3 Easy Microwave Vegetable Side Dishes For Busy Moms

As a busy mother and wife, I don't always have an hour to spend making our nightly dinners. At times, I will do my main dish and then do a microwave vegetable side dish to compliment it.

The following 3 recipes are made from common every day ingredients and take less than 15 minutes from prep time to finish.

Buttered Peas

20 oz. bag frozen green peas, thawed
1 can cream of celery soup
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
4 tablespoons butter, melted
salt and pepper to taste

In a microwave-safe casserole dish, combine the thawed green peas, can of celery soup, melted butter, salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the bread crumbs and microwave heat on high setting for 8 minutes or until ingredients are heated through.

Sweet Buttered Carrots

1 lb. carrots
1/4 cup tap water
1 tablespoon butter, softened
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon dried dill

Wash and peel your carrots; slice them down to 1/4" thick rounds. Place carrots in a 1 quart microwave-safe dish with 1/4 cup of water. Microwave on high setting for 7 minutes. Remove from microwave and stir in the butter, brown sugar and dill. Place back into the microwave and heat for an additional 3 minutes on high.

Cream Style Buttered Corn

2 standard-sized cans cream style corn
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3/4 cup milk
2 eggs, well beaten
6 pats of butter, softened

In a microwave-safe baking dish, mix together the cream corn, sugar, salt, cornstarch, milk and beaten eggs. Dot the pats of butter on top and place in the microwave on high power for 4 1/2 minutes, stirring halfway through the cooking time.

Chocolate Dipped Orange Spice Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

When it comes to making homemade cookies, this is in my top 5 of favorite cookie recipes. You can make these year round or just around the Christmas holiday and give them as gifts.

They do take some time to make since you will be dipping them into melted chocolate, but they are well worth your baking efforts.

This recipe will make approximately 3 dozen cookies.

Cookie Ingredients:

3/4 cup raisins
3 tablespoons orange juice
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups rolled oats (oatmeal)
1 egg
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons grated orange rind (peel)
1 teaspoon baking soda

In a small bowl, combine the raisins with the orange juice and let stand for 5-8 minutes. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter with the granulated sugar until its creamy and fluffy. Beat in the egg and grated orange peel until all ingredients are well combined.

In a medium sized bowl combine the all-purpose flour with the baking soda. Slowly pour the flour mixture into the butter mixture until ingredients are combined. Stir in the raisins and rolled oats and mix well.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a silicone nonstick baking mat or lightly grease your sheet if it's nonstick. Drop the dough by rounded teaspoons onto the sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart. Flatten slightly with the backside of a teaspoon. Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes or until they are done. Cool completely.

Chocolate Coating Ingredients:

8 ounces white chocolate chips
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

In a medium-sized bowl, melt the white chocolate chips with the vegetable oil in the microwave for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, stirring it every 20 seconds until it has melted. Dip 1/2 of your cookie into the melted chocolate mixture and lay them onto a baking sheet lined with a silicone nonstick baking mat or a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to dry. Store cookies in an airtight container.

2 Sweet Potato Casserole Recipes For Holiday Dinners

When it comes to holiday dinners, many Americans will serve some type of sweet potato side-dish to go along with the family dinner. The following 2 recipes are ones that we enjoy making because they are delicious and easy to prepare.

Both of these casseroles can be made one day ahead of time, and refrigerated until you need them. Just reheat in a 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes before serving.

Sweet Potato Apple Casserole

1/2 cup butter, melted
3 tablespoons onion, finely chopped
3 teaspoons parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon thyme
4 large sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/4" thick
3 apples, peeled, cored and cut into thin wedges
1 1/2 cups Cheddar Cheese, shredded

In a 3 quart casserole dish, combine the melted butter, onions, parsley, salt, pepper and thyme. Arrange the sliced sweet potatoes on top of the melted butter mixture and then layer on the apple wedges. Lightly stir ingredients to coat them. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, cover the casserole dish and place into the oven for 50 minutes or until the yams are tender. Remove from oven and sprinkle cheese on top. Place casserole back into the oven, uncovered for 5 minutes or until cheese has melted.

Classic Sweet Potato Casserole

3 cups cooked and mashed yams
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a 3 quart casserole dish, combine the above ingredients together in the order they are given. Set aside.

Topping:

1/3 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup toasted coconut

In a small bowl, combine the above ingredients. Sprinkle topping on top of the potato mixture. Place in a preheated 350 degree oven and bake for 30 minutes.