Blackberry Balsamic Dressing

I have been trying different homemade dressings lately and have also been on a blackberry kick so this is a good combination of both.  I think this recipe was in Southern Living last summer and I am just now getting around to trying it.  If you like blackberries I think you will like this on a nice bed of greens.

You can use fresh or frozen blackberries.

Start with a cup of blackberries.

Heat on the stove to thaw and bring out the juices of the berries.

I decided I didn't want the seeds in the dressing so I strained the juice out of the pulp.

I worked it for a while and got a lot of the juice out.

Add 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar to the juice.

Add 1 teaspoon of sugar

1 teaspoon of lemon juice

1 teaspoon garlic or however much you want.

1/2 cup extra light tasting virgin olive oil.  The light tasting is good for your dressings.

Whisk all together.  Store in the fridge.  Isn't that a pretty color?

Blackberry Balsamic Dressing Recipe

1 cup blackberries
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 c balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon garlic

Copycat Olive Garden Salad Dressing

I want to try and make some homemade dressings this spring and summer to go with my salads.  I found this one to try.  It turned out really good.  It was easy to make and taste just like the Olive Gardens.

It looks like a lot of ingredients but it really isn't.

Start with one packet Good Seasons Italian Dressing mix.

Add 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

2 Tablespoons white vinegar

1/4 cup olive oil

1 1/2 tablespoons water

1/2 Tablespoon mayonnaise

Whisk it all together really well to break up the mayo.  You can store it for about 2 weeks but you will have to stir it well for each use.

Find a pretty container for it and enjoy a nice green salad.

Olive Garden Salad Dressing Recipe

1 packet Good Seasons Italian Dressing
1/2 teaspoon dried Italian Seasoning
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1.4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 Tablespoon mayo
1/4 cup olive oil (I used the extra light tasting EVOO)
2 Tablespoon white vinegar
1 1/2 Tablespoon water

Creamy Balsamic Salad Dressing

I am trying to eat more salads this spring and part of that includes making homemade dressings.  This one was very easy and tasty too.

This dressing can be whipped up with things you probably already have in the pantry.

Start with a little garlic.  The recipe called for 4 cloves that have been grated.  I keep some minced garlic in the fridge and didn't want quiet that much.  Add as much or as little as you like.

Add 3 Tablespoons of mayo.  I used light.

Add 2 Tablespoons of lemon juice.  You could use fresh if you have it.

Add 1 Tablespoon of Dijon mustard.

Add 1 Tablespoon of sugar.

Add 2 teaspoons Morton's Nature's Seasoning.

Add 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

Add 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar.

Whisk these ingredients together really well.  If you have a shaker you could use that as well.

Add 3/4 cup extra light olive oil.  Whisking as you add.

Put in the fridge until dinnertime.  Store covered.  Shake or whisk well before using.

Creamy Balsamic Dressing Recipe

4 cloves garlic grated

3 Tablespoons mayo

2 Tablespoons lemon juice

1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 Tablespoon sugar

2 teaspoons Morton's Nature's Seasoning

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

3/4 cup extra light olive oil

Irish Soda Bread

A couple of years ago I tried this bread for the first time.  Since then I have been looking for a recipe to try.  There are many different types of Irish Soda bread.  Some have raisins in them and caraway seeds. I didn't want that kind of bread I wanted plain.  I finally found a recipe and tried it.

Very easy bread to make.  No yeast in this bread.

Start with 2 1/2 cup plain flour.

Add 1 teaspoon of salt

Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda.

Add 1 1/4 cup buttermilk.  That's it.

Add the buttermilk to the flour.

Mix well.  It will be sticky dough.

Place it on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.  Place in a preheated 350 oven.  Bake for 45 minutes.

Here is the fresh loaf of bread.  It is best served warm.

Irish Soda Bread Recipe
2 1/2 cup plain flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 cup buttermilk

Corned Beef and Cabbage

I have a couple of St Patrick's Day recipes for you to get you ready for the big day.  Corned beef is really easy to make when you put it in the crock pot.

You make it like a roast with potatoes and carrots in the crock pot.

Wash and cut up your potatoes.  Depending on the size of the potatoes will determine how many pieces you cut them in.  I halved a couple of mine and some I left whole.  I normally like to use the little potatoes and put the in whole.

Peel and cut your carrots or use baby carrots.  For the carrots and potatoes too you can add as many or as few as you would like.

Cut up and onion and add the veggies to the bottom of the crock pot.

Open up the corned beef package and take out the seasoning packet.  Save this because you will add it.

Rinse off the meat.

Then add it to the pot.  This is the right side.

Turn if over so the fat side is up.

Add the seasoning packet to the pot.  I think there is celery seed and bay leaves and I am not sure what else in the packet.

Add some water to the pot until the veggies are covered.  Cover the crock pot and cook on low for 8 hours or more.  Sometimes I like to add the cabbage wedges to the crock pot a couple of hours before dinner.  But today the crock pot was a little too full to add the cabbage so I steamed it in my steamer.

Remove from the crock pot when you are ready to eat.  I try to take the fat off the top of the meat before serving.

May the luck of the Irish be with you as you enjoy your corned beef.

I had plenty of leftovers from my Tuesday night meal that on Wednesday I had them again.  This time I chopped everything up and put it in a skillet to heat.

The pieces were too large to be called hash but they were very good.  Corned beef, potatoes, carrots, onions and cabbage all chopped and in one pot.  I added a drizzle of olive oil to the skillet just so they wouldn't stick and there would be a little moisture so it wouldn't dry out.  Turned out pretty good.  Give it a try with your leftovers.