Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Traveling Vegetables

HELP!!!!!!!!!

We're visiting relatives about 1 1/2 hours away on Easter. I have been asked to bring homemade bread (I can do that) and vegetables.

How in the world do I bring a vegetable dish when we're traveling that far? I can put together a raw veg platter, but as for a hot vegetable dish, I'm drawing a blank.

Crock pot is a possibility. But I need ideas!

13 comments:

  1. How about cooking some fresh green beans in the crockpot with a little ham for flavoring? Would something like broccoli and rice casserole work? I've had a recipe for rosemary potatoes saved for a while. If you think that you might like it, email me and I will send it to you.

    Are mashed potatoes or mashed sweet potatoes out of the question?

    Potato salad or pickled beets would be good cold sides. Cucumber and onion salad would be another good cold dish.

    Let us know what you decide on. :)

    Happy Easter!

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  2. Roasted fingerling potatoes roast in 15 minutes Barb! Cut into halves, and quarters for the larger ones, then toss in olive oil and season with some chopped fresh herbs, Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. Place on a baking sheet and bake at 475 for 15 minutes http://www.amandascookin.com/2010/11/roasted-fingerling-potatoes-with.html

    I've posted this question on FB and in a food blogger group I'm in, hopefully you will get some suggestions!

    ReplyDelete
  3. What about doing a peperonata or caponata? Both are southern Italian vegetarian stews that actually benefit from some standing to develop their flavors. The first is usually served warm, the second at room temperature.
    Another idea might be marinated grilled vegetables.
    If you can warm the dish up, a gratin is nice and yummy as well as it is the traditionally Easter savory pie filled with ricotta+spinach+collard green or similar with embedded whole hard boiled eggs.
    Let me know if you need any help for any of these :)
    I hope this helps....

    ReplyDelete
  4. Here's the menu, according to the hostess:

    lasagna, salad, ham, rib roast, sweet potatoes, scalloped potatoes, kielbasy, veggies, pineapple, stuffing and dessert.

    I am definitely bringing a raw veggie platter, but the jury's still out on another vegetable. It looks like there will be plenty of potatoes.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your friend Amanda to the rescue!

    Grilled asparagus could be done ahead and served room temperature. Grill and brush w/olive oil and garlic mixture...depending on how thick they are, only 4-6 minutes max.

    http://www.vinolucistyle.com/grilled-asparagus-with-garlic/

    I do two pasta dishes with vegetables that are always a big hit, one just posted yesterday. No mayo or items to really spoil so again, can be kept covered, room temp for some time.

    http://www.vinolucistyle.com/pasta-con-broccoli/

    This dish with brussel sprouts and cabbage was wonderful warm, room temp and cold!

    http://www.vinolucistyle.com/roasted-brussels-sprouts-with-cabbage-and-pine-nuts/

    Another pasta with veggies and bacon that we loved:

    http://www.vinolucistyle.com/pasta-with-peas-asparagus-and-pancetta-bon-appetit-cover/

    Hope that helps...another easy one is the basic tomato/basil/mozzarella caprese salad but I don't love that without good summer tomatoes since they are the star!

    Good luck.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is what I am going to have to do this year too. One of my favorite side dishes for Easter. I usually bake it, but I have had it "baked" in the crock pot before and it tastes the same!

    http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1650,157180-242201,00.html

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hey Barb, looks like you've received a few more great suggestions :) Here's some more from some friends:

    From Suzanne: I would make whatever veggie dish you have in mind ahead of time and either ask to use her oven/stove or cook it ahead and heat in the microwave.

    A creamed corn (frozen) with cream cheese, sauted onions and jalapenos or canned green chiles would be easy and quick to heat in the microwave. Or the same with a veggie lasagna. :D If you are coming to my house, that would be just fine! LOL!

    From Sophia: Perhaps marinated vegetables, ready to be popped into the oven to roast or tossed on the grill? Served with some kind of yummy ricotta cheese...:-)


    From Barbara: I have a simple one that can be cooked ahead and then simply reheated in the microwave for two minutes before serving. Does it suit what they're having as an Easter main course, though? Don't know. See http://moderncomfortfood.com/2010/11/broccoli-with-shiitake-mushrooms-and-shallots/

    FYI - I guess some people had trouble posting a comment here because you have it set to only accept Google or Open ID. YOu may want to change that setting so others can comment with their name and url? Maybe just disallow anonymous comments? Either way, hope you have a great Easter!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Can you get away with bringing frozen veggies? My family LOVES Green Giant Baby Sweet Peas & Butter Sauce. It's the only frozen, sauced vegetable I'd allow in the house because it's so darn yummy - ingredient list be damned. I read somewhere that James Beard had a hand in coming up the butter sauce recipe. Serious delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  9. zucchini and onions cooks easily and it can be microwaved when you get there.

    http://www.haggisandherring.com/2010/09/zucchini-and-onions.html

    ReplyDelete
  10. How about roasted veggies with a pasta like cavatappi drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and a little Italian seasoning? A nice vegetarian side. Add your choice of shredded hard Italian cheese for a protein if you want as well. It is easy to make and something a little different.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hey there...Amanda sent me =). One of our family's yearly requests on Easter is Nigella's Sweet Corn Pudding. You can find the recipe here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/nigella-lawson/sweet-corn-pudding-recipe/index.html ...if you have a 9x13 with a lid it travels well. And if you have a carrier that holds in the warmth, even better!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Barb,

    Have you decided what you're taking?

    ReplyDelete
  13. I decided to bring the Sunshine Salad that I posted yesterday, along with 2 bags of "steam in the microwave" broccoli. The hostess's menu had a serious lack of green food. That was the deciding factor! Also, this was the easiest thing to take on the road.

    ReplyDelete

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