Category Archives: Side Dishes

Karl’s Dill Cucumber and Mesclun Salad

The kids are still on their keto/Atkins low-carb diet. These diets are vegetable/protein forward. I am making brisket and a French onion soup  and I thought a salad of cucumbers and baby greens would go well as a green vegetable.

Karl’s Dill Cucumber and Mesclun Salad

Karl’s Dill Cucumber and Mesclun Salad

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Filed under Salads, Salads, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Karl’s Keto Crab Cakes

The kids are feeling a bit toady after weeks of holiday eating and have decided to go on a keto/Atkins low-carb diet. These diets are vegetable/protein forward. Usually, I go with dishes where I can serve the starch on the side, for those who wish for more.

Karl’s Keto Crab Cakes

Karl’s Keto Crab Cakes

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Filed under California Fusion, Side Dishes

Karl’s Hamachi Shots

Adapted from a Chef Jeffrey Stout recipe

The kids are feeling a bit toady after weeks of holiday eating and have decided to go on a keto/Atkins low-carb diet. These diets are vegetable/protein forward. Usually, I go with dishes where I can serve the starch on the side, for those who wish for more.

Karl’s Hamachi Shots

Karl’s Hamachi Shots

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Filed under Fish, Seafood, Side Dishes

Karl’s Drunken Pinto Beans II

Adapted from an America’s Test Kitchen recipe

I am making tri-tip tacos for Christmas and tacos call for beans. I made these a few months ago and they were very popular with my family. The term “drunken” implies that you are using a large amount of an alcoholic beverage in the dish. The trick to keeping it from tasting “boozy” is to cook off the alcohol before adding any water.

Karl’s Drunken Pinto Beans II

Karl’s Drunken Pinto Beans II

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Filed under Beans, Sauces and Spices, Side Dishes, Stews, Vegan, Vegetarian

Karl’s Depression Era Goulash

Jan’s family Christmas Eve traditional meal was Grandpa Von Hausen’s goulash. This was a Depression era dish of bacon, hamburger, onions, a whole bottle of ketchup, garlic, paprika, and cans of peas, kidney beans, and pork & beans. The idea was that this dish would sustain the family throughout the days of Christmas—without anyone needing to stop and cook.

Karl’s Depression Era Goulash

Karl’s Depression Era Goulash

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Filed under Beans, Beef, California Fusion, Holidays, Main Dishes, Stews

Karl’s Deconstructed Stuffed Chicken

This Thanksgiving, I did a deconstructed stuffed turkey. Jan invited one of her former Chinese students to dinner and she had requested American “festival foods.” Since I still have half a turkey in my freezer, I did not want to do another, but I thought I could adapt my recipe to chicken.

Karl’s Deconstructed Stuffed Chicken

Karl’s Deconstructed Stuffed Chicken

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Filed under California Fusion, Chicken, Holidays, Main Dishes, Side Dishes

Karl’s Orange Infused Waffles

Adapted from a Martha Stewart recipe

I woke up this morning thinking, “Waffles!” As much as I like to cook, breakfasts have not been a high priority for me. My secret sin is that my morning pancakes and have always come from a box.

Karl’s Orange Infused Waffles

Karl’s Orange Infused Waffles

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Filed under Breakfast, California Fusion, Side Dishes

Karl’s Orange Infused Pancakes

Adapted from a Martha Stewart recipe

Note: I have been so busy with the holidays and posting big festival meals that some little gems have gone begging.

As much as I like to cook, breakfasts have not been a high priority for me. My secret sin is that my morning pancakes have always come from a box. Two months ago, my family woke up wanting pancakes and my cupboard was bare. Time to learn how to make them from scratch—“To the bat-internet!”

Karl’s Orange Infused Sugar with butter, orange marmalade, and a fried egg

Karl’s Orange Infused Sugar
with butter, orange marmalade, and a fried egg

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Filed under Breakfast, California Fusion, Side Dishes

Karl’s Mashed Potatoes with Chives and Chicken Gravy

I am making a “festival meal” for one of Jan’s Chinese students with a roasted chicken. Mashed potatoes and gravy is a “must” side dish. For Thanksgiving I made these potatoes with turkey gravy, here I am making it with chicken gravy.

Karl’s Mashed Potatoes with Chives and Chicken Gravy

Karl’s Mashed Potatoes with Chives
and Chicken Gravy

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Filed under Potatoes, Sauces and Spices, Side Dishes

Karl’s Chicken Stock

I am doing a dinner for some Chinese friends. She asked for [an American] “holiday dinner.” I decided to do a chicken variation of the deconstructed stuffed turkey that I made for Thanksgiving.

Karl’s Chicken Stock

Karl’s Chicken Stock

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Filed under Chicken, Poultry, Side Dishes, Soups