Saturday, October 30, 2010

Salad Dressing

For anyone who doesn't know, I am obsessed with salad dressing.

Ok...well, I'm obsessed with salad dressing themed parties. Well, the idea of salad dressing themed parties. It all came to me when one of my favorite Emily's in the entire world told me that her sister was either going to a salad dressing party or thought it would be a fun idea. And then I completely thought it was an AWESOME idea, and thus tried to get my undergrad's theatre organization to pick it as the theme for our semester dance for the entirety of my undergrad career.

It never happened. I'm still bitter.

So, anyways, this post is dedicated to salad dressing! First, please reference these awesome recipes from Alton Brown for Honey Mustard and Ree Drummond for Ranch. Both very good!

First up is my aunt's go-to salad dressing. We have this almost every night, and it' wonderful, and has even made a salad believer out of John!

Wait, I should stop and say that for all of these recipes, I am completely guessing/putting my own input here. But there are so many people whom I love who have AWESOME salad dressing recipes, and I've tried to emulate them all. None of these are as good as from the primary source...but I still try.

Aunt Rose's Salad Dressing:

1/4 c. white balsamic vinegar
1/4 c. olive oil
1 cube frozen garlic
1 cube frozen basil
Sea Salt
Fresh Cracked Pepper

Alison's Salad Dressing:

1/4 c. red wine vinegar
1/2 c. olive oil
Salt
Pepper

Mom's Salad Dressing: (I'm going to mess this one up)

1/4 c. lemon juice
1/4 c. olive oil
1 minced garlic clove
1 tbsp. minced onion
1 tsp. italian seasonings
Salt
Fresh Cracked Pepper

**It is also important to note that my mother can take ANYTHING that's in the fridge and make an awesome salad dressing out of it? I'm serious. Italian, Asian, Greek, any type of vinaigrette....she is a salad dressing genius! Maybe that's where I got the obsession?

Shannon's Salad Dressing: (Note: this recently became one of my faves, although I had to change it a little bit, plus DUH I'm not a recipe stealer ((unless you're The Pioneer Woman or Alton Brown, in which case I'm totally a recipe stealer))

1/4 c. aged balsamic vinegar
1/2 c. olive oil
2 tsp. sugar
1 cube frozen garlic
1 tbsp. minced onion
1 cube frozen basil
Sea Salt
Fresh Cracked Pepper

**I put all this in a grainy mustard jar that had who knows how much mustard left in it and shook everything up. THIS DRESSING IS AWESOME!

I'm obsessed with salad, ya'll.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Best Chocolate Lava Cake Ever

It's been forever since I've posted a real-life recipe. And I'm still procrastinating. BUT, for now, PLEASE make this chocolate lava cake recipe! I've made it three times for John...and I've semi-regretted it each time, only because I'm convinced that each little cup has about a lifetime worth of calories. I don't care. I don't need to fit into my wedding dress or anything...

Here it is. Make it. Live it. Love it. Eat it. Then pass out.

http://www.famousfrenchdesserts.com/chocolate-lava-cake-recipe.html

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Chipotle Chili

We are studying and cooking today! And by studying and cooking, I mean cooking and studying on breaks only. Such as right now, while our chili comes to room temp. We made this Bobby Flay recipe:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/beef-and-black-bean-chili-with-toasted-cumin-crema-and-avocado-relish-recipe/index.html

We haven't made the crema or relish yet...that'll happen later when it's dinner time. I feel terrible...I've only been using other people's recipes lately. But seeing as I don't have a kitchen of my own right now, it really is more efficient to use someone else's recipe. (Don't ask me how that logic works, it just does).

Anyways, that chili is already smelling DELICIOUS, and I so cannot wait to have a bowl of it this evening with some salsa cornbread and a nice, cold beer while we catch up on Outsourced from this Thursday.

PS-Has anyone watched Outsourced? It premiered last Thursday, after The Office, and I LOVE IT! I'm kind of shocked at how many racial jokes they got away with (like telling the Indians that their turbans and sari's sure are some funny hats)...but they made up for it (I think?) by making fun of American consumerism (I mean...who needs a singing bass?)

((SIDE NOTE: John would never let us register for one, but a certain 1/2 of this relationship might think it was really funny if we got one as a wedding present! Not to name names or anything...it would go in our bathroom, FO SHO, though!)).

SO, while that chili is cooling down, I'm working on my profile for my Seminar class. I so cannot wait for dinner tonight!

Happy eating!