Thursday, February 12, 2015

Dressing is where it's at!

According to this article, salad dressing is one of the common grocery list items that we are seriously overpaying for.  Not to mention most salad dressing has a lot of nasties (technical term for additives, preservatives, and things not normally found in your kitchen) in it.  If that isn't reason enough for you to add a few dressing recipes to your box, maybe this will be.


That's about it folks, it's really that easy!  And if you want it even easier use a blender!

There are dressing recipes clogging up the internet like never before, but here are a few of my personal favorites:

Tessa's Caesar Dressing
  • 1 cup mayonnaise (buy the good stuff, really)
  • 1/2 - 3/4 cup grated parmesan (again, there's no such thing as too much cheese)
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • White vinegar to desired consistancy
Mix it up in a bowl, adding the vinegar last.  It will set up some when it is refrigerated, so make it slightly thinner than you want to eat it.  Seal it up in a pint jar with a pretty label and feel very accomplished.

Julie's Caesar Dressing
(haven't tried this one yet, but if Julie says it's good ....)
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan
  • 1 c. shredded parmesan
  • 2 anchovy fillets (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 clove smashed and minced garlic
Blend in a food processor.

Balsamic Vinegarette
(It's from Oprah.  I apologize.)
  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 1 clove crushed minced garlic
  • 3/4 cup good olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
Combine the vinegars and mustard.  Add the garlic.  Whisk in a few drops of olive oil.  Finish adding the olive oil little by little, whisking in between until it becomes an emulsion.  Basically this means that the oil has been separated in to very small droplets and appears to have mixed into the vinegars.  This makes it almost creamy!  Stir in the salt and pepper.  Use your old Red Star red wine vinegar bottle to store it in the fridge with your pretty label.  It should be removed from the fridge, allowed to warm slightly, and given a good swift shake before use.





Ranch Dressing
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 cup plain yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon dill weed
  • 1 tablespoon dry parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup milk
Combine adding milk to desired consistency.


Margene's Maytag Blue Cheese Dressing
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • Garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon instant onion (I used the dried chips in the spice bottle)
  • 1 tablespoon wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 4 ounces crumbled Maytag blue cheese
Combine!  Milk may be added to adjust consistency.


There.  That ought to get you started and thoroughly hooked on making your own dressing!  Once I tasted the goodness, I never wanted to go back.  And again, the internets has all kind of great recipes for every day dressings and exotic ones.  Do you have a favorite recipe to share?

Song for the day: Stay Alive

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