Summer is coming to an end, but Labor Day allows for one last blow-out. Keep the barbecue healthy by offering options that are healthy and nutritious. From a potato salad without mayo, to a guacamole made with edamame, to savory and sweet skewers, this spread has something for everyone. Side Salads Israeli Couscous With Tomato, Feta, and Mint Sweet and Sour Cucumbers Potato Salad With Read more

I'll never turn down a raw oyster, but when it comes to wooing someone with a cozy, baked version of the supposed aphrodisiac, this creole recipe is absolutely seductive. These oysters often get me invited back to parties (as long as I bring the oysters) and succeed in winning over oyster haters. Shuck your own oysters and serve them on the half shell, or buy a couple pints preshucked and bake Read more

Mincing garlic is one of those very important kitchen skills that takes some practice to master. The good news is that once you've got the technique down, it's like second nature and it makes throwing together recipes much quicker and more enjoyable. Less precise than a brunoise, a mince is simply a very fine chop, and it can be done to several vegetables. Its purpose is to give flavor to the Read more

This tangy Asian-style slaw from kitchenwlittleb sounds like the perfect side dish for any weekend football feast. For this recipe, and many other tasty ideas, visit her blog. Share your recipes and food photos in the YumSugar community! Read more

This recipe for wild rice pilaf from FitSugar reader Dara8182 gets an antioxidant boost from pomegranate seeds. Dara8182 posted the wild rice recipe in our Healthy Recipe community group. I don't need to tell you that pomegranates are incredibly healthy and filled with all kinds of amazing vitamins and minerals. This dish is supersimple. Just toss wild rice with pomegranate seeds, chopped Read more

Before Spring sets and Summer is here, I had to try cooking dandelion greens. I've worked with just about every green except these bitter weeds. Thus, I picked up a couple of bunches at the local farmers market and got to work on this creamy dandelion dish. To prep the tough greens and ensure that they are tender, you must blanch and steam them under a clean dish towel before assembling the Read more

Before you shun certain fruits and vegetables for life, sample them at their peak and see if you feel the same way. Although I grew up swearing off tomatoes, all it took was a locally grown heirloom variety, plucked from the vine that very Summer morning, that convinced me that I did enjoy fresh tomatoes. Sworn foes of the pea, I challenge you to do the same. Don't like the overly sweet, baby Read more

Whether you're a serious meat eater who considers a side salad enough greens for the day, or someone who just hates veggies, if one of your New Year's resolutions is to eat more fiber, here are some easy ways to increase your roughage without a disapproving peep from your taste buds. Have a sweet tooth? Add spinach to homemade brownies, mash baked sweet potato into pancake mix, or add shredded Read more

When it comes to my own personal Thanksgiving menu, I'm a bit of a minimalist and prefer to keep recipes understated rather than over-the-top. This applies, in particular, to side dishes: I'm partial to items such as simply prepared sweet potatoes and these green beans, blanched briefly and served with caramelized onions. In my humble opinion, there's no need for green beans to be shrouded in a Read more

Grillades and grits are a trademark dish in New Orleans. If you can't make the trip to Nola, Food Orleans shows you how to recreate the experience in your own home. If you've never had or heard of grillades and grits, then I apologize for not mentioning them earlier. They're one of the two most wonderful things to eat for brunch in New Orleans (shrimp and grits being the other). I've never been Read more