Half Assed Kitchen

How to grill corn on the cob

We've adored grilled corn on the cob since our grandfathers used to cook it over hot coals in a half barrel every labor day.

It was just this year that we finally tried it ourselves.

The delicious smokiness took us right back. And tasted like summer epitomized.

Here's how you do it

Soak your corn cobs (still in husks) in a bowl of water for 1 to 3 hours. (Really, there's no need to shuck silk and twine husks together as some recipes advocate.) Place on grill at low heat, turning often, like hot dogs. To evenly cook, make sure to keep on grill for 20 to 30 minutes.

Shuck, slather with your choice of toppings and enjoy.

Scalloped potatoes with mushrooms and white wine

Tender potatoes, sweet-tangy white wine and a creamy roux make this a Side to die for. We've prepared this dish more than once and, with each try, it turns out better than the time before.

When you serve a side this good, you can slack on the entreé (think pork chops or a rotisserie chicken).

Seriously. We love this one. You need to try it. Soon.

Here's what you need and how you do it

3 baking potatoes (thinly sliced)

1 medium onion, chopped

3 Tablespoons olive oil

8 ounces crimini mushrooms, sliced

2 Tablespoons butter or margarine

1-1/2 cups milk, half-and-half or plain Silk Creamer

5 Tablespoons white wine

1/4 cup flour

1 teaspoon salt

Black pepper

Fresh rosemary (optional)

In a skillet, heat olive oil, onion, mushrooms, salt and pepper until the mushrooms have given up most of their moisture and the onions have turned transparent.

Meanwhile, heat butter, milk and wine in a separate sauce pan. Once warmed, whisk in flour and continue to heat until the roux has thickened.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Layer potatoes into a greased, shallow baking dish. Stir mushroom mixture into sauce and then spoon over the potatoes.

Bake for 45 minutes to an hour, until potatoes are soft and sauce is bubbly. Sprinkle with fresh rosemary if desired.

For a printable version of this recipe, click here.

Seasoned sweet potato fries

This is a quick, easy side packed with tons of nutrition and flavor. These oven-baked sweet potatoes are a great way to sneak some extra vitamins into your family (or yourself).

Here's what you need and how you do it

2 sweet potatoes (or yams)

Olive oil

Salt

Pepper

Paprika

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Peel and slice sweet potatoes. Toss in a bowl with olive oil, salt, pepper and paprika to taste and mix. Spread evenly across a baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, turn fries and bake another 10 minutes.

Also, try experimenting with other herbs and spices. We've seen these done with cumin, lime, cinnamon, rosemary, garlic and a whole host of other spectacular seasonings (but not all at once!)

Pasta with sundried tomatoes and olives

We call this a side dish, because it doesn't boast a major protein source. But it could be classified as a light entrée. It's extremely tasty and easy to toss together at the last minute.

Here's what you need and how you do it

Pasta, such as spaghetti, angel hair or fusilli

Sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil

Green or kalamata olives

Olive oil

Salt

Cook pasta until al dente. Drain and toss with remaining ingredients.

For a printable version of this recipe, click here.

Garlic Bread

Has it really been four days since we've posted?

Well, we have a good excuse. Garlic bread. We've been thinking about and experimenting with garlic bread.

We prefer garlic bread of the soft, rather than broiled, crispy variety. It needs to be buttery and fresh with a nice, mellow garlic finish.

Here's what you need and how you do it

1 baguette

10 or so cloves of garlic

Olive oil

Salt

1/3 to 1/2 cup butter or margarine

Handful fresh parsley, chopped

Heat oven to 350. Chop the top off a head of garlic, nestle it into a square of aluminum foil and drizzle with olive oil. Wrap completely in the foil and roast in oven for 20 minutes.

Cut baguette down the middle lengthwise.

Squeeze roasted garlic cloves from their peels (save the rest for another time). Mix cloves with butter or margarine, parsley, and salt to taste.

Put baguette halves together, wrap the whole loaf in foil and place in oven for 15 minutes.

Serve warm.

For a printer-friendly version of this recipe, click here.

Rustic rosemary dinner rolls

We've been experimenting with these rolls for a while and are happy to report we've found a recipe we whole-heartedly embrace.

Our rustic rosemary dinner rolls are crusty on the outside and chewy-airy on the inside. With a palate-pleasing dusting of sea-salt and infusion of fresh rosemary, they're a great accompaniment for almost any dinner. Or, if you're carb-addicts like we are, they stand alone, warmed with butter, too.

Also, no kneading required! We thought you'd like that part.

Here's what you need and how you do it

1 package yeast

1 Tablespoon white sugar

1/4 cup warm (not hot) water

3 cups white flour

1/4 cup rye flour 

1/4 cup whole wheat flour (You can experiment with the types of flours you select. Just be sure to keep the 3 cups of white flour, unless you want to end up with a very different kind of roll.)

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 to 3/4 cup water

1/4 cup (or so) fresh rosemary

Sea salt

Proof the yeast by adding it to 1/4 cup of warm water and 1 Tablespoon white sugar. After about 10 minutes, it should be puffy.

In large bowl, mix with flours and salt. Pour in 1/2 cup water and thoroughly combine ingredients. The texture of the dough should be shaggy and fairly sticky. But not so sticky it's impossible to work with. If the dough is still too dry, add the last 1/4 cup of water little by little. If you go overboard with water, you can always sprinkle more white flour back into the dough to get the right consistency.

We don't knead this dough, but we do take it from its bowl and pull it like taffy a few times (say, 5).

Place in a greased bowl and cover with a dish towel. Set in a warm place to rise.

When the dough has doubled in size (after 1 to 2 hours), punch down and fold in rosemary. Divide dough into small balls and place in greased baking pans. Sprinkle tops with sea salt and more rosemary.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes, or until tops are starting to turn golden.

Serve warm.

For a printer-friendly version of this recipe, click here.

Tomatoes and shallots

Here's a pizzazy little side dish inspired by our friends at Real Simple. It's quick and flavorful.

Here's what you need and how you do it

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1-2 shallots, quartered or diced (could also use an onion, in a pinch)

1 pint grape tomatoes

Salt and pepper

1/4 cup dry white wine

1 Tablespoon capers

Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and cook, stirring occasionally until they begin to soften, 4 to 5 minutes.

Add the tomatoes, salt and pepper to taste and cook, stirring, until a few of the tomatoes begin to burst. Add the wine and cook until nearly evaporated, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the capers.

For a printer-friendly version of this recipe, click here.

Mashed potato patties

Our favorite thing about Thanksgiving is actually the day after: when we get to enjoy all the food (in the form of leftovers) without doing any of the work. And the best Thanksgiving leftover? Mashed potatoes shaped into patties, fried until golden and served with butter, salt and pepper.

Here's what you need and how you do it

Leftover mashed potatoes

Butter

Salt

Pepper

Form the leftover mashed potatoes into patties, about the size of hamburgers. Place each one in an individual sheet of plastic wrap and refrigerate over night (or for at least a few hours).

Warm griddle on medium high heat. Add butter and let it melt. When griddle is fully heated, slap down the potato patties and cook for several minutes. Flip and cook other side. Remove from heat. Add more butter, salt and pepper.

Mmm, dawgies!

P.S. Don't fret if these fall apart a bit. They're still to die for.

Our take on traditional green bean casserole

Our Thanksgiving green beans are a whole lot simpler and healthier than the traditional casserole style green beans. Granted, they're not as fatty and decadent, but with the fried onions, sea salt and pinch of parmesan, they're still amazingly tasty.

Here's what you need and how you do it

1 pound fresh or frozen green beans (It's hard to find really good ones this time of year, so you might want to opt for high quality, frozen whole green beans.)

Butter or margarine

Sea salt

Fried Onions (like French's)

Parmesan (optional)

Steam fresh green beans until crisp-tender (5 to 10 minutes depending on method). If using frozen beans, just heat until very warm.

Toss with butter.

Sprinkle with salt, onions and parmesan.

Fingerlings with bacon

Image shot by  Andy Ciordia

Looking for a quick, stick-to-your-ribs sort of side dish? One that is elegant and hearty all at the same time?

Fingerlings with bacon is an easy crowd-pleaser.

Here's what you need and how you do it

1/2 lb. fingerling potatoes, sliced in half lengthwise

4 to 5 slices bacon

1 small onion, chopped

Salt

Pepper

Cook bacon in skillet. Once done, remove from pan and set aside.

Add onion and fingerlings to the lovely, bacony fat and cook until potatoes are fork tender, but not mushy.

Chop bacon into small bits and sprinkle over potatoes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.