Salad Dressing

In an effort to be more aware of the food that we eat, I have started making salad dressings instead of buying them at the store.  This way I have total control over the ingredients that I use, and I can avoid all of the nasty additives, including but not limited to MSG, preservatives, and my personal favorite high fructose corn syrup.  If you haven't looked at the ingredients list on your favorite dressing, take a gander, I'll bet you'll be surprised at how many you don't recognize.  Take the time to make you're own salad dressings... they are healthier for you, and the flavor is amazing!  Here are two new ones, Parmesan Peppercorn, and Buttermilk Ranch, and don't forget about my basic vinaigrette (click here for link).

Cabbage Salad

With our  beef brisket meal (click for link) last weekend, we also had a simple cabbage salad.  This recipe is quick and easy, and a good way to use fresh produce from the local farmer's market... cabbage, peppers, and carrots.  Make extra because this salad can be frozen and enjoyed again another day.

Beef Brisket

Here is a delicious recipe for beef brisket shared with me by my dear friend Shallin and her family.  Growing up on a beef farm, I never had brisket before, so I thought I had better try it.  This is a tougher piece of meat, so it needs to be cooked low and slow to tenderize it, and the homemade BBQ sauce adds incredible flavor.  This recipe isn't hard at all (and you can try out some of the homemade dry onion soup mix), but it takes some time so plan ahead.  Serve with some of Pioneer Woman's Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes (click for link), and this meal goes over the top.  Definitely one of my favorites!

Dry Onion Soup Mix

How many of your favorite recipes call for onion soup mix?  And how many of your would rather have a mix free of all of the additives and preservatives that are in the handy dandy packets?  Here is a recipe that I have found works great, and it is simply a mix of dried spices and some sugar.  I did adapt the recipe slightly from the original though... it called for beef bouillon, and if we use that we're right back to square one with the nasties in our food.  Instead of adding the dried bouillon to the mix, I simply add beef broth to my recipes in place of the water.

Zucchini Fritters

Have an abundance of zucchini in your garden?  Are zucchini mysteriously appearing on your porch?  This time of year, there is never a shortage of zucchini, and we have to find a way to make use of it.  One of my favorite ways is zucchini fritters, a recipe shared by Aunt Judy in the family cookbook.  Quick and easy to make, these go well with a slice of tomato and some sweet corn for a delicious summer meal.  

Ratatouille

Rata... what?  Ratatouille [rat-ə-too-ee] is a vegetable stew of Provence, typically consisting of eggplant, zucchini, onions, green peppers, tomatoes, and garlic, served hot or cold. Or it's a darling little rat in the popular animated Disney film.  This post is about the stew, not the rodent, although the movie is cute and I would recommend watching it sometime.  And it was the inspiration for trying this crazy sounding new dish.  If you are expecting a knock your socks off, best thing I ever had dish, you may be disappointed.  But if you are looking for a satisfying, flavorful way to use the bounty from your garden this summer, you should try this soon.

Sun Pickles

Do you have a bounty of cucumbers in your garden this year?  If you do, you should make some of these pickles.  If not, you should go to the farmer's market, but some cucumbers, and make some of these pickles.  They are easy to make, yummy to eat, and fun to customize.  I'm off to check the batch I started last week, and see if they are ready to eat yet.

Sorry I've Been Away So Long

So, it's been over a month since I've posted something, and I do apologize.  I have had more than one person ask where I've been, and why there hasn't been any new recipes.  I have been cooking, and taking pictures, but haven't had time to upload anything to the blog.  I will be working on some new recipes in the next week.  But in the meantime, a few of the reasons I've been away...

 

Crater Lake National Park, OR