Sides
Bean salad makes a great take-along side dish to enjoy at a summer cookout, and you’ll get the nod of approval from vegans and vegetarians in the crowd. Use a mix of any kinds of canned beans you have in the house. If you want to go super frugal, go with dry beans that you soak and pressure-cook several days in advance before making this.
Ingredients
6 cups of beans, any variety (kidney beans, dark kidney, black beans, great Northern beans, Cannellini beans, pinto beans, black-eyed peas)
3 cups diced cucumber
1 medium onion, diced
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup bell pepper chunks
1-2 cups fresh parsley
3 Tbs. fresh chives, finely chopped Continue reading
Pasta salad makes a tasty, tangy, fill-me-up side dish to accompany any meat, fish or protein that may be coming off the grill. Use frozen veggies for fastest food prep. Perfect solution when you need a last-minute idea for what to take to your next cookout. Budget-friendly, easy to make, and holds up well against the summer heat.
Ingredients
2 boxes rotini pasta
1 large bag frozen broccoli florets, or spinach (about 4 cups)
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup olive oil
1 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
1 pinch salt
1 pinch black pepper
Fresh herbs (parsley, basil) – optional
Garlic powder to taste Continue reading
