Proof Italians Know How to Make Veggies Molto Bellissima!

Baked Artichokes With Honey Whipped Feta

Dip these baked Panko-coated artichokes into a sweet and creamy honey-whipped feta cheese for all your spring holidays. Everyone's going to love it! (via Half Baked Harvest)

Cheesy Cabbage Casserole

Here us out on cabbage: when you bake this underrated veg with cheese and herbs, even kids will love it. (via The Edgy Veg)

Cream of Asparagus Soup

This perfect spring soup turns our favorite spring veg into the star of the show. It's full of fresh and vibrant flavors! (via The Girl On Bloor)

Roasted Golden Beet Salad With Farro

Roasted beets, farro, goat cheese, and crunchy almonds are a perfect side for a crowd and meal for everyday. (via Barley & Sage)

Toast with Oregano-Truffle Cream Cheese and Olive Oil Tossed Tomatoes

Inspired by breakfast in Barcelona, this simple recipe of toasted bread is topped with olive oil, tomato and oregano-truffle cream cheese is SO good. (via No Eggs And Ham)

Kale Stir Fry With Mushroom and Red Onion

Seasoned with balsamic vinegar and soy sauce, this simple and satisfying meal takes just 15 minutes. (via GastroPlant)

Cabbage And Peas

Add a pop of spring green to your table with this bright salad of cabbage and sweet peas. (via This Wife Cooks)

Southern Baked Mac And Cheese

If you're looking for classic, soul food on your Easter Sunday this creamy baked macaroni and cheese with a crusty top is the best! (via Pink Owl Kitchen)

Vegan Split Pea Soup

Creamy split green peas and golden potatoes made in a dutch oven is a delicious vegan meal.(via Veggie Society)

Cucumber Mint Yogurt Salad

This refreshing and creamy dish is super simple and requires just 5 minutes. Pair with toasty bread or crackers. (via Forks and Foliage)

Roasted Parmesan Potatoes

Crispy potatoes are always a crowd pleaser. These oven-roasted parmesan baby potatoes are a perfect as a side dish no matter what season. (via Feel Good Foodie)

Simple Charcuterie Board

Stand out from the potluck crowd with a gorgeous charcuterie board. Amanda Wilens shows you how to build one to impress. (via Amanda Wilens)

Focaccia Bread With Roasted Garlic And Olives

This focaccia has a rich olive oil flavor with sweet roasted garlic and kalamata olives to add briny contrast. (via A Spicy Perspective)

Korean Corn Cheese

Corn and mozzarella cheese makes for a delicious side that's also easy to make. (via Takes Two Eggs)

Grilled Peaches And Pimento Pizza

Bring the pizza party to the potluck with this seasonal dish you can grill or bake. (via The Edgy Veg)

Farro Salad With Peas And Feta

This light and delicious farro salad has peas, arugula, feta, and a juicy lemon dressing. (via Culinary Hill)

Zucchini Chips

Make chips for your favorite dip from zucchini and eggplant. (via Fancy Peasant)

Creamy Vegan Ricotta with Tofu

Spread this tofu-based ricotta dip on toast, in a pasta dish, as a dip, or even in a lasagna. It comes together in about 10 minutes! (via Simply Quinoa)

Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip

Loaded with flavor and so much cheese, this hot spinach and artichoke dip gets the Easter party started. (via Salt & Lavender)

Lemony Spring Pasta Salad

Gluten-free noodles absorb liquid more than regular pasta so keep some extra lemony dressing on the side of this springy pasta dish. (via RachL Mansfield)

Big Bang Cauliflower

Spicy, sweet, and incredibly easy to make, these bite-sized cauliflower bit are so good tossed in a homemade bang bang sauce. (via The Endless Meal)

Spinach and Ricotta Puff Pastry Pinwheels

This easy vegetarian appetizer recipe is made with creamy spinach, melty ricotta, salty parmesan, and earthy spinach wrapped up in flaky, buttery puff pastry. Sold! (via Cozy Cravings)

Truffle Beet Carpaccio With Pistachio And Capers

We never met a dish with capers we didn't like -- add sweet beets and arugula with the smokey marinade for a tastebud-satisfying treat. (via Chef Bai)

Vegan Caesar Salad

The vegan caesar dressing is made with tahini, lemon, and dijon mustard for a creamy, tangy, and refreshing salad. (via Two Spoons)

Mediterranean Layered Hummus Dip

Hummus topped with roasted pepper, chipotle, roasted garlic, and jalapeño cilantro is on a whole other level, so good! (via Live Eat Learn)

Prosciutto Ricotta Toast

Toasty bread topped with crispy prosciutto and creamy ricotta, lemon, honey, and basil is a side to add to your party rotation. (via Cilantro Parsley)

Find More Easter Side Dishes From Brit + Co:

Green Goddess Salad

If you're looking for a healthy side dish that still tastes amazing, then this Green Goddess salad is right up your alley. The dressing is full of lemon juice, cheese, rice vinegar, and garlic for a seriously tasty dish. (via Brit + Co)

Smoked Salmon Poke Bites

These bites work as a side dish to your entrée, or as an appetizer that you can snack on before the rest of the fam arrives for Easter dinner. You can totally customize these babies and remove or add any ingredients that you wish. (via Brit + Co)

Bite-Sized Eggs Benedicts

Even if you're not having an Easter brunch extravaganza, we're all about breakfast for dinner so we'll add these bites to our menu regardless. (via Brit + Co)

Crunchy Green Beans With Butter

Green beans might not seem like an exciting Easter side dish to bring to a potluck, but these will be a crowdpleaser. The original recipe makes enough for just four people, so adjust it accordingly. (via Brit + Co)

Crispy Smashed Potatoes With Pink Tahini Sauce

You can’t go wrong with crispy smashed taters, especially when they’re served with plenty of gooey brie cheese. (via Brit + Co)

Sweet Potatoes in a Blanket

Why serve crescent rolls solo, when you can stuff them with roasted sweet potato wedges, caramelized onion, and cheese? (via Brit + Co)

Roasted Broccoli

If you’re feeding a crowd of picky eaters with different dietary needs, this tasty Easter side dish is a must; it’s vegan, paleo, and Whole30-friendly. (via Brit + Co)

Steamed Artichoke With Garlic Butter

If someone in your crew claims that they aren’t into vegetables, the dreamy garlic butter that's used for dunking this steamed artichoke might just be a turning point for them. They'll thank you after they've devoured this whole Easter side dish. (via Brit + Co)

DIY Potato Salad

The herbs make found in this potato salad make it spring-ready. It's also a great option for all your spring picnics and summer barbecue get togethers. (via Brit + Co)

Portia's Green Soup

We've been dreaming about this Bridgerton-inspired recipe, and we're pretty sure you will be too. Avocado, cucumber, and chives give 'refreshing' a whole new meaning. (via The Unofficial Bridgerton Cookbook/Brit + Co)

Easter Side Dishes That Taste Good All Year Long:

Keto Cheesy Brussels Sprouts With Bacon

This hearty Easter side dish is as easy as it is delicious. After all, everything is better with bacon and plenty of cheese sauce. (via Brit + Co)

Greens & Citrus Salad With Tahini-Ginger Dressing

With plenty of veg and flavorful add-ins, this salad is clearly too legit; too legit to quit. (via Season: A Year of Wine Country Food, Farming, Family, & Friends/Brit + Co)

Mashed Cauliflower Purée

Cauliflower has become an Easter side dish fave, and this garlicky recipe only gives us reason to keep the momentum going. (via Brit + Co)

Cheesy, Garlic-Roasted Asparagus

Fact: No one is going to pass up a vegetable that tastes like garlic bread...or that's covered in cheese. (via Brit + Co)

Scallion and Greek Yogurt Slow-Cooker Mashed Potatoes

Despite its intricate, show-stopping appearance, it’s surprisingly easy to put together thanks to your slow-cooker. (via Brit + Co)

Think of this like mac and cheese's cousin. It's cheesy, it's warm, and it'll still give you those same comfort food feelings. (via Brit + Co)

This six-ingredient dish takes advantage of Romanesco's tree-like shape, which looks adorable when dusted with cheesy "snow." This is a Christmas side dish that'll get even the pickiest eater to eat their broccoli. (via Brit + Co)

If you're like us and you have a big spread to much on all Christmas long, then brunch food is a totally acceptable side dish. We'll be adding plenty of berries and maple syrup. (via Brit + Co)

Cheesy Sweet Potato Gratin

With Thanksgiving long gone, forgo a marshmallow topping in favor of savory sage, Gruyère cheese, and heavy cream on sliced, baked-until-bubbly sweet potatoes. You can save the marshmallows for your cocoa. (via Brit + Co)

If you want a healthier holiday feast but can't give up mashed potatoes, look no further than this more virtuous version, made creamy and protein-rich with Greek yogurt. (via Brit + Co)

The best side dishes are the cheesy, carby ones. These crushed potatoes are super easy to make — all you have to do is smash them down with the bottom of a glass and load 'em up with cheese. Done and done. (via Brit + Co)

Another great brunch option, this frittata features a variety of ingredients that you probably already have in your fridge, like onions, turkey, and cheese. (via Brit + Co)

These bites can be served hot or cold, and can be totally customized to fit your preferences. Nix the meat and cheese to make them vegan or take out the olives for less salt. (via Brit + Co)

There would be anarchy if there weren’t traditional mashed potatoes at the Christmas dinner table. They’ll turn out just right by using a simple recipe that everyone will love. (via Cooking Classy)

Any dish with "easy" in the name is essential for a smooth and perfect Christmas dinner. Prep everything ahead of time, and pop the corn in the oven at the last minute to ensure it stays piping hot. (via Damn Delicious)

Carrots pair well with parsnips, its earthier veggie cousin. In this recipe, they’re baked in a creamy, dairy-free sauce that coats every bite. (via Full of Plants)

You need something to soak up all that butter and gravy, so you might as well make it these spicy, cheesy biscuits. (via Brit + Co)

This feel-good dish comes together with layers of sliced butternut squash, cashew cream, and a spinach "cream" sauce with coconut milk, almond butter, and garlic. Vegans, rejoice! (via Nick Hopper/Farmacy Kitchen Cookbook)

You've heard of Hasselback potatoes, but these hedgehog roasted potatoes might have them beat for being both a tasty and adorable Christmas side dish recipe. They're tender inside but full of crispy bits and have plenty of nooks and crannies to fill with butter and gravy. (via Sprinkles and Sprouts)

Sometimes you need a lighter side dish to help balance out a heavy meal. With a rich butter sauce and lemon juice for balance, these green beans do just the trick. (via Host the Toast)

Gnocchi gets the royal treatment with sliced cremini mushrooms, fresh herbs, and three kinds of cheese. Best part? This casserole can be made ahead of time, frozen, and reheated. (via Brit + Co)

This salad might look summery, but citrus shines in the winter. Avocado and beets add to the festive color scheme, and goat cheese provides creaminess. (via Chelsea's Messy Apron)

If there’s a dish to convert someone into a mushroom lover, this is it. The veggies act like sponges that soak up garlic, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese. What’s not to love? (via Savory Tooth)

Sausage Cranberry Brioche Stuffing

Give your stuffing some extra flair with dried cranberries and chopped pear. Pillowy brioche soaks up all that sausage goodness. (via The Suburban Soapbox)

Mac and cheese is a staple on many holiday tables. Upgrade your favorite version with white cheddar cheese and a dash of truffle oil. (via The Girl on Bloor)

As a Power of Women honoree, Mariska was recognized in regards to her work as an advocate for sexual assault survivors. She took the stage and used her platform to discuss rape and assault conviction reversals, shining a light on the recent overturned ruling in Harvey Weinstein's landmark NYC case. Here's what she said:

Today I want to talk about reversing convictions, and more specifically I want to talk to you about how impossible it is to reverse mine. It’s impossible to reverse my conviction that survivors matter. It is impossible to reverse my conviction that what happens to us matters, and that our society must respond to survivors with a more a compassionate, holistically, deeper, and more nuanced understanding of what healing means.

It is impossible to reverse my conviction that after a trauma, survivors can reclaim lives of hope, of possibility, of audacious risk, beautiful intimacy, and glorious, glorious abundant joy. And I stand before you as evidence of that statement.

It is impossible to reverse my conviction that we must listen to survivors as experts on what justice means. It is extraordinary how little their voices are consulted, let alone incorporated, in the process of deciding how to repair harm. Justice is not a one-size-fits-all journey.

It is impossible to reverse my conviction that patriarchal impunity has to end. Patriarchal impunity is when a male-dominated system exempts perpetrators from punishment. Studies show that only 20% of all rape cases in the U.S. are reported to the police, and that between 5 and 0% of all rapes result in a guilty plea or a conviction. So why do 80% of victims not report? Because they're met with a system that grants impunity to perpetrators; a system that blames victims; a system that accepts only those victims who are experienced as "real" rape; a system that completely misunderstands the neurobiology of trauma, which causes behavior in women that doesn't fit the picture of how a "real victim" would act.

Is that change needed that victims should just pull themselves together? Just buck up and report anyway? No. No, it's the system that receives them that needs to change

It is impossible to reverse my conviction — and the conviction of my extraordinary team, The Joyful Heart — that the backlog of untested rape kits can be brought to zero; that the testing of all new kits must be mandated; that we need a statewide kit tracking system; and that survivors have the right to access the status of their kits.

It is impossible to reverse my conviction that grammar — yes, grammar — that we use when we speak about rape must change. In the sentence, "A woman is raped," there's a crime and there's a victim, but there's no perpetrator. Where's the perpetrator? Where is he? Statistically, as we know, most likely he's walking free. He's so free that he doesn't even appear in the language about the crime that he committed. Is that not extraordinary? It's extraordinary that in the very grammar, the perpetrator goes free. Reintroducing perpetrators in the language of rape will make some very unwieldy grammar, but that's the nature of change. It's unwieldy, it's messy, it's uncomfortable, but it's necessary.

Hargitay continued on in her prolific speech to describe that rape shouldn't be considered a "crime of passion" because it's "not simply the next step in the trajectory of his passion" when a man takes a consensual hookup too far and assaults a woman against her will. She stated that it's "an exercise of power," doubling down that the language we use is important.

The speech went on to address that rape is both about power and control, as a "construct" that was "built, and assembled, and reinforced over time." She noted that there are people with these positions of power — and she specifically called out those in the entertainment industry — that could make a difference and aligned themselves to victims and survivors.

After this and some other remarks, Hargitay specifically called out the Weinstein conviction reversal. She said:

I do want to say something about the Harvey Weinstein conviction, specifically about the reason that it was overturned: too many women's voices. Too many women's voices were allowed to speak. Hallelujah! Amen! I can't imagine anything more beautiful than that. The Daily podcast episode talked about how it was so risky for the prosecution to have that many women testify. Risky to let women speak? You're damn right it is!

Too many women speaking brings change. Too many women speaking shakes the establishment. Too many women means we get listened to more, and people might actually hear what we have to say. Look what happened when women started saying just two words, right? Me too — just as an example — a tidal wave of change. Me too.

And then of course, there was the response: the Me Too Movement. The backlash. The examination of whether the changes that have come are lasting, or are even positive. Of course there's a backlash! What did they expect? For women to speak repeatedly, loudly, together, with a purpose — for there to be no backlash? The backlash is evidence of how powerful those voices were, how powerful those voices ARE.

Watch Mariska Hargitay's Full Speech Here

Turns out that your TV heroes really can be your IRL heroes after all. Long live Olivia Benson! Long live Mariska Hargitay!