Asparagus with Toasted nuts

Timing the side dishes to come out and be warm when served can also be a challenge. I am offering up this idea for an asparagus side dish because asparagus tastes good at any temperature.

Yogurt with Fruit and Nuts

Okay. This seems so simple. Everyone wants a fast breakfast or snack. Your kids will be giddy with this as their breakfast or their after school snack.

Hearty Italian Tomato-Mushroom Soup

This is a very thick soup. If you like your soup thinner you can add tomato juice to thin it out. I'd say a couple of cups of juice would be plenty.

Coffee and Cinnamon Roasted Nuts

Debbie says, "I made some roasted nuts last night for an election party, they were so good I had to share them. These were amazing and so yummy."

Roasted Plum Tomatoes

Quick, simple and a great side to any dish.

Creamy Cauliflower

This recipe was submitted by Plan Z dieter Debbie. Debbie says, "Here is an idea for Thanksgiving. Many of us have had this before, but wanted to share it again."

Balsamic-Roasted Exotic Mushrooms with a White Truffle Olive Oil Glaze

"Little plates" restaurants have become all the rage. At two different Chicago restaurants I ordered a mushroom dish that I loved so much I had to figure out how to make it.

Tomato-Zucchini Medley

If you are serving this dish with the salmon, place the salmon on the plate and then spread the tomatoes and zucchini around it for color.

Green Bean Salad

This is a recipe that can be multiplied to feed the MASSES. And it can be left on a buffet and served room temperature for a few hours.

Beetroot, Carrot and Zucchini Salad

This recipe is taken from the cookbook New Farm: Savoury Recipes from a Farmhouse Kitchen on the Isle of Bute by Carole Howard.

Caprese Tomato Salad

This makes a quick light appetizer that's pretty in the summer. Or it can be a side salad or even an Italian side dish to go great with grilled summer foods.

Parmesan-Reggiano in the “Raw”

There's only one ingredient in this recipe. The success is in the quality and the presentation. Cooking rookies and gourmets in a hurry can't beat this one for ease.

Roasted Red and Yellow Pepper Strips

You can make these in a large batch and store leftovers in the refrigerator. They reheat well and can travel well too. Eat them hot or cold.

Creamed Spinach

This won’t taste as gooey and rich as the restaurant creamed spinach that is full of cream cheese and Parmesan but it’s really so close that you won’t feel like you are suffering.

Roasted Onion Strings (Really, Healthy Onion Strings!)

When you roast Vidalia onions they bring up a really nice, sweetness. When you are on a diet, traditional onion strings are out of the question; unless they are like these.

Roasted Green Beans

Roasted green beans are easy to make. Super easy!

Onion-Poblano Saute

This is mild, full of flavor and a huge hit around my house. It would also be wonderful served with a steak or a meaty fish, too.

Indian asparagus

Another simple yet delicious side to brighten up any dish.