Fresh Strawberry Vinaigrette

Our garden's strawberries are producing strong, and the farmer's markets are selling strawberries at low prices this time of year.  One of the best ways I use fresh strawberries is in a fresh strawberry vinaigrette.  It's fast, requires only a few ingredients, and it goes well on so many different kinds of salads.

You will need:
5 - 6 medium strawberries
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 Tabs. lemon juice
salt and pepper, to taste (about 1 teas. each).
1 Tabs. Italian seasoning

Place all the ingredients in a blender, and blend until smooth.

Taste for seasoning.  Does it need more salt or pepper?  It is too tart for your family's taste?  If so, add a teaspoon or so of sugar.  Pulse for a couple seconds after adding more seasonings.  Give it another taste.

Once you have the seasoning level where you want it, pour into a container.  I always have a small jar on hand for homemade salad dressings.  This will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week.

And when you are ready to serve, just pour over your favorite salad.

It is a wonderful change from the usual dressings.  And it only cost pennies to make.

Give this a try.

Enjoy?

Greek Seasoning Blend Mix and Salad Dressing

 As some of you know, I am a gardener.  So, during the summer months most of my dishes are prepared with fresh vegetables and herbs.  In addition to enjoying the freshness of our garden's bounty, I am always drying my herbs on any available flat surface I can find.  My house always smells of these wonderful herbs drying, which I can then use during the winter months.

I also collect all kinds of small jars with tight fitting lids, to hold my dried herbs.  Tiny ones hold dried lemon and lime peels for seasoning salts and salad dressings, the larger ones hold my dried herbs.

Then I just stick a label on the jar, (or baggie), and I save tons of money using my garden's bounty.  I also watch the produce section for mark down herbs.  I bring them home, dry them and save.  Having dried herbs that do not grow in our area of the country (i.e: marjoram, etc.).

 SO - let's make a mix using some of my dried herbs.  You may even have some of these in your pantry right now.  Today, we are making a Greek seasoning blend mix that is very versatile.
You will need:
2 teas salt, (I am using sea salt)
2 teas oregano (store bought)
1 1/2 teas onion powder
2 teas garlic powder
1 teas cornstarch
1 teas ground black pepper
1 teas cinnamon
1 teas paprika
1 teas nutmeg
1 teas thyme
2 teas dried basil (from garden)
1 teas dried parsley (from garden)
1 teas dried rosemary (from garden)
1 teas dried mint (from garden)
1 teas dried dill weed (from garden)
1 teas dried marjoram (from produce dept - then dried at home)
1 clean container with tight fitting lid, to hold the mix

 In a small bowl add:
salt, onion powder, garlic powder, cornstarch, pepper, cinnamon, paprika, nutmeg, oregano.

Then finely crush the dried herbs:
basil, parsley, rosemary, dill weed, marjoram, mint,  and thyme.  This will release the oils and make them easier to incorporate into the mix.

 Add the crushed herbs to the bowl.

Gently stir everything together.

Pour the mix into the container and label.  When you are ready to use, give the container a shake and measure out.

This is great on salads, grilled vegetables, chicken, fish, meats, just about anything.  It's great for making your own tzatziki sauce for gyros.  I always have a jar of this in my cupboard.  And it cost me about 25 cents to make.

If you don't garden, watch your produce section for herbs marked down, take them home and dry them, then start making your own mixes.

Now, let's make a Greek salad dressing -

Into a container, measure 1/4 cup of vinegar.  I like using rice vinegar, but you can use any kind you have on hand, (I think the rice vinegar has a much milder flavor).

Add 1 teaspoon of Greek seasoning mix.

 Add 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard.

Add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, (I like to use fresh squeezed, but if you have bottled on hand go ahead and use that).

 Add 1/2 cup of olive oil.  Give the container a good shake, to mix everything and incorporate all the ingredients.

Now give the dressing a taste.  Is it sweet enough for your family?  We like ours a little tart, but if your family likes a little sweeter, add 1/4 teaspoon of sugar and shake the container again.  Then taste it.  How does it taste now?

And you now have fresh Greek salad dressing.  This will taste better and not have all those preservatives that the store brands have.  And it only cost you 50 cents to make.

What dishes did you make with the Greek seasoning blend mix?

Enjoy!

Quick Delicious and Easy Vinaigrette

So you've got your salad all made, you go to get your dressing and "oh no" you're all out!  Why are you still buying salad dressing, when in 2 - 3 minutes and for about 30 cents you can have wonderfully freshly made vinaigrette?   I have several different types of salad dressing on my blog, (poppy seed, ranch, Oriental Salad, etc.).  But here's one that I make a lot, and it's so delicious.

 You will need:
white balsamic vinegar
olive oil
salt
pepper
Italian seasoning
onion powder
garlic powder
Dijon mustard (I like to use honey Dijon)

You don't need any fancy containers, just a clean leftover jar will do.  And the great thing about this recipe is you don't need an extra bowl.

First I pour 1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar into the jar.  (You can use whatever kind of vinegar you like, but I find the white balsamic vinegar has a much milder taste for this salad dressing).  Sometimes I will switch out and use honey wine vinegar and regular honey mustard, (boy, is that flavor ever good).

Next I add my spices:
1/2 teas salt
1/4 teas pepper
1/2 teas Italian seasoning
1/2 teas onion powder
1/2 teas garlic powder

Now, add 1 teas of Dijon mustard.  (You can use whatever kind of mustard you like, but I find that the honey Dijon mustard has a much more smoother taste for this dressing, and the honey add another layer of flavor.)  The mustard is the emulsifier that will hold everything together.

 Now, add 1/2 cup of olive oil.

 Put the lid on and give it a good shake to mix it all up.

And now you have your vinaigrette ready for the salad.

Give it a little taste, does it need a touch more salt, pepper, vinegar, (bring it to your taste level?).  If so add it.  Depending on your salad and your taste, this is where you can make a few changes.  This dressing will cling nicely to your salad and add such a fresh taste.  I haven't purchased salad dressing in so long, and I have saved a bundle.  Need some ideas?  Look up my other recipes.
Oriental Salad Dressing
Poppy Seed Dressing
Thousand Island Dressing
Ranch Dressing Mix
Creamy Italian Dressing

Remember, you can always mix it up a little differently, (add different spices, add fresh chopped spices when they are in season), and make it your own version.  This is just the base for the good things to come out of your kitchen.  Watch for more of my dressings to be posted.
Enjoy !!

Oriental Salad Dressing

Summertime means more salads at our house.  And one of our favorite dressings is my Oriental salad dressing.  It so easy, inexpensive, fast to assemble, and so versatile to use with different dishes.  It only takes a couple of minutes to whisk up.

 For this recipe you will need these 5 ingredients:
3 Tabs honey
1 1/2 Tabs rice wine vinegar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/8 tsp sesame oil
1/4 cup mayonnaise

 In a small bowl combine honey, rice wine vinegar, mustard, and sesame oil

 Whisk together well

Now add in mayonnaise

Whisk well

And there you have it!!  Oriental salad dressing!!

Store in a sealed container in refrigerator.  This makes enough for 3 or 4 salads.

Tonight I grilled a chicken breast and made a modified version of a grilled chicken Oriental salad, (grilled chicken breast, romaine lettuce, head lettuce, small yellow and red tomatoes, onions, shredded carrots, sliced almonds, crispy rice noodles, and orange slices), topped with my Oriental salad dressing.  YUMMY.

It's a great dressing to use on Oriental chicken wraps, (lettuce, shredded carrots, orange slices, onions, crispy rice noodles wrapped in lettuce or tortilla).

My husband likes to carry this dressing in his lunch and use in on a tossed salad.

If you grilled up some chicken and make grilled chicken tacos and use this dressings with some shredded lettuce and chopped tomatoes and avocado - yummy.

Let me know how many ways you found to use this dressing.

Enjoy.

Creamy Italian Dressing

My husband LOVES the Olive Garden's salad and the dressing, almost as much as he loves my homemade Creamy Italian Dressing.  And it's so easy and inexpensive.

1/2 cup mayonnaise  (I use low fat)
1/3 cup white vinegar
1 teas vegetable oil
2 Tabs corn syrup
2 Tabs  Parmesan cheese
2 Tabs grated Romano cheese
1/4 teas garlic powder, (or 1 glove minced garlic)
1/2 teas Italian seasoning
1/2 teas dried parsley flakes
1 Tabs lemon juice
1/2 - 1 teas sugar (this will depend on your taste for sweetness)

Place all the items, (EXCEPT the sugar) in a blender.  Blend on medium for about 1 minute.  Taste and if you want it sweeter, start with 1/2 teas of sugar, (that's all I use).  Blend for another 30 seconds.  Taste for sweetness.  If needed, add a little more sugar - this is depends on your family's taste.

That's it!!

You now have a wonderful Creamy Italian Dressing for only about 50 cents.  And it keeps beautifully in the refrigerator in a sealed container.

Over a wonderful Romaine chopped salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, black olives, red and green peppers - YUMMY!!  And so inexpensive!!

Give this a try and let me know what you and your family think.

Ranch Dressing Mix

This mix is so versatile, I use it for making dips and several different types of salad dressings.  So let's mix up some of this and keep it on the pantry shelf.  The next time you need it, it will be on hand and only cost pennies.

 I bet you probably already have all the ingredients in your pantry.
2 Tabs dried parsley
1 tsp dried dill
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp pepper

You will notice there's NO salt!!  You DON'T need it when your using herbs to cook with, your food will taste SO MUCH better - trust me

Just measure everything together in a small bowl

 Stir gently - and there you have it!!  It make about 4 Tbsp worth of mix, but it goes a long way.

Just store it in an airtight container, or plastic baggie.  I use a clean herb container.  Now how do you use it....... Read on.....

Need some Ranch Dip -  Mix 1 cup of sour cream with 1 cup of Mayo, (I use low fat, but you can use whatever you prefer).  Mix in 1 Tbsp of your herb seasoning mix - be sure to shake it before using.  Stir into the the sour cream/mayo mix and you have a delicious dip.  And you don't have all the salt and preservatives that you get with the store packets.  And your mix only cost a few pennies!!  When we have cookouts, my dip is gone way before anyone else' is even touched.  Refrigerator leftovers.

 Need some Ranch Salad Dressing - Mix 1/3 cup mayo with 1/3 cup of sour cream and 1/4 cup of milk, (I use low fat, but you can use whatever you prefer).  Mix in 1 Tbsp of your herb seasoning mix.  If you need to thin the dressing, add a little milk to the consistency you want.

And you have a delicious salad dressing.  It you want to add a little salt you can, but it doesn't need it.  Refrigerate the left over in an airtight container.  I usually store this in a clean Ranch salad dressing container - my grand kids don't know it's homemade and they love it.  My husband won't eat the store brands.



Need a delicious Herb Italian Salad Dressing - Mix 1 cup olive oil, (or any oil), with 1/4 cup white wine vinegar, (or any vinegar), add 1 Tbsp of Dijon mustard and 1 Tbsp of your homemade herb seasoning mix.  Whisk together and you have an Italian Salad Dressing mix.  You can mix up the additions to suit your tastes.  And it only cost you pennies.  I keep this mix on my shelf all the time.  My great "GO TO RECIPE"!!