Homemade Refried Beans by John Spottiswood

I'm ashamed to say that though I LOVE refried beans, this is the first time I've ever made them myself. It's just so easy to buy them in a can, or at a mexican restaurant, that I haven't bothered. But this recipe is simple and it is definitely worth the effort in my mind. I figure my kids are the true test, since they aren't that…

Potato and Sweet Potato au Gratin with Herbs by Nancy Miyasaki

This is not the lightest recipe I've made, but it's a real treat when you are having guests and want to splurge. I love the flavor and color combination of the sweet and gold potatoes. It's a wonderful twist on a classic French standby.

Cumin Rice by Joyce Leung

This rice is a delicious mix of cumin and cinnamon. It provides a nice, slightly sweet flavor, that is a perfect complement to any middle eastern dish. The only dishes I would avoid serving this with are sweet dishes with dates, figs, etc. I served it with my Braised Lamb with Beans. It was great!

Toasted-Coconut Rice by Nancy Miyasaki

This is a light, tasty rice that goes well with curries or other asian dishes.

Cabbage Stir Fry by Nancy Miyasaki

This is a wonderful dish with light but complex flavors. We typically serve this along with another dish as part of a Chinese style meal.

Homemade Cranberry-Apple Sauce by Skinny Kitchen with Nancy Fox

If some people at your Thanksgiving dinner like cranberry sauce and others prefer applesauce this recipe just might work for you... We decided to take these two wonderful sauce flavors and combine them into one delicious sauce. Weight Watchers POINTS value 1 Skinny Facts: for a ¼ cup serving 80 calories, 0g fat, 0g protein,…

Garlic Ginger Green Beans by John Spottiswood

These are an excellent, healthy side dish to any grilled meat. I highly recommend them with the Chinese BBQ chicken recipe below, but honestly these would go well with just about anything. Unfortunately these were tapped out long before our chicken, so make more than you think you need. They are great the next day too!

Spanish Rice by Wendi Taylor

Ever wondered how to get that perfect consistency of spanish rice that's served in restaurants? Here's the secret...

Gingered carrots by Brett Ede

Chili Roasted Potatoes by Nancy Miyasaki

These are super simple and really tasty. If you like roasted potatoes, but are looking for something a little different, give these a try. I served with grilled flank steak and broiled asparagus.

Greek Rice by Mary Joseph

This recipe combines my favorite traditional Greek ingredients to make a tasty rice dish. Add some chicken to make a meal out of it!

Black Bean and Tomato Quinoa by Nancy Miyasaki

This is a delicious quinoa recipe that we served with our garlic lime grilled pork chops. This is flavorful enough that you'll want to serve it with a relatively simple grilled dish. It would go wonderfully with grilled fish, chicken, or steak. Or try it with the pork recipe linked below.

French Rice Salad by Nancy Miyasaki

This is a light and flavorful as a main dish or side dish. It's a perfect side for any grilled meat or fish.

Mushroom, Tomato, and White Bean Ragout by Nancy Miyasaki

This is a delicious companion to grilled fish, steak or chicken. It is beautiful, healthy, and flavorful.

Tomato Rice Pilaf by Mary Joseph

This originated as a Lebanese dish that my mom always used to make, I tweaked it a bit adding tomatoes and mint and leaving out the meat that it called for. If you're a cheese lover this would be amazing with crumbled French Feta mixed in.