things I like

things I like

Super easy 3-minute buttermilk ranch dressing – Canadian Living

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Ranch dressing is so delicious on any crisp lettuce and it makes a fantastic dipping sauce for a vegetable platter, but did you know that you can whip it together in just a few minutes with stuff you probably have at home?

This dressing is so good, you’ll forget about buying anything in a bottle ever again. If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, check out our tip to make a quick substitute using milk here.

The secret is to this recipe is the onion and garlic powder. I’ve tried this dressing with freshly grated garlic and it’s far too overpowering. Powdered garlic delivers a subtle garlic flavour that won’t have you digging through your pockets for a mint afterward.

For an extra twist, throw in some chopped dill, tarragon, basil or parsley.

Here’s what you’ll need:
2/3 cup sour cream (full fat)*
1/3 cup buttermilk
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp liquid honey next time start with 1/2 tsp.
1/4 tsp each garlic powder and onion powder
1/4 tsp each salt and pepper

In bowl, whisk together sour cream, buttermilk, Dijon, honey, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. (Make-ahead: Refrigerate for up to 5 days).  (makes about 1 cup)

*You can substitute with low fat or no fat sour cream, but the dressing won’t be as thick, or tasty.

Quick Buttermilk Substitute

Pour 1 tbsp of white vinegar into a 1-cup liquid measure. Top with enough milk to make 1 cup; stir. Let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes.

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Basil Buttermilk Ranch Dressing from food52

  • 2 tablespoons minced shallot
  • 2 tablespoons chopped basil
  • 2 tablespoons chopped chives
  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
  • 1 small clove garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons teaspoons lemon juice or white wine vinegar
  • 1/2  cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons yogurt or sour cream
  • 1 cup well-shaken buttermilk
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika, optional
  • Honey, as needed
  1. In a jar with a tight fitting lid, combine the shallot, herbs, garlic, vinegar or lemon juice, mayonnaise, and yogurt or sour cream. Screw on the the lid and shake the jar to combine. Stir in most of the buttermilk. Check for consistency, and add more if needed. Taste, then season with salt, pepper and paprika. If the dressing is too sharp, drizzle in some honey to mellow the acidity. Taste again, and adjust if needed.
  2. Cover and refrigerate for an hour before using, to allow the flavours to blend and develop. Makes about 2 cups

this is way cool

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Post by Kristin Cella.

Vietnamese Rice Noodle Salad http://food52.com/

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The dressing

  • 3 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 6 to 8 tablespoons water, to taste
  • 1 medium clove garlic, minced
  • 1 fresh Thai (also sold as “bird’s eye”) chile, minced

The salad

  • 8 ounces thin rice noodles (roughly the width of linguine)
  • 3 or 4 napa cabbage leaves, thinly sliced crosswise
  • 1 medium carrot, shredded or cut into matchsticks
  • 1/2 cucumber, halved, seeded, and thinly sliced
  • 1 handful chopped fresh herbs, preferably a combination of basil, cilantro, and mint
  • 8 ounces cooked meat or shrimp, cut or torn into bite-sized pieces
  • 1/2 cup salted peanuts, coarsely chopped
  1. To prepare the dressing, combine the fish sauce, lime juice, 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar, 6 tablespoons of the water, the garlic, and the chile. Whisk well. Taste: if it’s too pungent, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time. If you’d like more sweetness, add more brown sugar, 1/2 tablespoon at a time. Remember that you’re going to be putting this dressing on unsalted vegetables and noodles: you want the dressing to have a lot of flavor, but it shouldn’t knock you over. Pour into a serving bowl. (Covered and chilled, the dressing will keep for 3 days to a week.)
  2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the rice noodles, and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until tender but not mushy. Immediately drain the noodles into a colander, and rinse them well with cold water. Lay out a clean kitchen towel on the countertop, shake the colander to drain away excess water, and then spread the cooked noodles on the towel to drain further.
  3. Divide the noodles between two or three good-sized bowls, depending on the number of diners, and top with the vegetables, herbs, and meat. Scatter the peanuts on top. Allow each person to spoon on dressing to taste. Toss well, and eat. (Alternatively, you can present this salad family-style: Toss the vegetables, herbs, and noodles in a mixing bowl and then mound them on a serving platter. Arrange the meat over the noodles, and top with peanuts. Each diner can scoop their own portion from the platter and dress it as they see fit.)

 

Molly Wizenberg & Brandon Pettit’s Red Wine Vinaigrette from http://food52.com

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Makes about 1/2 cup

  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard (preferably Roland Extra Strong, Beaufor, or Edmond Fallot)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons red wine
  • Pinch of fine sea salt
  • Pinch of sugar
  • 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) olive oil
  1. In a jar or small bowl, whisk together the mustard, vinegar, wine, salt, and sugar. Gradually add the olive oil, whisking to emulsify. The dressing should look opaque and somewhat creamy, almost peachy in color.
  2. Note: This dressing will keep in the refrigerator indefinitely.

Author Notes: This is a trick for making any old vinegar taste like something fancy, with just a splash of red wine. Feel free to play around with it: Pettit also likes to reinforce white wine vinegar with dry bubbly, and he’s considered apple cider vinegar with a sour beer (like Duchesse de Bourgogne) too. Adapted slightly from Delancey: A Man, a Woman, a Restaurant, a Marriage

Black Bean & Corn Salsa from Hellmann’s

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  • 1/4 cup Hellmann’s mayo
  • 2 Tbsp. lime juice
  • 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
  • 1 can (19 oz.) black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 can (11 oz.) whole kernel corn, drained
  • 1 cup grape tomatoes [or cherry tomatoes]
  • 1/2 cup chopped red onion
  • 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 tsp. finely chopped jalapeno pepper (optional)

  1. Combine Hellmann’s mayo, lime juice and cumin in medium bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Classic Macaroni Salad from Hellmann’s

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  • 8 ounces elbow macaroni (about 1-3/4 cups)
  • 1 cup Hellmann’s® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise
  • 2 Tbsp. vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp. Hellmann’s® or Best Foods® Dijonnaise™ Creamy Dijon Mustard
  • 1 tsp. sugar
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 1 cup thinly sliced celery
  • 1 cup chopped green or red bell pepper
  • 1/4 cup chopped onion
  1. Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water until completely cool.
  2. Combine Hellmann’s® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise, vinegar, Creamy Dijon Mustard, sugar, salt and pepper in large bowl. Stir in macaroni, celery, green pepper and onion. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

The Original Potato Salad from Hellmann’s

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  • 2 lbs. potatoes (5 to 6 medium), peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
  • 1 cup Hellmann’s Mayonnaise
  • 2 Tbsp. vinegar
  • 1 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. sugar
  • 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 1 cup thinly sliced celery
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 2 hard-cooked eggs, chopped (optional)
  1. Cover potatoes with water in 4-quart saucepot; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and cool slightly.
  2. Combine Hellmann’s, vinegar, salt, sugar and pepper in large bowl. Add potatoes, celery, onion and eggs and toss gently. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Pickled Beets/fermented beets Sally Fallon

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12 medium organic beets
seeds from 2 cardamom pods (optional)
4 Tablespoons whey
1 Tablespoon Celtic Sea Salt
filtered water

Prick beets in several places, place on a cookie sheet and bake at 300 degrees for about 3 hours (see note above for alternative cooking), or until soft. Peel and cut into a 1/4 inch julienne. Do not grate or cut the beets with a – this releases too much juice and the fermentation process will proceed too quickly, so that it favors formation of alcohol rather than lactic acid.
Place beets in a quart-sized, wide mouth mason jar and press down lightly with a wooden pounder or a meat hammer. Combine remaining ingredients and pour over beets, adding more water if necessary to cover the beets. The top of the beets should be at least 1 inch below the top of the jar. Cover tightly and keep at room temperature for about 3 days before transferring to cold storage.

Scallop Crudo Bon Appétit (August 2011)

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1/4 cup fresh orange juice
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons soy sauce, preferably organic
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons sunflower oil
1 tablespoon finely grated peeled fresh ginger
1 red Thai chile, thinly sliced
3/4 teaspoon Sherry vinegar
1/2 pound large sea scallops, side muscle removed, thinly sliced crosswise
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, torn if large
2 tablespoons thinly sliced chives
Sea salt

Whisk orange juice, lemon juice, soy sauce, oil, ginger, chile, and vinegar in a small bowl. Pour dressing onto 4 large rimmed plates. Arrange scallops over. Garnish with mint and chives. Season lightly with salt.