Category: Sides

Lemon Bacon Baked Cabbage

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I feel like cabbage is a very understated side. It was usually not a go to for me, that is until I discovered this recipe. Apart from the cabbage I usually have all ingredients on hand making this flavorful cabbage a quick, easy, healthy, and affordable side dish. This recipe takes approximately 1.5 minutes to assemble then you bake! I also love the easy cleanup that baking everything in the foil packet allows.

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Lemon Bacon Baked Cabbage

An easy and delicious side dish that is full of flavor!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 1

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 2 Tablespoons bacon bits
  • 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 cabbage wedge
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Cut off hard bottom of cabbage then quarter the cabbage.
  • Place the quartered cabbage in the center of the foil then add all the remaining ingredients on top.
  • Wrap the foil around it then back at 425 degrees for 40-45 minutes.
  • The cabbage should be falling apart and very fork tender.

Notes

The proportions above are per serving or for each 1/4 a cabbage.  

Nursing Tip:
Speaking of wrap I continue to be amazed when I ask a patient to put on a gown. After 9 years of nursing every time I hand a patient a gown I feel the need to clarify that it opens in the back. It is always quite shocking (and awkward) as the staff to walk into a patient’s room for a knee exam and see the gown opening in the front. Breast exams are pretty far down on the list that a patient comes to an Emergency Room for; however, for some reason patients seem to feel a lot more comfortable if their back side is covered!

Sweet and Sour Green Beans

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When I was growing up my Mom made these beans a lot for our “special occasion” meals. I would look forward to these when we had special guests coming over and usually around holidays. My parents have always tried to cook healthy. Since one of the four ingredients was bacon (and bacon grease) it was a big treat when we had these green beans! This flavor packed side has certainly stolen the dinner show many times!

Food H & P:
3 cans of cut green beans in 14.5 ounce cans
6 slices of bacon
¼ cup of white distilled vinegar
¼ cup of sugar

Food Rx:
Cook bacon and save the grease. Drain the green beans and rinse with cool water. Mix equal parts bacon grease, vinegar, and sugar. I have found that usually 6 pieces of bacon produces about ¼ cup of grease. I usually measure the grease first then mix together equal parts of the vinegar and sugar. Pour mixture over the beans and refrigerate until ready to bake. The longer they marinate the more flavor they have. Before baking top with the crumbled cooked bacon. Bake at 350 degrees 15-20 mins or until heated through.

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Nursing Tip:
I have found that some emergency room personal can have a gruff exterior; however, like these sweet and sour green beans it turns out they are surprisingly sweet and tangy! The general comforts of having your pillow fluffed, room temperature just right, and soothing background music is the last thing that the staff is considering, as at any given moment an ambulance is pulling in or another patient is clinging to life. Sometimes that can be easily overlook by a stable patient, but word of advice be nice to your nursing staff as they determine your needle size and sign your work excuse!

Twice Baked Potatoes

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I absolutely love this side! These potatoes are elegant and so quick! To me they are like a nice pair of blue jeans, they can be dressed up or dressed down! Twice baked potatoes are the perfect side for a steak dinner or a casual baked chicken meal. I enjoy having these ready way beforehand then saving the second cooking for meal time. I promise you cannot go wrong with these!

Food H & P: (serves 2)
2 russet potatoes
½ cup of cottage cheese
½ cup of sour cream
½ cup of cheddar cheese
1 Tbsp of butter
1 Tbsp of yellow mustard
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
1 tsp dried parsley

Food Rx:
Clean potatoes under running water with scrub brush and poke holes all around with fork. Place potatoes in microwave and cook in 2 minute intervals, assessing doneness, until cooked and very fork tender. It usually takes me about 8 minutes. Remove potatoes from microwave with hot pad and cut off a section of skin from the top to form an opening. Using a spoon, scoop out the cooked potato being careful not to go through the remaining skin. Add all of the ingredients to the potato filling, reserving 2 Tbsp of cheddar. Mix together and place back into the potato skin. Place reserved cheese on top of the potato. When ready to eat bake potatoes in a 350 degrees oven for 15 minutes or until heated through.

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Nursing tip: Speaking of twice baked, we have patients that have made more than one trip to the ER during a 12-hour shift. The reasons vary but usually it is not due to a decline in status but more likely in hopes of having a different provider who is more likely to prescribe the patient’s preferred pain medication. We also see some with unrealistic expectations on recovery time. Based on the tone of the paramedic, listed complaint, and age the staff can sometimes even guess who is coming in on an ambulance with impressive accuracy!