Meat On The Side Cookbook

Meet Nikki

I am a chef, mom, TV host, cookbook author, blogger, professional voice over artist and terrace gardener. I cook in a way I call "Meat on the Side" which focuses on veggies, making them unique and the star of the plate. 

More about Nikki...

      

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    Tuesday
    Jan012013

    Banana Bread Recipe

     

     

     

     

    RECIPE:

     

    1/2 cup Buttermilk

    2/3 cup Melted Butter

    2 Eggs

    1.5 tsp Vanilla Extract

    1.5 Cups Mashed Bananas

    1 tsp Salt

    1+1/3 Cup Sugar

    2+2/3 Cup Flour

    2 tsp Baking Powder

    1.5 tsp Baking Soda

     


    Mix together buttermilk, butter, eggs, vanilla extract and bananas in a bowl. In a separate bowl combine salt, sugar, flour, baking powder and baking soda. Mix the wet and the dry ingredients together and stir untill just combined. Pour into a loaf pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake on 350 for 50-60minutes, until a tooth pick comes out clean from the center of the loaf. Remove from pan and let cool on a cooling rack. Enjoy! 

     

    ** For muffins, pour batter into a muffin pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake at 350 for 25-35 minutes. Remove and let cool on a cooling rack. Enjoy!!

     


     

     

     

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    You might also like these recipes:

    • Brownie Bites with Caramel Centers
    • Red Pepper + Lemon Dip
    • Irish Soda Bread
    • Cookie Dough Truffles
    • Dill Hummus
    Thursday
    Dec202012

    Chewy Coco Pebble Bars

     

    RECIPE:


    1 11oz box of Coco Pebbles

    ¾ cup light corn syrup

    3 Tbs Butter

    1 12oz bag semi sweet chocolate chips

    1 10oz bag Peanut Butter Chips

    1 10.5oz bag Mini Marshmellows

     

     

    Bring corn syrup, butter and chocolate to a boil in a small sauce pan.  Once it starts to boil immediately remove from heat and add to Coco Pebbles.  Stir until combined and add Marshmallows, once those are combined add peanut butter chips and mix till everything is distributed evenly.  Spread into a greased 9 by 13 dish and pat down to condense.  Let sit for 2 hrs at room temp or 1 hr in the fridge.  Cut into bars and ENJOY!!

     


     

     

     

    You might also like these recipes:

    Monday
    Dec102012

    Roasted Garlic + Basil Hummus

     

     

    I have a tendency to overdo things.

    Bigger...Bolder...Spicier...these are words I like!!

     

    When I first started cooking my spice cabinet became my favorite new toy and anything I made included at least 10 of my little friends. Some of their names being garlic powder, onion powder and red pepper flakes among my best buddies.

     

    We were having a great time but the romance couldn’t last.

     

    As much as I loved the kick of flavor my friends added to my new creations it was sometimes just too much. It took me a long time to realize that MORE isn’t always BETTER…I know, it's a hard to accept.

    Eventually the roamance faded and me and my favorite buddies saw each other less and less and hummus like this were able to be born.

     

     

    Simple and yet PERFECT…

     

     

     

     

    Recipe:


    1 15-19oz can Garbanzo Beans (aka chick peas)

    2 Heads Roasted Garlic (click for how to roast garlic)

    10 Large Basil leaves

    Salt

    ¼ - ½ cup Olive Oil

     

    Combine everything besides oil in a food processor and pulse.  Stream in olive oil while your food processor is on until you get a smooth consistency.

     

    NOTES:         

     

    • As with many dips and hummus the longer this sits in the fridge the better it tastes
    • Don’t be afraid of salt! This needs quite a bit!

     

     

     

    You might also like these recipes:

    • Roasted Garlic
    • Appetizer Cups
    • Irish Soda Bread
    • Cookie Dough Truffles
    • Brocolli Tacos
    Saturday
    Dec082012

    Fresh Pasta



    RECIPE:


    3+1/3 cup Semolina Flour

    4 large eggs (7/8 cup)

    1/2 tsp Salt

    1 Tbs Olive Oil

    2 Tbs Water

    Mix together with you mixer paddle for 30 seconds. Change to a dough hook and mix 2 minute. Kneed for 2-3minutes. Dough is ready to put through your pasta maker. When using a kitchen aid mixer with pasta attachment you want to work your way thinner until the setting is set to "6", this will give you the best thickness for ravioli. Whatever dough your not using at the moment wrap in plastic wrap or seal in a plastic storage bag to keep moist.

     

    **Wathc the video**

     

     

     

     

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    You might also like these recipes:

    • Brocolli Tacos
    • Spinach + Artichoke Bites
    • Challah Hangover Sandwich
    • Gnudi
    • Popovers
    Wednesday
    Dec052012

    Berry Keylime "Cheesecake"

     

    A cheesecake with no cheese?! 

     

    Now that's just silly talk...

     

    Or is it?

     

    While developing recipes for Dannon's Oikos Greek Yogurt I played around with the idea of making something sweet instead of savory out of the yogurt. But experimenting in the baking world usually means I end up frustrated, covered in flour, downing my 3rd glass of wine....

     

    Well not this time!! This time (and maybe only this time) I am a genius! Or at least I created something edible ;)

     

     

     

     

    RECIPE:


    Crust:

    9 Graham Crackers

    2Tbs Sugar

    4Tbs Butter, melted

     

    Filling:

    2 containers Oikos Key Lime Greek Yogurt

    2 containers Oikos Strawberry or Raspberry Greek Yogurt

    4 eggs

    1 can sweetened condensed milk

    4Tbs All Purpose Flour

     

    Pulse graham crackers, sugar and butter in a food processor. Pat mixture into the bottom of a 9inch spring form pan. Set aside. In a bowl combine 2 containers of Key Lime Greek Yogurt, 2 eggs, 2 Tbs flour and half of the sweetened condensed milk. In a separate bowl combine the Berry Greek Yogurt with the remaining eggs, flour and sweetened condensed milk.  Add red food coloring to the Berry mixture and green to the Key Lime mixture if desired.  Pour Berry mixture on top of the crust, then slowly pour the Key Lime mixture on top of that. Bake at 350 for 35-40 until the center is set and edges are fully cooked. Refrigerate for at least 3 hour or over-night. Serve and enjoy!!

     

     

     

     

     

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    You might also like these recipes:

    • Oreo Sliders
    • Roasted Garlic + Basil Hummus
    • Irish Soda Bread
    • Cookie Dough Truffles
    • Challah Hangover Sandwich
    Wednesday
    Nov282012

    Cheese Ravioli

     

     

    RECIPE:

     

    Homemade Pasta Dough - Click here for fresh pasta recipe + how-to video

    1 cup Ricotta

    1.5 cups Parmesan

    2 cups Gruyere

    4 Garlic Cloves

    1/2tsp salt

    1 egg

     

    Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Spoon 1Tbs of filling into each ravioli. Cook ravioli and enojy!!

    Makes 45 raviloi

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    You might also like these recipes:

    • Brocolli Tacos
    • Chickpea Crunchies
    • Basil + Mint Pesto
    • Mushroom Bread Baskets
    • Chicken Marsala
    Wednesday
    Nov282012

    Lobster Salad

      

     

    I just CAN'T do it

     

    I know, I know

     

    I’ve convinced you I am proficient in the kitchen and yet...I CANT DO IT!

     

    I know how to do it...

     

    I’ve seen it done...

     

    And I just can’t do it

     

     

     

     

    But then I found this spectacular spot. A place where lobsters are cooked fresh multiple times a day, sold to me cooked, cracked and accompanied by butter and lemon if my little heart so desires it.

     

    And suddenly me and my now pre-cooked lobster are getting along just fine.

     

    And if I have a moment of guilt I can take some comfort in the fact that I had nothing to do with the whole cooking thing, I am simply going to make this lobster the best it can be!

     

    Click to read more ...

    Wednesday
    Nov142012

    Sweet Potato Souffle

     

     

    "We're NUMBER ONE! We're NUMBER ONE!"

     

    This is the chant of sweet potatoes everywhere...

     

    What the heck does this mean? It means that the CSPI ranked all vegetables giving them points for things like Vitamin A and fiber and deducting points for saturated fats and refined sugars. And the sweet potato ranked NUMBER ONE with a score of 184!!

     

    It outscored the next highest vegetable by more than 100 points!!

     

    But when you smother this nutritional dense vegetable with butter and sugar it turns a once all-star food into something not quite so good for you. So...why not add just a touch of sugar, some super vibrant spices and some greek yogurt for creaminess?!

     

    Sounds pretty good doesn't it? ;)

     

     

     

     

     

    RECIPE:


    5 lbs sweet potatoes

    1 tsp cinnamon

    1/4tsp nutmeg

    1/8tsp cloves

    2tsp Salt

    1/4 cup honey

    2Tbs Dark brown sugar

    2 egg

    2 container Oiko Greek Yogurt - Plain

    Pecans and dried cranberries to top

     

    Cut sweet potatoes into 1/2inch to 1inch cubes. Steam until soft, about 15minutes and mash or puree potatoes. Add spices, salt, honey, sugar, eggs and greek yogurt, and stir to combine.  Pour mixture into a baking pan and bake for 40-50minutes at 350 until top is slightly brown. Top with pecans and cranberries and bake for another 5 minutes. Serve hot and ENJOY!

     

     

     

     

     

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    You might also like these recipes:

    • Oreo Sliders
    • Roasted Garlic + Basil Hummus
    • Berry Keylime "Cheesecake"
    • Lobster Salad
    • Challah Hangover Sandwich
    Wednesday
    Nov072012

    How to Make Lean Cuisines

     

     

     

    RECIPE:   WATCH THE VIDEO!!!!  :)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Pin It!

     

     

     

    You might also like these recipes:

    • Brocolli Tacos
    • Chickpea Crunchies
    • Basil + Mint Pesto
    • Mushroom Bread Baskets
    • Chicken Marsala
    Wednesday
    Nov072012

    Cauliflower Soup

     

     

    $4.99!

    Almost Five Dollars!!

    That’s how much it costs for a can of average quality soup at my grocery store. FIVE DOLLARS, PEOPLE!! And what’s in that can?? Not a whole lot...

     

    Making soup is just like making any of your favorite dishes…pureeing it up…and thinning it out with a little chicken stock...well kind of...

     

     

     

     

    The bottom line is that making your own soup saves you a ton of money, plus you can get some great nutrition in a filling, flavorful and many times low-cal little package.

     

    Have I sold you yet???

     

     

    Click to read more ...