I’m offering you 10 easy side dishes to help get you over the winter slump. What I’d also love is to also find out about your fave side dishes. Comment below with your Pinterest Username and I’ll add you to my Side Dish Solutions Pinterest Board so that you can pin your favorite side dishes there and share them with me and my followers.

I always find this time of year tough. It’s cold and flu season so every week one of us has the sniffles. We’re tired and cranky and the fun of Spring Break and Easter are as far away as Mount Kilimanjaro.

In this sad slump I lose my enthusiasm for cooking. New dishes aren’t worth the effort and the old standbys are boring.

Yes, this happens to me too!

I’m going to combat this lethargy by reminding myself of one of my old solutions, The Side Dish Solution. You focus on one part of the meal and let everything else be lazy. This beats back the boredom with a tiny bam of excitement without using a lot of energy.

Let me give you an example of how The Side Dish Solution works.

A typical lazy meal: Season some chicken breasts with salt and pepper and put them in the oven until they’re cooked, while steaming some broccoli for a few minutes before the chicken is ready. And then you slap some rice on the stove as an easy carb.

You’ve got Chicken, Broccoli and Rice.

Sounds pretty boring, right?

What if you put a bit of pizazz into that rice? Add a little flavor to the cooking liquid and then, while the rice is cooking, chop up something fresh to sprinkle on top of the cooked rice before serving.

Now what do you have?

Chicken, Broccoli and, for instance, Sesame Rice with Cool and Crunchy Cucumber, Chive and Lime.

Doesn’t that sound better? Actually, just typing it out made memore excited about cooking again. I hope reading it helps you our of your winter slump too!

Here are some pictures and links to some of my favorite easy but exciting side dishes. Oh, and don’t forget to check out the Side Dish Solution Pinterest Board. And if you’ve got some recipes that should be pinned there, give me your Pinterest username in the comments and I’ll add you as a contributor to the board.

1) Sesame Rice with Cold and Crunchy Cucumber, Chive and Lime

 

2) Garlic Toast Salad (Panzanella) with Sundried Tomatoes

 

3) Spinach with Garlic and Raisins

 

4) Roasted Potatoes with Asparagus, Mint and Charred Lemon

 

5) Quick-Cooking Barley with Leeks and Mushrooms

 

6) Lazy Girl’s Brussels Sprouts Gratin

 

7) Make Ahead Caprese Pasta Salad

 

8) Warm Winter Tabbouleh

 

9) Couscous with Chorizo, Thyme and a Spritz of Lemon

 

10) Quick-Roasted Asparagus with Shards of Parmesan Cheese

Now tell me, what easy little side dish do you whip out when you need to spruce up a meal? I’d love to hear your ideas! And don’t forget to comment with your pinterest Username if you want to be added to my Side Dish Solutions Pinterest Board.