What a wonderful time is had by all when the festive seasons come, and we sit around the table and enjoy the holiday side dish, to accompany the traditional fare. Feelings of warmth and camaraderie touch us, as our taste buds swell, as well as our hearts. But let us examine what holiday side dish our Astro Club would tend to go for, to just make the day perfect!

ARIES

Fiery Aries are into being fit, especially for those fun holidays! In fact, they will want to keep that muscular tone tight, and will not be given to overdoing it at the festive table. So, they will just love as a holiday side dish a Blackberry and Spinach Salad that is non fattening, but super tasty. Spinach, blackberries, feta cheese, walnuts, edible flowers and baby tomatoes all swirling around their platter in colourful “togetherness” will get the enthusiastic Aries’ taste buds all fired up.

TAURUS

Earthy Taurus digs the sensuality of the “food experience”, and will enjoy something caloric, tasty and “unusual” on their holiday side dish. So Jalapeno peppers and pimentos with loads of yummy cream cheese will have the Taurus in the nearest thing to spiritual rapture. Watch their eyes widen, and their cheeks turn pink as they fork in the mouthfuls. Their yearning for culinary fulfillment will subsequently hit the high note!

GEMINI

Gemini would tell you that variety is the spice of life! And that includes food and holiday side dish!Romaine and Mandarin Orange Salad with poppy seed is just the job for our restless twin. Gemini needs to work out what is actually on their plate, and prefers it complex, exotic and with an unusual, yet succulent taste they can get their head around. As long someone else is cooking your twin will be happy, and fact is the taste of poppy seed does get them guessing so!

CANCER

Sensitive Cancer goes for recipes their mothers loved to cook. That more complex style of TV cooking is all very well, but when the family is happily gathered around a “dressed” turkey, simpler and traditional styles of side dishes gets those true stomach juices flowing. So what could be more apt than Brussels sprouts with Chestnuts to add that refined, yet basic touch to an already rich and festive meal? Tears will come to their eyes as they raise their champagne glass and toast in a New Year, a Happy Christmas, Thanksgiving or Easter day with satisfied loved ones around them.

LEO

Leo does not only dress to impress they cook to impress. So they will go for the impressive side holiday dish. They want their guests to talk about this festive dinner for months to come. So something complex, and chic, something that gets those stomach juices flowing and everyone in a good mood is the only answer. The classic Holiday Green Gelatin Salad side dish is a definite “must have” on the Leo fun food list. Think creamy and soft; think crunchy pecan nut contrasts, and an unusual flavour, that goes well with pineapples! This will get folks talking and asking for the recipe for sure.

VIRGO

Virgo loves to have their very special mates around them, that unique bunch of handpicked people that they feel so at ease with on festive occasions. Yet they also want to see a well prepared, yet perfect side dish, nothing hurried or slapdash. In essence, they are looking for tasty simplicity, so Sweet Italian Green Bean Salad with crispy bacon would do fine. The tangy taste of Italian tomatoes is the kind of “yummy” and simple mix match that has the conversation buzzing and the wine flowing.

LIBRA

Libra will love harmonious surroundings and if inviting guests to a festive meal will make sure serviettes match table cloth and there is a beautifully composed center piece on the table, perhaps flowers or original decorations like bamboo and twigs gathered off a nearby beach. So the side dish not only has to taste delicious but look good to match the Libra table decor! What could look more attractive than little columns of roasted tomato, zucchini and slices of mozzarella cheese piled on top of each other? Add lashings of vinaigrette, garlic to taste and parsley to sprinkle and see that extra zest and Libran aesthetic touch unfolding.

SCORPIO

Scorpios will love to be the guest, and raise their glasses in celebration, feeling the festive vibes to the depths of their complex souls. So anything tangy, decorative and super tasty will satisfy their perfectionist taste buds. A delicious way for Scorps to nibble is to make green tomato “mince meat” which can be used to flavor everything sweet, from pies, tarts and biscuits or even eaten on its own with lip licking gusto. Piles of green tomatoes, apples, brown sugar, vinegar, chopped oranges, chopped lemons, raisins, plus candied peel will hit the Scorpio “spot” and sweeten their lust for overly intense goings on!

SAGITTARIUS

Jovial Saggy will keep the family rocking and rolling on festive day dinners. Even if they bring their beloved pet snake to the celebratory proceedings, you will still welcome Saggy with open arms, they are so “simpatico!” Nibbling, sampling, savoring and above all raising the wine glass, will keep Saggy so happy the side dish might not matter. But add that special addition and make Saggy even more content. The glazed pearl onions with raisins and almonds will have them going all “yummy” on you. So easy to make, yet so tasty, this is quick side dish that will have Saggy digging their nose deep into the side plate.

CAPRICORN

Cappy likes to see a well laid table, some decent crockery and silver ware. Nothing paper, or shoddy, the traditional holiday meal will be expected with no exotic side dishes, just well flavored “plain and conventionally simple” fair. The established, the time honored the customary is what our goat is looking for to make their day truly festive. Pumpkins filled with apple sauce and then roasted would be the ultimate “Silver Platter” side dish for gracious Cappy.

AQUARIUS

Aquarius dreams of the day humanity will unite in peace. When cultures, belief systems and recipes mix match. In other words when warring nations shake hands and let “bygones be bygones” over the dinner table. So what could be more exciting than crossing cultural barriers and rustling up a great curry on that festive day? You can please the Water Carrier with a variety of side dishes, such as Aam Ka Chatni or Mango chutney, and Raita, or yoghurt salad! The Aquarian looks for the unconventional, and adding one lip-smashingly exotic side dish will appease their cultural needs as well as their hunger pangs.

PISCES

Pisces will insist on giving their festive summer garden party by the gold fish pond, and will want something “sea foodie” to add that special touch! Pisces are imaginative and dreamy, and they will want to sit in their deck chair surrounded by glorious friends, and ponder on the “Absolutes” of life. So what could be more conducive to their marginal tastes than your Garden style Sea food salad? Mixing in the crab, tuna and shrimps with tomatoes, peppers and Italian dressing, will get their guests dreaming of holiday diving into the red sea with their compassionate and friendly Pisces, the Fish!