IN My Kitchen April 2026

It's the beginning of a new month, and I'm joining Sherry at Sherry's Pickings for her monthly blog share of IN MY KITCHEN where anyone can join in the fun and share what's doing in their kitchen. 

I have 2 new decorative plates for display in my kitchen and probably use them for serving at parties.  

Healthy Thanksgiving Side Dishes: Lighter Versions of Your Holiday Favorites

Why not start a new Thanksgiving tradition by making your favorite traditional holiday recipes a little healthier. 

We all would like to be thankful for better health- Right?  Healthier holiday eating is a good way to get started. As Ghandi said, "Be The Change You Want to See" 

IMK August 2025

Take a peek at what's been going on IN MY KITCEN- I'm joining Sherry and other bloggers at Sherry's Picking for the monthly IN MY KITCHEN share. Why not follow the link join us? 

Summer’s Bounty & a Breath of Fresh Air

Summer is in full swing, and it shows in the abundance of fresh produce everywhere. After a big storm rolled through last night, the weather has taken a dramatic turn. This morning greeted us with a crisp 64 degrees, and we’re only expecting highs in the 70s—a refreshing change from the sweltering 100-degree heat just two days ago.

Zucchini from my son's garden. 

Frozen Vegetables Make Tasty Side Dishes

I always keep frozen vegetables on hand to make quick, healthy, and easy side dishes. Truthfully, I can enjoy a bowl of  low fat healthy veggies within 7 minutes from start to finish. 

So, no more excuses for not cooking veggies! 

Frozen vegetables are a great way to make sure you eat vegetables daily. 

I also freeze fresh ginger to grate in the skillet of vegetables. 

Keep fresh garlic frozen in the freezer ( don't peel it). To use it, simply grate it with the peel.

Freshly grated ginger tastes great with sautéed broccoli. 

I keep fresh organic ginger in the freezer in small baggies. It stays fresh for about 6 months. 

I wash and dry it whole (just the way it comes) before freezing it. 

Then I simply grate it frozen into the pan as needed and return the unused ginger to the baggy and back to the freezer.  The flavor is amazing. 

This simple, healthy, easy side dish was sooooo delicious that I felt I needed to share it. 

 I cooked up a bag of organic broccoli and some organic green beans (bought at a reasonable price at Costco). 

Recipe: Quick Frozen Broccoli and Green Beans With Ginger : 

I used a wide skillet. I poured in the bag of broccoli into the skillet and then added about a large handful of frozen green beans, 1/2 cup of water and grated freshly ginger on top, salt and garlic powder. Cook uncovered on a medium flame for about 5 minutes! (adding 1/4 cup of water while cooking if water evaporates)

Why I keep frozen vegetables in the freezer?

• Most frozen vegetables are frozen as soon as they are harvested, thus they retain the greatest amount of nutrients. 
• Fresh vegetables such as broccoli are shipped for a few days and then sit in the supermarket often for a few days or more. By the time we eat it, the nutritional value may have deteriorated. 
• My time schedule and lifestyle is unpredictable. I often buy fresh vegetables with great intentions, only to find out that we ate out or I just didn't cook them and they went bad!
• If I buy frozen, they can stay in the freezer for months. 
• I don't need to clean them and chop them, therefore I am more likely to actually make them.
• 
  

Not 

Recipe for sugar snap peas and ginger with sesame seeds 

Not Mushy 

If you cook frozen broccoli or frozen green beans in a skillet with just 1/2 cup of water to start for about 4 minutes uncovered,  they stay firm and bright green.

My favorite frozen vegetables: 

• Organic broccoli- Costco sells a large bag with 4 individual sized bags inside 
• Organic cauliflower rice- Costco for large bags with 4 individual bags or Trader Joe's for one 12 ounce bag.  
• Organic edamame - Whole Foods one bag
• Organic cauliflower-One bag at Whole Foods 
• Organic sweet peppers (red and green) one bag at Whole Foods which I use added to other vegetable dishes or for soup recipes.
• Organic peas - One bag at Whole Foods 
• Frozen organic artichoke quarters- One bag Trader Joe's
• Frozen Baby Brussels Sprouts (for Baby Brussels Sprout Soup)-I buy a bag from Hanover brand at most supermarkets and use them in stir-fry (with broth not oil) or soup.

Plain Cauliflower Rice (Heated in skillet with 1/2 cup of water, salt, pepper, and garlic powder).
Can beused it in place of rice! Try my cauliflower rice fiesta recipe that follows.


Cauliflower Rice Fiesta Recipe Link

 Frozen Baby Brussels Sprout Soup

Green Bean Salad

This green bean salad was totally enjoyed along with the more traditional Thanksgiving fare that it accompanied on the holiday table this year. It's easy to make and light and tasty!

Farmer's Market Potato Salad- Vegan and Oil-Free

It's potato season in Pennsylvania, and I'm making a lot of potato recipes. 

The little red and yellow tender potatoes are my favorites to use to make a delicious summer potato salad with green beans, baby kale, red onion, herbs, and spices.

Continue to get the recipe

Vegan Green Bean Soup Made With Frozen Green Beans

Have you ever heard of green bean soup? 

From my research, it seems that this soup is of German origin and is called Grüne Bohnen Suppe which translates to Green Bean Soup. 

This is my vegan version of this delicious soup.

10 Vegan and Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Sides

Sweet Potato, Apple, and Prune Bake

This a traditional Tzimmis when baked melts together for a chunky delicious mix of fall flavors.

The photo is before it was baked. It becomes creamy and delicious when baked.

Baked Apple, Yam, and Dried Apricot Casserole

A healthier choice for yam casserole with apricots and apples adding to the sweetness for a wonderful yam bake.

Before Baking

Chunky Cranberry Apple Chutney

The perfectly healthy cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving using fresh cranberries with sweet apples spiced with interesting flavors.

Thanksgiving Shredded Carrot, Cranberry, and Cashew Salad

One of my favorite salads. It's sweet and crunchy and perfect for Thanksgiving since it is best to make it the night before to give the incredible flavors a chance to mingle and the carrots a chance to relax.

 Dairy-free Mashed Potatoes and Mushroom Gravy

Enjoy this rich vegan gravy over dairy free mashed potatoes. A real comfort food without the heavy fats and calories.

Roasted Asparagus and Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

A simple but delicious combination of two complementary vegetables. 

Roasted Vegetable Platter Tray 

Roasted vegetables are perfect for Thanksgiving because they can be served hot or at room temperature so they can be made in advance. It's all in the presentation. Make a variety of vegetables in advance and arrange on a platter. 

Asian Quinoa Slaw Salad 

A wonderful quinoa side that is both flavorful and delicious. Your guests will keep coming back for more. 

Green Bean Casserole

A healthier alternative to the more traditional high fat green bean casserole in a mushroom cream sauce.

Crunchy and Creamy Roasted Brussels Sprouts 

Roasting is the tastiest way to cook Brussels sprouts. They are crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside. Even Brussels sprouts haters are swayed by this recipe.

I have both of these appliances and love them both. They are both on sale on Amazon just click on the photo.

Salad Nicoise Vegan Style

Salad Nicoise is a popular French salad which originated in the early 19th century in the town of Nice on the French Riviera in France.

It is customarily served on a flat platter and includes some green beans, tuna, hard boiled egg, tomatoes and perhaps some some boiled potato. My vegan style platter is different but both delicious and interesting and gives you a good visual of a plant-based meal.

Vegan Salad Nicoise

Hot weather? Do what the French do- eat salads. 

Not every salad has lettuce in it. Salad Nicoise has a base of potatoes. 

I was introduced to authentic French cuisine and the famous Salad Nicoise on our first trip to the Cote D'Azur (French Riviera). We enjoyed our 10 day car journey (with our French cousins) along the beautiful Mediterranean coastline and visited Nice, Cannes, the village of Eze, Saint Tropez and Monaco. 

Originating in Nice, France, the popular Salad Nicoise has become well known in the United States as well. The hearty salad typically includes potatoes, French green beans, wedged tomatoes, anchovies and or tuna fish, olives, sliced red onions, etc. Everything works for a vegan except the fish. Perfect for a hot summer day!

I've been eating more salad meals this summer since the temperatures have been oppressively hot in the high 90's and very humid. Salad for a meal just feels right. 

Cube potatoes

If you saw my previous blog post, you saw my vegan herbed potato salad. Since I made enough to have leftovers, I decided to turn my leftovers into a Salad Nicoise by just adding ingredients.

I tossed my basic herbed potato salad with cooked green beans, capers, and chickpeas. I could have also added wedges of tomato and slices of red onion. It turned a side dish into a full meal.

Salad Nicoise makes a wonderful lunch or light dinner. My version is vegan, gluten-free, oil-free, filling and delicious. 

If you want a heartier meal, you could add a chilled soup such as my Mexican Zucchini, Corn, & Lime Soup found on page 151 of my Soups Cookbook which is eaten chilled. If you don't have my cookbook a similar recipe is on my blog link zucchini and corn soup recipe. 

Here is a link to : How to Order My New Soups Cookbook- Easy Plant-Based Soups from Farm To Ladle- Over 80 easy healthy soup recipes that you and your family will love with 80 wonderful quotes to give you Inspiration to live a healthier lifestyle. Makes a wonderful gift.

This easy soup recipe adds fresh uncooked corn off the cob and the zucchini can be made 
in the Instant Pot or stove top. Perfect with a salad.

80 recipes and 80 Inspirational Quotes 

                                                How to Order My New Soups Cookbook

This recipe is being shared on Deb's Souper Sunday Link Party where anyone can share (or find) a soup, salad, or sammie recipe.