Easy Summer Side Dishes

Often when I'm packing a picnic, entertaining or even just making a meal for the family, I'm left with a head scratcher on the creativity-front when it comes to side dishes. Especially seasonal appropriate dishes. My go-to is Pinterest. I have a whole board dedicated to recipes. Since working at Trader Joe's, however, I've been able to drum up some of my own creations and pin my own kitchen concoctions. Of course, ringing at the register is fun too, because I get some great tips and ideas from customers. 

1. Fig, Goat Cheese & Prosciutto Wrapped Crostinis 

Ingredients:

1 jar of Fig Butter

1 baguette 

1 log of plain goat cheese (not herbed, not honey)

1 package of prosciutto 

ground black pepper

grapeseed oil (or olive oil if you don't have grapeseed)

Directions:

Preheat the oven 350 degrees. Slice the baguette into 1/2" thick slices and brush oil on each slice just enough to lightly cover both sides (this will make them crisp up).  Pop in the oven for 15-20 minutes, turning the slices over half way through if they aren't browning on the bottom. 

Let them cool. Spread generous amounts of the fig butter and then season with a pinch of ground black pepper over each slice. Cut thin slices of goat cheese and wrap each slice around a strip of prosciutto, then place one each atop the crostinis and bon appetite! 

2. Mango Guacamole 

Ingredients:

4 avocados 

1 mango

1/2 red onion

1 can black beans (drained)

1 tsp minced garlic 

Directions:

Slice up the avocados, dice up the mangoes and mix gently in a medium sized bowl. In a food processor, chop finely the 1/2 red onion and add to the bowl. Fold in the drained can of black beans. Add the tsp of minced garlic. Mix well, but gently. Ready to eat with your favorite chips! 

3. Butternut Squash Casserole 

Ingredients:

1 medium to large butternut squash (steamed/softened)

2 yellow onions

2 peppers (anything but green)

1 eggplant (optional)

2 packages of sweet Italian chicken sausage 

Your favorite Trader Joe's Maple Syrup (mine is the Organic Maple Syrup Grade A)

Trader Joe's tub of freshly grated parmesan cheese

Directions:

Preheat the oven 350 degrees. After steaming the butternut squash, scoop out the squash and put in a small bowl. Add 2 tbs of the Trader Joe's maple syrup and mix well. Trust me, this makes the dish! Now, set it aside. Saute the vegetables  with 1 tbs of grapeseed oil (or an oil of your choosing) and in a separate pan fry up the chicken sausage with oil. Once done-- set aside. 

Grab a medium sized casserole dish. Spread a layer of the butternut squash on the bottom. Sprinkle a little cheese. Then a layer of the veggies and chicken sausage. Again, a little cheese and another layer of the squash. Keep going with the squash and so on until the last layer is the squash. Sprinkle a little cheese again on top. Pop in the over for 15 minutes. Bon appetite! 

4. Broccoli & Kale Slaw 

This is easy peasy-- no directions required! This slaw kit is in the refrigerated produce section. Add a little cut up chicken or leave it plain and you have an excellent and yummy side dish! 

5. Macaroni Salad with Chicken or Tuna

Ingredients: 

1 lbs elbow macaroni

1 jar of conventional or organic mayonnaise 

2-3 cups of red grapes (or Trader Joe's cotton candy grapes if in season)

1 bottle of Trader Joe's Goddess Dressing (not the Green Goddess dressing.. the "Goddess Dressing"-- there's a difference)

1 can of mandarin oranges

Directions:

Cook the macaronis 7-10 minutes. Once drained and perfectly cooled, add 1 jar of the mayo and 1 bottle of the Goddess dressing. Cut grapes in half. Approximate 2 1/2 cups. 3 cups if you prefer extra grapes. Mix in. 

Then finally, fold in (carefully) the mandarin oranges so they don't break up. And voila-- you're ready to eat your summer treat!

What are some of your favorite summer side dishes? Share in the comments!! 

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