How to make the best vinaigrette at home

FIVE EASY STEPS

Here are five easy steps for any aspiring chef who wants to create delicious, fresh tasting dressings at home. Since I have always easily made my own gourmet dressings, I forget that not everyone realizes just how easy it really is! 

Buying local and fresh to make your own custom creations beats buying a bottle from the store any day; the best part is that you can change the recipe to your taste, using what’s available in your own backyard or at local farmer's markets--fresh herbs and flavored olive oils and balsamic always delight the senses! You can also adjust the recipe to make more or less dressing, depending on the amount you need.

FIVE STEPS

1. COLLECT ALL YOUR INGREDIENTS

2. PLACE VINEGAR OR FLAVORED VINEGAR IN BOWL

3. SLOWLY WHISK EXTRA-VIRGIN OLIVE OIL IN BOWL, OR USE FLAVORED OLIVE OIL

(TIP: WHEN YOU WHISK THE INGREDIENTS TOGETHER AND THE BOWLS START TO SPIN, PLACE A DISH TOWEL UNDERNEATH THE BOWL TO SECURE IT FROM SPINNING)

4. ADD YOUR HERBS, SALT, PEPPER AND GARLIC (ZESTED)

5. BLEND WELL

(TIP- YOU CAN ALWAYS USE A MASON JAR AND SHAKE IT CONTINUOUSLY  FOR 1 MINUTE AND STORE IN YOUR REFRIGERATOR)

VARIANTS:

FRESH HERBS IN SEASON (tarragon, basil, thyme, sage, parsley, oregano or marjoram )

ROASTED GARLIC

DICED GREEN ONION

EDIBLE FLOWER PETALS (rosemary flowers, lavender, dianthus,  pansies or squash flowers)

PARMESAN CHEESE

LEMON OR ORANGE ZEST

GOURMET MUSTARD

BASIC RECIPE:

½ C. BALSAMIC VINEGAR

PINCH OF SALT AND PEPPER

1 GLOVE OF GARLIC (ZESTED)

4 TABLESPOON OLIVE OIL

YOU DON’T HAVE TO USE DRESSING ON JUST SALAD; IT'S ALSO GREAT ON VEGETABLES OR POTATOES...MAKE A POTATO SALAD!  BE CREATIVE AND LISTEN, AND YOUR FOOD WILL TO TALK TO YOU!  ENJOY!

Grilled Watermelon Salad Recipe

 

AN ELEGANT ENTREE MAKES ANY SUMMER COOK OUT COOL

 

Summer hot cooking tips feature outdoor BBQ for your desserts using watermelon.
Honey grilled watermelon salad is sweet and simple at the summer’s peak.
How to pick a good watermelon?
Visiting your local Farmers Market is the best choice, but a local supermarket is another alternative.

2 large slices of the watermelon must be cut into four triangles.
2 table spoons of olive oil
½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons of honey
1 pint of grape tomatoes, quartered
4 ounces of fresh mozzarella, cut in half or sliced
fresh basil leaves and balsamic glaze for drizzling


Directions
Preheat your grill to medium heat. Drizzle watermelon with olive oil and season all sides with salt and pepper. Add splash of honey over each watermelon and place them on the grill, grilling each side for about 2 minutes. Remove and add a little more honey if desired.

Assemble salads by placing two watermelon triangles on each plate, then cover with a few grape tomatoes, thin slices of mozzarella and basil leaves. Add some salt and pepper on top, then drizzle with balsamic glaze (can be purchased at your local grocery store or made at home! 

SERVE AND ENJOY

Recipe by Russian Doll Bakery and Catering

Naked Dark Chocolate Ganache Cake – made with Greek Yogurt

Get naked on Valentines Day with this dark hunk of love! This is one of my favorite cake recipes because its super chocolaty and very moist. It's perfect for birthday's or during the week. I've been holding onto it for many years, but this year I’m giving it away to my fans and followers to share the love!

 

Ingredients

2 eggs

12 ounce Greek plain or vanilla

1/2 cup vegetable oil

3 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup room temperature “strong” coffee (I use Instant Coffee)

1 cup dark unsweetened cocoa powder

2 cup flour

2 cup sugar

2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

Dash of salt

Toppings

Dark Chocolate Ganache
Blackberries 

Fresh Strawberries

Buttercream

Salted Caramel

Directions

1. In the bowl using an electric mixer with paddle attachment beat eggs on high then on low speed add  yogurt, oil, vanilla and coffee. 
2. In another bowl sift your ingredients of cocoa powder, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt and mix until combined. 
3. Pour your dry ingredients into wet ingredients and mix with paddle for 1 minute. Stop and scrap the sides of the bowl and paddle for 1-2 minutes, over mixing is ok depending if you want a thick rich cake. If you want a light cake mix until combined.
4. Pour into a greased pan either using parchment paper at the bottom of your pan or dust with flour. 
5. Bake on 350 oven for 35-45 minutes depending on your oven.  

      If you have any questions about this recipe or instruction, please send a comment. In my other post, recipes are hard to follow and especially baking, but I find this to be easy to make and so delicious!

Pancakes or Blini's ?

Pancakes are a trend for 2015! Not the breakfast kind, we are talking about Blini’s (small thin pancake) for those Gluten Free folks. Now we have something fancy for you to eat that has fabulous toppings that anyone could eat. Get creative and think of a Blini as a crepe, toast, tortilla shell or a plate. What will you put on your next Blini?