"sf" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 2 Jun 2013 21:15:53 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> > wrote:
>
>> My only experience with pasta side dishes are the horrible boxed things
>> that
>> my mom used to buy. Like Noodleroni or Noodles Romanoff. Well, I guess
>> that's not quite true. I used to make egg noodles tossed with butter and
>> parsley. But I have no egg noodles now. Just assorted other shapes of
>> whole wheat pasta.
>>
>> Do you make any sort of side dishes that use this kind of pasta? I have
>> a
>> lot of it and need to make more of an effort to use it up. And I am
>> planning to make some plain meats this week so I need a side. Could also
>> use ideas for rice. Brown rice. Have made Rice e Bisi but have not
>> tried
>> it with brown rice.
>>
>> I will likely not be eating these foods so they could contain pretty much
>> anything except for basil because Angela can't have that. I mainly just
>> make plain rice or Spanish/Mexican rice but I seem to be the only fan of
>> those things.
>>
>
> Do what you usually do with blond noodles only use whole wheat. If
> you make a decent mac & cheese (always a side dish for me), make it
> with whole wheat noodles. I made (low fat) chicken tetrazzini last
> night, using up some store-bought rotisserie chicken and the tail end
> of a package of whole wheat noodles.

But for me mac and cheese isn't a side dish. It's the meal. So is chicken
tetrazinni. I have plenty of pasta meals I can make. But I want side
dishes.
>
> Why do you have to do anything to brown rice? Just steam it. If you
> want to do "something", use stock instead of water and simply use it
> as your starch side.

Husband and daughter don't like it plain like that. So that's why I want
some sort of side dish idea.
>
> Pasta and rice are too carb laden to be main dishes. Think about how
> you usually cook rice and pasta, make it with brown rice or WW noodles
> and serve it as a side, not a main. I think risi e bisi is great, but
> not as the main event. You need some meat,vegetables and salad on
> your plate too. Vegetables/salad should be half the plate, meat and
> starch (potatoes/pasta/rice) 1/4 each.

No they're not! They are often our main dish meals here. I add in
vegetables, maybe meat, fish or cheese. Or maybe just beans.

We don't usually eat like that. I ususally make one dish meals. But since
I am planning to do the plain meats, I am looking for side dishes that would
be made with the pasta or rice. Something that isn't too plain.

I almost always serve a salad for my husband and daughter's meals. I have
to be careful with the salads and vegetables for myself. But then, often I
just a meal for myself.
>
> 3 oz. meat = size of a deck of cards or bar of soap (the recommended
> portion for a meal)

I know that.
>
> 1 medium potato = size of a computer mouse
>
I know that. I'm a diabetic. I well know portion size and all that. But
to me a side dish would not contain protein. Or not much of it. Unless of
course it is beans which I myself would likely eat as the main dish. They
would probably prefer potatoes as the side but daughter isn't supposed to
eat potatoes. She can have sweet potatoes but is getting sick of them. And
I need to use up that brown rice that I bought at Costco. It expires in
Aug. I have used most of it now but have several more cups to use. And
tons of pasta.