A Grateful Meal

Thanksgiving

Air Fryer Carrots with Parmesan and Dill

by

This post contains links that pay me a small commission at no extra cost to you.

These Air Fryer Carrots are deliciously caramelized and rubbed with a parmesan-dill rub for a bold and sweet flavor that makes the perfect easy side dish. 

Using an Air Fryer

I hear everyone ask if an air fryer is worth the cost. It’s no secret that I love my air fryer, which is a countertop convection oven, and allows hot air to circulate rapidly. The hot circulating air makes food crispy and cooks very quickly, without the mess and fuss of deep fat frying. I highly recommend buying an air fryer. 

A close up of caramelized air fryer carrots on a plate topped with dill and parmesan

Air Fryer Carrots Ingredients

You’ll need:

  • Carrots: You’ll need to peel and cut the carrots in half or to a size that will allow the carrots to cook in an even layer in the air fryer. 
  • Olive oil: Using a small amount of oil will allow the carrots to crisp nicely in the air fryer. 
  • Parmesan cheese: Who doesn’t like parmesan cheese? I recommend using freshly grated parmesan cheese for maximum flavor. You can also use pecorino cheese instead. I have used both, and they both give lots of flavor. Pecorino cheese is a little bolder and saltier than parmesan cheese, so consider omitting or decreasing the salt as not to make the carrots too salty if you use the pecorino cheese. I like to grate a little extra on top when the carrots are done. 
  • Seasonings: One of my favorite blend of seasonings is dill, garlic powder, salt, and cayenne. I’ve used it on so many roasted or air fried vegetables. I recently told a friend about this combo, and now she’s obsessed with it too!

How to Make the Carrots

Really it comes down to just 3 simple steps. 

  1. Toss the carrots in the seasoning.
  2. Air fry and toss halfway through to evenly cook. It’s important to do this with most air fryer recipes to ensure even cooking. 
  3. Serve and enjoy immediately.

Okay, that was really just two steps, but you get my point – it’s an EASY, no-fuss side dish. These Air Fryer Carrots really will go with just about anything. 

Caramelized air fryer carrots on a plate topped with dill and parmesan

More Air Fryer Recipes

If you’re looking for more air fryer recipes, you might want to check these ones out as well:

Print

Air Fryer Carrots with Parmesan and Dill

Caramelized air fryer carrots laid out on aplate topped with dill and parmesan
  • Author: admin
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. of carrots, peeled and cut in half or cut to fit your air fryer
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese, plus extra for topping
  • 1 1/2 tsp. dried dill
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/8 tsp. cayenne (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat air fryer to 360 F. Toss carrots together in a large bowl with olive oil, cheese, dill, garlic powder, salt, and cayenne (if using).
  2. Spread out evenly on the bottom of the air fryer (see notes). Air fry for 7-8 minutes. Toss carrots and continue cooking for additional 4-5 minutes for perfectly al dente carrots.
  3. Serve immediately.

Notes

If you have a smaller air fryer, you may need to cook in batches so that the carrots line the bottom of the air fryer in an even layer. If you need to work in batches, you can keep the first batch(es) of carrots warm on a sheet pan in a 200-degree oven while the remaining carrots cook.

Citrus Winter Farro Salad

by

Overview of farro salad with brussels sprouts and citrus
This post contains links that pay me a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Happy New Year, folks! 2019 was quite the ride, and I’m ready for 2020. 2019 was a year of change for me. I quit my secure, well-paying job to move onto entrepreneurship. And I haven’t regretted it one bit. I’m genuinely excited about what the roaring twenties have in store for me and my little corner of the internet. It’s been a busy holiday season, and lately, I’ve been craving some fresh flavors like citrus, which is in season, so this Citrus Winter Farro Salad has been hitting the spot perfectly. It’s chock full of whole grains, crispy Brussels sprouts, and vitamin C-rich citrus. I recently went to a local tapas restaurant, which had fried, crispy brussels sprouts with grapefruit, and it was so good. I knew immediately that I needed to recreate it at home and for the blog as this Citrus Winter Farro Salad. It keeps well in the refrigerator, tastes great served warm or cold, and is an easy dish for weekend meal prep. 

Drizzling of citrus vinaigrette on farro salad with brussels sprouts

I know it seems cliche that a recipe posted on New Year’s Day would be a salad, but I assure you that this post is encouraging you to eat only salads this year. I’m not big on resolutions, but I do like the idea of setting intentions. I’ve set some intentions this year for peace, including cultivating more peace with food and my body. One area I think we (as a culture and society) could use is making peace with food. “Making peace with food” is the third principle of Intuitive Eating. Making peace with food means giving yourself unconditional permission to eat anything you want. Yes, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist just told you to give yourself unconditional permission to eat anything you want. It shouldn’t be shocking, but sadly, it might be for many. If you want to eat cake, eat cake. If you want to eat a salad, eat a salad. By giving yourself unconditional permission to eat whatever you want, you’ll never feel deprived or look at a meal as if its the “last supper.” If given permission, no one would only eat cake for the rest of their lives. At some point, it would become awful; you would start craving crunchy and savory foods. This would probably happen sooner than you might think.  

Close up of farro salad with brussels sprouts and citrus

I think that’s exactly how this recipe was born. I was craving crunchy vegetables, grains, and bright citrus flavors after having a lot of rich, soft foods around the holidays like mashed potatoes/gravy, desserts, etc. And I love me some rich, soft foods like mashed potatoes with gravy and desserts and plan to eat plenty of them in 2020 as well. But, this is the way life goes. Honor those cravings. Eat the “good” food and the “bad” food. And, challenge yourself this year to make peace with food and changing your vocabulary to not label foods as “good” or “bad.” Eat the salad, eat the cake, and get on with your life. And if you’re going to eat a salad, eat this one. It tastes so good. 

Overview of farro salad with brussels sprouts and citrus with some portioned on a plate

Don’t forget you can keep the recipes coming straight to your inbox by signing up for my newsletter.

Print

Citrus Winter Farro Salad

Overview of farro salad with brussels sprouts and citrus
  • Author: Melissa
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups of farro 
  • 1 lb. brussels sprouts, trimmed and cut in half
  • 1/4 cup olive oil, plus 2 tbsp.
  • 3 tbsp. lemon juice (juice of about 1/2 of lemon)
  • 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
  • 1 lb. brussels sprouts, trimmed and cut in half
  • 1 large orange or grapefruit,  peeled and segmented
  • Salt and pepper to taste 

Instructions

  1. Cook farro to package directions, then place in a bowl to set aside to cool. 
  2. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 475 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Toss sprouts with 2 tbsp. olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread on sheet and bake for about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and toss again (or shake the pan to move around), place back in oven and cook an additional 5 minutes. Set aside. 
  3. While sprouts cook, make the vinaigrette. Mix lemon juice and dijon mustard together. Season with salt and pepper. Add 1/4 cup of olive oil while continually whisking until dressing is well blended.
  4. Toss farro, brussels sprouts, vinaigrette, and citrus segments together in a bowl. Drizzle with vinaigrette.

Whipped Feta Phyllo Cups with Pomegranate

by

Overview of phyllo cups stuffed with whipped feta with pomegranate seeds and rosemary sprigs
This post contains links that pay me a small commission at no extra cost to you.

I love holiday parties with all the little appetizers and small bites. You know the ones with mini meatballs, pigs in a blanket, Christmas cookies, and baked brie – all the favorites. Don’t get me wrong; I love all of those things, and I especially love the baked brie. This year, I’m craving something slightly different, like these Whipped Feta Phyllo Cups with Pomegranate. They’re super festive with the green and red from the rosemary and pomegranates and, most importantly, super simple. They travel well and taste just as good at room temp, which is perfect for party season. Salty, creamy feta dip baked into crispy phyllo shells, topped with sweet honey, and tart pomegranate seeds – you can’t go wrong.

Close up of whipped feta in phyllo cups with pomegranate seeds

You may remember from my Tomato Bruschetta with Whipped Feta Pesto that I love me some whipped feta. If you’re ever in Charleston, you have to stop into Butcher and Bee and order their whipped feta with fermented honey. You won’t be sorry. After having their version, it’s given me a small obsession with whipped feta. (Although, disclaimer: theirs is better. Not much, but still.) 

Close up of a bitten phyllo cup stuffed with whipped feta and pomegranate seeds

Whipped feta is a crowd-pleaser. If you bring this recipe to a holiday party, you will not only be original but also the hit of the party. I once went to a holiday party that had no less than three different types of mini meatballs and two versions of pigs in a blanket. To say it was a little boring was an understatement. Thank goodness for the good company. It’s time to switch it up, and I’ve got your back with this one.

Print

Whipped Feta Phyllo Cups with Pomegranate

Overview of phyllo cups stuffed with whipped feta with pomegranate seeds and rosemary sprigs
Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp. rosemary, minced
  • 1 small garlic clove (or half of a large), minced very finely or grated 
  • 2 tbsp. honey, plus more for drizzling
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 8 oz. feta cheese, crumbled
  • 4 oz. cream cheese (half of a block), softened
  • 30 phyllo cups (two boxes of these)
  • Pomegranate seeds, for topping

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. 
  2. Add rosemary, garlic, honey, salt, pepper, feta, and cream cheese in a food processor. Pulse until fully combined, and feta mixture has a whipped consistency.
  3. Place phyllo cups on baking sheet and add about 1 heaping teaspoon of the feta mixture to each cup. Bake cups for 12-14 minutes until starting to brown on top. 
  4. Allow cups to cool, drizzle with extra honey, and top with pomegranate seeds. 

Smoky and Savory Sweet Potato Casserole

by

A serving of savory sweet potato casserole being spooned out on a dish
This post contains links that pay me a small commission at no extra cost to you.

I didn’t really grow up eating sweet potatoes. On the other hand, they were a staple in my husband’s family growing up. When I think of potatoes, I think savory flavors. Salt, herbs, vinegar, you know, those kind of flavors. It wasn’t until adulthood that I really embraced the sweet potato and all of his lovely casserole forms around the holidays. However, this holiday season, I’ve been craving a more savory sweet potato casserole instead of the norm. I recently had a very delicious sweet potato bisque that involved coconut milk, chipotle peppers, and bacon, which was my inspiration for this savory sweet potato casserole. Man, oh man, did my muse serve me well. This is freaking fantastic. 

Close up of savory sweet potato casserole with bacon topping

It gets its smokiness from not just smoked paprika, but also chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. Chipotle peppers in adobo can easily be found in the Latin section of the grocery store. Chipotle peppers are simply dried and smoked jalapenos, and the adobo sauce is a sweet and tangy tomato sauce that they are canned within. No need to drain off the sauce. I typically just pull out a pepper from the can onto my cutting board and chop it finely. I discard any stems but include the seeds in my cooking. I love keeping a jar of these around the kitchen and put them in all sorts of dishes that need a little kick.

Overview of the savory sweet potato casserole

The topping of the casserole is simply breadcrumbs with a little oil, seasoning, and crumbled bacon. All of this adds a beautiful crunch component to the consistency of the casserole. I think that this dish is all about balance. The sweetness of the potatoes is balanced with smoky and savory flavors. The soft texture of the potatoes is juxtaposed with the crunch of the panko breadcrumbs and crispy bacon. And, there you have it, folks. I’m totally going to win a casserole of the year award here. I mean, that should totally be a thing, right?

If you’re digging my recipes here on A Grateful Meal, please do yourself (and me!) a favor and subscribe to my email list. I got all sorts of exclusive content for my recipients, plus you’ll be up-to-date on new recipes! 

Print

Smoky and Savory Sweet Potato Casserole

A serving of savory sweet potato casserole being spooned out on a dish
  • Author: admin
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour and 40 minutes
  • Total Time: 2 hours
  • Category: side dish
Scale

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Put the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and pierce each one several times with a fork. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until easily pierced all the way through with a fork. Set aside to cool. 
  2. Meanwhile, heat large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook bacon until crispy and remove to drain on a paper towel. Drain bacon fat from skillet except for about 1-2 tsp. Add onion and for about 5 minutes. Add garlic, chipotle pepper, smoked paprika, oregano, and salt/pepper to taste. Cook for additional 2-3 minutes. Turn off heat, add coconut milk, and stir. 
  3. In a separate bowl, mix breadcrumbs, olive oil, and bacon crumbles. Season to taste with black pepper. 
  4. Once sweet potatoes cool enough to handle, scoop orange flesh out of potatoes into large mixing bowl. Add coconut milk mixture and mash. Fold in the eggs to the sweet potato mixture. Spray a 9×13 size casserole pan with nonstick spray or with olive oil. Add potato mixture to casserole pan. Top with breadcrumb mixture and bake for about 35-40 minutes or until breadcrumbs golden and casserole warmed through.

Easy Cranberry Margaritas for a Crowd

by

Glasses of cranberry margaritas with a large pitcher of margarita
This post contains links that pay me a small commission at no extra cost to you.

It’s no secret around here that I’m kind of obsessed with cranberries. Not only do I like cranberry sauce, but I also like spicy cranberry shrimp. I mean, what says “the holidays” like bright, colorful, and tart cranberries? Let me tell you that these easy cranberry margaritas sure do say it loud and proud.  

Overview of three glasses of cranberry margaritas with fresh limes, rosemary, and cranberries

One of the challenges during the holiday season is choosing what cocktails, wine, or beer are served at gatherings. Often, wine and beer are natural choices. No mixing involved, and they can be bought in bulk. Cocktails are a little more challenging since they require mixing and matching. What you really need at your holiday gatherings is an easy and festive cocktail that can be mixed in a pitcher or punch bowl to be enjoyed by the masses. These easy cranberry margaritas are just the ticket.

I made these recently at Thanksgiving to accompany the beer and wine selection. These margaritas were gone in a blink of an eye. The empty pitcher was met with disappointed comments like “aw, the margaritas are gone already?” Not to worry, they took just a few minutes to whip another batch, and all was well again in the world. If you know you’ll need a large amount, this recipe can easily be multiplied using the handy feature in the recipe card below.

Glass of cranberry margarita garnished with rosemary, lime, and fresh cranberries

These margaritas are also just so naturally pretty and festive. With the bright red cranberries and green limes, it a natural fit for a Christmas party or gathering. I like to garnish with a sprig of rosemary for fun too. Fresh cranberries naturally float in liquid, so if you freeze them in advance, you can actually use them as “ice cubes” without watering down the cocktails. I like to use a combination of ice cubes and frozen cranberries to ensure they stay nice and cold. 

I didn’t add any salt to the rims of the glasses, but you certainly could. The margaritas themselves are a little sweet and tart, but if you prefer a sweeter margarita, you could try a sugar rim to balance the tart. I got no complaints with the margaritas as is, but I am all for you doing you. 

Don’t forget, if you’re loving my recipes, sign up for my newsletter to get all the latest and greatest! 

Print

Cranberry Margarita

Glass of cranberry margarita garnished with rosemary, lime, and fresh cranberries
  • Author: admin
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Total Time: 5
  • Yield: 6 cocktails 1x
Scale

Ingredients

  • 4 cups cranberry juice
  • 1 1/2 cups tequila blanco
  • 1/2 cup lime juice (or the juice of about 3 medium-large limes)
  • 1/2 cup fresh cranberries, for garnish 
  • Additional lime wedges and rosemary sprigs for garnish

Instructions

  1. Stir cranberry juice, tequila, and lime juice in a pitcher with ice. Add cranberries and a few lime wedges, which will float for garnish. 
  2. Serve cocktails with a sprig of rosemary and additional lime wedges. 

Notes

Tip: freeze cranberries in advance and use as “ice cubes” to keep drinks cold

Crispy Green Beans with Prosciutto and Mustard Vinaigrette

by

overview of a plate and sheet pan of crispy green beans, prosciutto, and mustard vinaigrette
This post contains links that pay me a small commission at no extra cost to you.

There are two types of people in this world, those who like their green beans super soft and those that like them crisp. I am squarely in the latter category. I have observed the former camp that they love their green beans simmered for hours with some sort of pork product. Don’t get me wrong, the taste is good, but I always feel like I’m eating baby food. I have to have crispy green beans, and one of the best ways to make them super crisp is by roasting them at a high temperature. Since salted meat certainly makes the mushy green beans taste good, it makes the crispy green beans absolutely perfect. This brings me to my Crispy Green Beans with Prosciutto and Mustard Vinaigrette recipe. It is the ideal balance of sweet, salty, and tangy. And not only do the green beans crisp up in the oven, but the prosciutto does as well. It’s heaven.

sheet pan of crispy green beans with prosciutto

Thanksgiving is mere days away, so let’s mix it up a little and bring a little heaven on earth to your table with these crispy green beans. They’re easy to make ahead and still taste amazing even if they get a little cold. You can always reheat again by popping into a warm oven for a few minutes while you’re making gravy or putting finishing touches on other parts of the meal.

close up of a sheet pan with crispy green beans and prosciutto with mustard vinaigrette
plate of crispy green beans with prosciutto and mustard

This recipe can definitely sway some of the soft green bean people over to the crispy green bean camp.

Print

Crispy Green Beans with Prosciutto and Mustard Vinaigrette

overview of a plate and sheet pan of crispy green beans, prosciutto, and mustard vinaigrette
  • Author: admin
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Cook Time: 18
  • Total Time: 23 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Method: Roasting
Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. green beans, washed and trimmed
  • 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp. maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp. whole grain mustard
  • 1 tbsp. fresh rosemary
  • 3 tbsp. olive oil 
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 3 oz. prosciutto, chopped into ~1″ pieces

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Whisk together vinegar, maple syrup, mustard, and fresh rosemary. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking. Toss green beans in vinaigrette and spread out on a large baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper. (Tip: for easy cleanup line with a silicone baking mat, tin foil, or parchment paper.)
  2. Top green beans with pieces of prosciutto and roast green beans for about 16-18 minutes or until starting to brown. 

Don’t forget you can also sign up for A Grateful Meal’s newsletter to be the first to know about new recipes and get exclusive content!