“lunch in the garden” salad dressing
Today started with breakfast at the local cafe with a friend. It always feels so good to reconnect. We stopped at the local market, sipped green tea, milk oolong and rooibos and talked.
I’m looking forward to a relaxing night with Gracie and Jeff. We’re lighting a fire in the fireplace, listening to the rain fall outside, and cooking dinner together.
Here’s a recipe I created a couple days ago in an attempt to make a delicious, healthy and creamy dressing. This is absolutely wonderful when it’s fresh, so I would suggest only making what you are going to eat the same day. It’s loaded with fresh veggies and doesn’t keep as long as the higher fat dressings would. Definitely use it within three days. This would be perfect for a ladies’ lunch or tea party in the garden or on the patio. Thus, the name…
1 and 1/4 cup whole milk cottage cheese
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup whole milk
2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 Tablespoons white balsamic (or regular white) vinegar
1 large garlic clove, minced
1/2 of a red bell pepper, coarse chopped
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup coarse chopped carrot
1 stick celery, coarse chopped
2 Tablespoons dry basil (or 4 Tablespoons fresh)
1 teaspoon Mediterranean seasoned salt (I used Lawry’s)
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
a dash of hot sauce or cayenne pepper
Place all ingredients in the bowl of a blender and pulse until chunky-smooth. Transfer to a canning jar with a tight fitting lid and use quickly. This also makes a wonderful, low-fat dip for chips, crostini and crudite!
Enjoy!
~Melissa
I am going to try this….sounds fabulous! Thanks for sharing, Melissa!
My pleasure, Cindy! Enjoy, and thanks for visiting 🙂
oh my goodness that looks so darn good gotta try it for sure
Enjoy, Janet! thanks for commenting! xo 🙂
Can’t wait to try this. It looks yummy! Thanks for sharing all of your wonderful recipes!
My pleasure, Barb! enjoy 😉
This sounds like it will be amazing. I am looking forward to receiving more healthy recipes. Thank you
My pleasure, Janet 🙂 thanks for the sweet compliment! enjoy the dressing!
This looks fantastic , but what do you serve it with or on?
Hi Michelle! 🙂
this is a salad dressing. 😉
XO ,
~M
Do they still make these gorgeous blue jars you have shown her? It sure adds a beautiful touch to the dressing.
Hi Christina! 🙂
This particular jar is a vintage canning jar I found at an antique store 🙂 They’re still pretty easy to find and, depending on the brand/condition, cost anywhere fro $3 to $15 a piece… but that’s just an approximate. Hope that helps! XOXO ~M
Dressing sounds yummy
Glad you like it, Norma! thanks for stopping by! XOXO ~M