creative and colorful sides?

[aliciao]

Good morning! I'm hosting 12 friends for a holiday dinner on Friday evening and I'm looking for some ideas for light side dishes...something colorful and interesting. We're having appetizers, salad, a stuffed pork tenderloin, sweet potato gnocchi, squash and cranberry chutney. thanks!!

[KarenDW]

ribbons of carrot and zucchini, saute in butter, finish with parmesan or asiago

[Will Owen]

I love the dry austerity of broccoli backing a good bit of cheese and butter. Get a package or two of the florets, soak for about half an hour in cold water (gets rid of the tired taste), drain, and steam for about ten minutes. Dump into a bowl with a nice lump of butter and some salt, grate in plenty of parmigiano or pecorino or Comté, toss to mix and coat, turn out into a gratin dish. All that's left is to give it around ten minutes in a hot oven before you serve it. A nice alternative is to add some anchovy paste instead of the cheese; both broccoli and broccolini respond wonderfully to the anchovy flavor, so long as there's enough butter or olive oil involved.

[Cherylptw]

Caramelized onion & garlic green beans would add color to the menu. Use fresh beans, blanch first then cook briefly in the caramelized onion'garlic mixture. You didn't say what the apps & salad were so as not to repeat items, it would help if you indicated.

[BobB]

Red cabbage would be good with this menu, and has a lovely purply color when cooked. My favorite recipe:

One small red cabbage, cored and shredded
Two Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and grated
1/2 cup red currant jelly
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/2 tsp salt

Put everything into a heavy pot and simmer covered for about an hour. Stir it periodically and add a little water if it seems to be getting too dry. Delicious!