mg10%
Sodium 38mg2%
Potassium 287mg8%
Carbohydrates 18g6%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 925IU19%
Vitamin C 6.1mg7%
Calcium 10mg1%
Iron 0.8mg4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

**This post was original published on 9/9/2014. Images to the original post are below. 

 

Lemon Butter Green Beans (Vegan Option)

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This easy but delicious Lemon Butter Green Beans recipe will be the perfect side dish for your next meal! Try this vegetable side dish with your next meal! 

 

Funny story. When I was little, I wouldn’t eat green beans.  I went over to a friend’s house for dinner and they were serving green beans. All the kids had ketchup to dip their green beans in and when I said I didn’t like them, my friend’s mom asked if I would try it with ketchup.  I was a kid, so I’d try anything with ketchup.  I actually preferred them that way and from them on I dipped my green beans in ketchup. It was the only way I would eat them. It would be well into my 20s before I tried green beans other ways, let alone fresh green beans. Luckily, I came to my senses.

These lemon butter green beans are so easy and delicious, you’ll wonder why you’ve never tried them before.  And, if somehow, you were like me and scared to try green beans, I’d encourage you to try this recipe before giving them up altogether.

Whether you are looking for a side dish for dinner or an easy potluck side dish recipe, going to a cookout, barbecue or party, this easy vegetable side dish is absolutely one you want to try. You can easily adjust it for a crowd.

How to Make Lemon Butter Green Beans

First, you want to start by rinsing your fresh green beans. Then, trim the ends. Next, you are going to melt butter in a skillet and then throw in your beans.  Add in some lemon juice and lemon zest, as well as salt and pepper. Cook for approximately 8 minutes over medium heat and then they are ready.  It’s that easy to make the perfect vegetable side dish.  This leaves the beans with a little crunch, but you can easily let them cook for a little longer if you prefer to have them softer.

Delicious Entrees to Prepare with Lemon Butter Green Beans

Ready to make these delicious Lemon Butter Green Beans? Here ya go!

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Lemon Butter Green Beans recipe
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
8 mins
Total Time
13 mins
 

This easy but delicious Lemon Butter Green Beans recipe will be the perfect side dish for your next meal! Try this vegetable side dish with your next meal! 

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: side dish, vegetable dish
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 119 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed and washed
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter (use vegan butter if vegan or dairy free)
  • 1 lemon
  • salt and pepper
Instructions

  1. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. 

  2. Put green beans into melted butter and saute for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

  3. Add zest from half the lemon and juice from all the lemon into the skillet. 

  4. Add salt and pepper until desired taste. 

  5. Stir to combine and cook for another 4 minutes.* 

  6. Remove from heat and serve. 

Recipe Notes

*Cooking beans for 8 minutes will yield a slightly crunchy texture.  For softer beans, cook for a few more minutes until desired texture achieved. 

**Nutritional facts are just estimates. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. 

Nutrition Facts
Lemon Butter Green Beans recipe
Amount Per Serving (0.4 lb)
Calories 119 Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Fat 8g12%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Cholesterol 22mg7%
Sodium 8mg0%
Potassium 276mg8%
Carbohydrates 10g3%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 1050IU21%
Vitamin C 28.1mg34%
Calcium 52mg5%
Iron 1.3mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

BBQ Roasted Chickpeas Recipe

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This BBQ Roasted Chickpeas recipe is the easiest toasted chickpea recipe that you need for the summer! Dive in and replace your chips with a healthier alternative! 

My mom despised beans growing up. At least that’s how it was presented to me. Somehow though, occasionally, we would have chili. And for some ungodly reason canned Lima beans. Otherwise, no beans.

I didn’t even know what a garbanzo bean was until mid-20s. Luckily, I’ve expanded my pantry and now even my kids love a whole host of different variety of beans.

Because of this, I didn’t know really what to do with beans besides soups and stews for much of my life. Then, someone told me to roast chickpeas. Now, I like chickpeas cooked, and inside soups, but roasting them blew my mind. It was such a great alternative to chips (and much healthier!)

How to Roast Chickpeas

Roasting chickpeas is simple. You rinse and drain a can of chickpeas.  Then, you drizzle them with olive oil and place into a preheated 450 degree oven. Next, you cook from for 15-20 minutes, until they are nice and crunchy, a deep golden color all around.  Finally, you toss them in your desired rub, like our bbq seasoning below to make BBQ Roasted Chickpeas.  These oven roasted chickpeas will leave you coming back again and again for more.  They are best served the day made. Roasted chickpeas snack is even a hit with the kids!

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BBQ Roasted Chickpeas Recipe
Prep Time
2 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
22 mins
 

This BBQ Roasted Chickpeas recipe is the easiest toasted chickpea recipe that you need for the summer! Dive in and replace your chips with a healthier alternative! 

Course: Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: side dish, snack, vegan
Servings: 4
Calories: 36 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 15oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/4 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp brown sugar
  • pinch cayenne
Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees

  2. Pat dry chickpeas and place on baking sheet.

  3. Toss with olive oil

  4. Place in oven to cook for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown and crunchy. 

  5. While in oven, combine remaining ingredients in a small bowl. 

  6. Remove chickpeas from oven once finished cooking, and toss with the dry seasoning ingredients. 

  7. Serve immediately or store in air tight container. Best enjoyed day made. Eat within 3 days. 

Recipe Notes

**Nutritional facts are just estimates. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. 

Nutrition Facts
BBQ Roasted Chickpeas Recipe
Amount Per Serving (0.5 cup)
Calories 36 Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Fat 3g5%
Sodium 4mg0%
Carbohydrates 1g0%
Vitamin A 175IU4%
Iron 0.1mg1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Whether you are looking for a healthy snack idea or a side dish for a BBQ, then these BBQ Roasted Chickpeas are just the thing you need!

Pin these BBQ Roasted Chickpeas for later!

Cucumber and Tomato Salad

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This easy and delicious Cucumber and Tomato Salad is the perfect summer side dish! Ready to go in just five minutes, it can be made in a time crunch for the perfect summer BBQ side! 

tomato cucumber onion salad recipe

When I was little, summer time was the best one. For starters, it meant no school and what kid isn’t excited about that.  Secondly, it meant warm weather, water fun, and trips. Again, what kid doesn’t love that. But, I also love that it meant fresh garden veggies.  I loved not only helping grow our garden, but being able to walk outside and take a big bite out of a freshly ripe red tomato straight from the garden.

cucumber tomato salad recipe

A staple in our home was a cucumber and tomato salad during the summer. It was cheap and easy to make, especially when the veggies come from your garden. My mom made hers with mayo and vinegar. I loved it. Truthfully, I still do.  However, I’m trying to not only eat better, but some of my family aren’t big mayo fans.  It was in college that a local pizza spot had cucumber, tomato, onion salad as one of their side dishes. At the time, I wasn’t a huge fan of raw onions, but I tried it when my sister got it and I love it. This 4 ingredient cucumber and tomato salad is similar to that college recipe.

How to Make Cucumber and Tomato Salad

This insanely cucumber tomato salad recipe needs just 4 main ingredients. You start by halving and slicing one large cucumber. Then, largely dice up close to a pound of tomatoes. Next, slice up half of a red onion. Throw it all in a bowl with 1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Toss together and done! Making cucumber tomato red onion salad is literally that easy! You can serve immediately or let it sit for a few hours to really merry the flavors together.

Main dishes to serve with Cucumber and Tomato Salad

So you’ve settled on making this cucumber tomato salad recipe for your next get-together, family dinner, or BBQ.  Congrats, you’ve picked one of the easiest summer side dishes! But maybe you’re debating on what main dish to serve!  Here’s five great ideas!

cucumber tomato onion salad

Ready to make this tomato cucumber and onion salad? Here’s the easy recipe!

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Cucumber and Tomato Salad
Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
 

This easy and delicious Cucumber and Tomato Salad is the perfect summer side dish! Ready to go in just five minutes, it can be made in a time crunch for the perfect summer BBQ side! 

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: garden recipes, side dish, summer recipe, tomato cucumber onion salad, tomato cucumber salad
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 99 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 large cucumber
  • 3/4 lb tomatoes
  • 1/2 red onion
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinaigrette dressing
  • salt & pepper to taste
Instructions

  1. Remove skin and half the cucumber lengthwise. Cut each half into roughly 1/2 inch slices. 

  2. Dice tomatoes. 

  3. Cut red onion into slices then each slice into quarters.  Separate into pieces. 

  4. In a bowl, combine cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions. 

  5. Add balsamic vinaigrette dressing. 

  6. Add salt and pepper to taste. 

  7. Toss well to combine. 

  8. Serve immediately or refrigerate and serve within 24 hours. 

Recipe Notes

**Nutritional facts are just estimates. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. 

*Added Salt is not included in nutritional facts

Nutrition Facts
Cucumber and Tomato Salad
Amount Per Serving (4 servings)
Calories 99 Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Fat 8g12%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 6mg0%
Potassium 323mg9%
Carbohydrates 6g2%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 765IU15%
Vitamin C 15.1mg18%
Calcium 22mg2%
Iron 0.4mg2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Pin this Cucumber and Tomato Salad for later!

cucumber and tomato salad easy summer side dish

Zesty Summer Pasta Salad

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This zesty summer pasta salad is the perfect dish to take to all your upcoming summer get-togethers and outings.  It’s a cold pasta salad with zesty Italian dressing and sure to be a big hit!  

Vegan Pasta Salad

There are certain recipes that will remind you of happier times. Like summers ago with your entire family around a grill, jumping in and out of the pool all day, and running around without a care in the world. It’s up to you whether your children will have those same magical memories now. Though it seems like a big feat at times, sometimes food elicits memories of what made it special. By focusing in on those memories, you can remember how to make it special for your own littles. 
This homemade pasta salad is one of those recipes for me. To me, it’s the best pasta salad because of those memories. It’s one very similar to what my aunt used to make at every single summer cookout we had. This easy pasta salad recipe is also one of the few ways my mom could get me to eat vegetables as a child. Since moving to New Jersey though, I see my family less, so I needed to learn to make this Italian pasta salad myself.
cold pasta salad recipe

How to make homemade Italian pasta salad 

For this delicious cold pasta salad recipe there’s just 5 ingredients + the Italian salad dressing. You can choose to buy bottled zesty Italian dressing or we share our zesty pasta salad dressing recipe below. For this vegan pasta salad you need cooked pasta (we use angel hair), cherry tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, and zesty Italian dressing. 
The most difficult part of this entire dish is cooking the pasta for 8 minutes. So, if you can cook pasta, you can make this recipe. Add everything to a big bowl and stir, stir, stir, until everything is mixed together well. Refrigerate and done! It’s really that simple to make this summer pasta salad.
homemade summer pasta salad

Summer Pasta Salad Recipe 

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Zesty Summer Pasta Salad
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
8 mins
Total Time
18 mins
 

This zesty summer pasta salad is the perfect dish to take to all your upcoming summer get-togethers and outings.  It's a cold pasta salad with zesty Italian dressing and sure to be a big hit!  

Course: Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Italian
Servings: 16 people
Calories: 188 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 lb angel hair pasta
  • 2 cups homemade Zesty Italian Dressing (recipe below)
  • 1/2 cup carrots, grated (approximately 4-6 large carrots)
  • 1 1/2 cups broccoli, finely chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups cauliflower, finely chopped
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
Instructions

  1. Cook pasta according to the boxed instructions.

  2. Drain and transfer pasta to a large bowl. 

  3. Add remaining ingredients, except the tomatoes. 

  4. Stir until very well combined. 

  5. Add in the halved cherry tomatoes and give a quick toss (not too much, you don't want to over work the tomatoes). 

  6. Chill in the refrigerate at least 2 hours or until ready to serve. 

  7. Refrigerate any remaining pasta salad for up to 5 days. 

Recipe Notes

Zesty Italian Pasta Salad Dressing Recipe

In a large bottle or bowl, combine the following, shake or stir very well. Then, ready for use. Refrigerate any leftovers. 
  • 1 cup olive oil 
  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
  • juice from half a lemon
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/8 cup red onion, finally chopped
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Nutrition Facts
Zesty Summer Pasta Salad
Amount Per Serving (0.5 cup)
Calories 188 Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Fat 6g9%
Sodium 305mg13%
Potassium 222mg6%
Carbohydrates 27g9%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 875IU18%
Vitamin C 19.6mg24%
Calcium 21mg2%
Iron 0.8mg4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Pin this Zesty Summer Pasta Salad Recipe for later!

zesty italian summer pasta salad - cold pasta salad - vegan pasta salad
This post was originally published on 5/21/2014.  Same great recipe but our photography skills have greatly improved.  Here’s some of the original photos. 
cold pasta salad recipes from scratch
easy pasta salad
easy pasta salad recipe

The Best Homemade French Fries

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If you’ve ever wondered how do you make homemade french fries, the wait is over. Try out easy homemade french fries recipe in the air fryer or oven, including a homemade french fry seasoning blend.  

best french fries recipe

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. You shop the same but we earn a small commission from sales. 

I really can’t believe that it took me more than 25 years to figure out, but since making homemade french fries for the first times, I’ve made them dozens of times since.  We actually prefer this homemade french fries recipe over store-bought fries. Our whole family devours them every time we make them!

Since we’ve began trying to make more and more of our foods from scratch, these easy homemade french fries are one of our favorite recipes.  Not only does it save me a ton of money overall, but I know exactly what ingredients are in my food, which for me feeding two growing kids, this is very important to me.  I’m determined to make better choices for our family on a daily basis with each day being better than the day before.

how to make homemade french fries

How do you to make homemade french fries?

Homemade french fries are incredible easy, almost too easy.  It’s a great recipe to make with kids in the kitchen to learn their way around too. To make the best homemade french fries recipe, you need to simply slice potatoes into your desired size.  Smaller for shoestring french fries and larger for steak fries.  The key is that you want to get them all the same size so they cook evenly.

We make our homemade french fries in the air fryer; however, if you want to make know how to make homemade french fries in the oven we’ll explain that below as well. We prefer the air fryer for the best homemade french fries because there’s no preheating oven, no greasy mess, you have the crispiest, most delicious french fries ever.

french fry seasoning

What is the best homemade french fry seasoning?

We have a delicious all-purpose seasoning that started out as a homemade chicken spice rub, but has morphed itself into an everything seasoning.  This seasoning blend combo is the best homemade french fry seasoning you’ll find around!

how to make french fries in an air fryer

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Best Homemade French Fries
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
40 mins
 

If you've ever wondered how do you make homemade french fries, the wait is over. Try out easy homemade french fries recipe in the air fryer or oven, including a homemade french fry seasoning blend.  

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Calories: 87 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
Instructions

  1. Peel the potatoes and cut them into strips approximately 1/4 inch wide (size depends on how large you want your fries - fatter fries take longer to bake).

  2. Add potatoes, olive oil, and seasoning mix to a bowl and stir until well combined.

  3. Add your seasoned potatoes to the basket of an Air Fryer*.

  4. Cook for 30-35 mins at 392 degrees F, flipping every 10 mins.

Recipe Notes

Larger cut fries will need additional time.

**If you do not have an Avalon Bay Air Fryer - you can cook these in a single layer on an oven sheet following the same directions above.  

Nutrition Facts
Best Homemade French Fries
Amount Per Serving (1 cup)
Calories 87
% Daily Value*
Sodium 57mg2%
Potassium 464mg13%
Carbohydrates 14g5%
Fiber 3g13%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 10IU0%
Vitamin C 12.1mg15%
Calcium 32mg3%
Iron 3.5mg19%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

We hope you love this easy homemade french fries recipe just as much as we do! While you are making the best homemade french fries recipe, don’t forget that you can work on zero waste! Instead of throwing away the peels from the potatoes, throw them into a skillet about an inch high with vegetable oil over medium heat.  Fry them for approximately 7 minutes.  Remove to a paper-towel lined plate and sprinkle with some course salt. Delish crisp “potato chips” skins! The kids go crazy over this!

zero waste potato skins

What is the best French Fry Dipping Sauce?

We are obsessed with dipping our homemade french fries in our homemade honey mustard BBQ sauce.

french fry dipping sauce

We also love regular homemade bbq sauce.

french fry dipping sauce

For a spicy kick and non-traditional alternative, this homemade avocado dip is delish with fries!

french fry dip

Pin the Best Homemade French Fries Recipe for later: 

easy french fries recipe

This post was originally posted on 3/4/2015. Same great recipe, but our photography has greatly improved. Old images below!

homemade french frieshomemade fries

Caprese Pasta Salad

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Disclosure: This Caprese Pasta Salad has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BaronessPatches #CollectiveBias

 

Even as a stay-at-home mom, life is constantly go-go-go. I remember when I got pregnant with our first that Andrew and I decided I wouldn’t be going back to work.  It wasn’t the easiest transition, but we worked hard to make sure it was possible.  I didn’t think it was going to be easy. However, I definitely didn’t think it would be as hectic as it is. We are constantly on the go. Add in the fact that I run a small business from my home and we homeschool and the hectic level goes from 80 to 110 with a quickness.

The dishes pile up faster than normal, the laundry is never ending, something always needs fixed, and there’s always a mess to be cleaned up.  Sometimes, I swear a fairy comes behind me and helps them throw every single thing off of their toy shelves because there’s a mess again faster than I can clean it up sometimes. On top of everything, I have to educate my pre-schooler and make sure she’s actually learning and “Netflix and chill” apparently doesn’t mean I can sit her in front of the TV and watch LeapFrog all day long.

 And then, for some crazy reason, they need fed three times a day.

One of the best things that I’ve found to help my sanity is meal planning, simple, wholesome dinners where we can come together as a family and have a moment where the chaos is at bay for a few minutes. Sometimes, when I actually have life together, I love getting in the kitchen with our kids. We love making a delicious meal from scratch.  Other nights though, I’m scrambling when my pre-schooler comes to me and says she’s ready for dinner. Often, I realize I never thawed out meat. It’s night like these that I’ve grateful for Red Baron and my list of simple side dishes to go alongside it.  One of my favorite side dishes with Red Baron is a simple Caprese pasta salad.

One of my favorite side dishes is this Caprese Pasta Salad

[amd-yrecipe-recipe:148]

Motherhood is no easy flight. Luckily, the Red Baron Baroness knows that it takes a village of accepting and embracing our imperfections.  Head over to read more stories about motherhood realities like my story here.

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