Years ago, I had a great salad at a friend’s house. What made the salad great wasn’t the salad ingredients but the unusual dressing. I say unusual not meaning weird but more like unexpected because I’d never tasted a dressing like it before. Basically, it’s a Mexi-inspired vinaigrette. The dressing gets bold flavor from the chili powder, a bit of heat from the cayenne, a slight sweetness from the honey, and a tang from the red wine vinegar. Yumm! It makes a great salad for a Mexican, Tex-Mex, or Southwestern-themed meals.

I believe the dressing recipe came from an older Mexican Williams-Sonoma cookbook but I’m not sure which one. When I make this vinaigrette, the salad I serve it with includes: mixed greens, tangerines, avocado, jicama, red or green onions, tomatoes, red bell pepper, olives. Other additions could be corn, black beans and cilantro. Toss the salad with the dressing just before serving so you don’t get wilted greens. Enjoy!

Southwestern Vinaigrette
-recipe from a Williams-Sonoma cookbook (I think)

Makes about 3/4 cup.

1/4 cup red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons honey
1 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
5 tablespoons olive oil
salt to taste

Whisk dressing ingredients together in a small bowl and toss with salad just before serving. Refrigerate leftover dressing.

Tags: cayenne pepper, chili powder, honey, Mexican, olive oil, red wine vinegar, salad dressing, salt, Southwestern, vinaigrette

Here’s a great salad dressing that will go perfectly with your next Asian-inspired meal. I got the recipe out of Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2by Todd Wilbur. This recipe is his version of the dressing served at Benihana restaurants. I’ve been to Benihana and several other hibachi grill restaurants, and they all serve salads with a similar ginger dressing. The dressing is tangy, refreshing and super easy to make.  Yumm!

I didn’t have peanut oil so I substituted 1/4 cup olive oil and 1/4 cup canola oil. The dressing also makes a great marinade for chicken or pork. This recipe really is a no-brainer…you need to try it!

Top Secret Version of Benihana Ginger Salad Dressing
-recipe from Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2 by Todd Wilbur

Before your meal at the Benihana chain of hibachi grill restaurants you are served a side salad doused in this tangy, slightly sweet, fresh ginger dressing. When spooned over a simple iceberg lettuce salad this easy clone transforms your bowl of greens into a great start for any meal. Making the dressing is as simple as dumping the ingredients into a blender, whizzing it up, and popping it into the cooler to chill. Ive seen many attempts to duplicate this coveted formula, but I think the original clone recipe presented here comes closer to the real thing than any other recipe floating around cyberspace.

1/2 cup minced onion
1/2 cup peanut oil
1/3 cup rice vinegar
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
2 tablespoons minced celery
2 tablespoons ketchup
4 teaspoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend on high speed for about 30 seconds or until all of the ginger is pureed. Chill. Makes 1 3/4 cups.

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Tags: celery, garlic, ginger, ketchup, lemon juice, oil, onion, rice vinegar, soy suace, sugar

Apricot jam…I love it! Not only is it great on toast but you can use it as a filling for coffee cake and scones and as a glaze for everything from pies to grilled meat (like chicken and pork). Here’s an easy-to-make recipe for Quick Apricot Jam that’s a perfect use for all those ripe summertime apricots. Enjoy!

Quick Apricot Jam
-recipe from Fine Cooking Magazine

This quick, simple recipe comes from Becky Smith of Frog Hollow Farm in California. The jam doesn’t require canning and keeps for weeks in the fridge—if you don’t eat it all up before then. For a sweeter spread, use a bit more sugar. This recipe is easily halved. Yields 3 cups.

2 lb. ripe apricots, rinsed, quartered, pitted, and unpeeled (about 16)
1 cup plus 3 Tbs. sugar
1/2 tsp. fresh lemon juice

In a wide, shallow pan, stir together the apricots and the sugar. Set the pan over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer, stirring often so the preserves don’t stick or burn. Simmer the jam until it’s thick but some chunks of fruit remain, 10 to 15 min. Stir in the lemon juice and remove the pan from the heat. Let cool, transfer to a plastic container with a tight fitting lid, and refrigerate.

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Tags: apricot, jam, lemon juice, sugar

If you like any kind of satay, you’re going to LOVE this dip!!! It’s easy to make and extremely versatile because it goes perfectly with a variety of foods: fresh veggies, summer rolls, or grilled shrimp, chicken and pork. When I first saw the list of ingredients, the 1/4 cup of ketchup threw me. But, hey, I trust Ina Garten so I gave it a go.

I followed the recipe, cooking the ingredients as stated then pureed the mixture in the food processor for a creamier texture. For another layer of flavor and a little kick, I added a few tablespoons of coconut milk and a little Thai chili sauce. One word: YUMM!!! This recipe requires very little effort but delivers loads of flavor. Serve it at your next party and I guarantee you’ll get asked for the recipe. Enjoy!!

Satay Dip
-recipe from The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook by Ina Garten

1 tablespoon good olive oil
1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
2/3 cup small-diced red onion (1 small onion)
1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic (2 cloves)
1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger root
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons good red wine vinegar
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons dry sherry
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice

Cook the olive oil, sesame oil, red onion, garlic, ginger root, and red pepper flakes in a small, heavy-bottomed pot on medium heat until the onion is transparent, 10 to 15 minutes. Whisk in the vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, peanut butter, ketchup, sherry, and lime juice; cook for 1 more minute. Cool and serve. Can be stored in the refrigerator for a month. Yield: 1 1/2 cups

Tags: Dip, garlic, ginger root, peanut butter, satay, sesame oil, soy sauce

Recently, I bought one of those mongo 6 pound packages of fresh strawberries to use for strawberry shortcake. After making the shortcake, however, I still had 2 pounds of the precious berries. Not wanting the leftover berries to go to waste, I decided to make some strawberry syrup. Not only is it easy to make, but it’s way better than store bought berry syrup and can be used in a variety of ways. For instance, a topping for pancakes or waffles, mixed with plain yogurt, stirred into hot oatmeal, added to club soda or lemonade for a refreshing drink, etc. 

Watch the heat on the boiling berries. I was multitasking while I made the syrup and ended up with a strawberry mess all over my stove. Good times!

Let me know how you use your strawberry syrup. There’s so many possibilities…

Strawberry Syrup
-Recipe from Bon Appétit Magazine

1 pound sliced hulled strawberries
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup corn syrup
Pinch of salt
2 tablespoons lemon juice

Bring strawberries, water, sugar, corn syrup, and salt to boil in large saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Boil uncovered 10 minutes, stirring occasionally and adjusting heat to prevent mixture from boiling over. Add lemon juice. Strain, pressing on solids. Cover and chill syrup. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 week ahead. Keep chilled.

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Tags: corn syrup, lemon juice, strawberry, sugar, syrup

There’s nothing like freshly made pesto! This particular recipe fills your whole kitchen with the wonderful fragrance of basil, garlic, lemon and parsley…Yumm! The pesto only takes a few minutes to make and freezes well (always a bonus!).

I’ve tried this pesto tossed with hot pasta and with grilled chicken…both are excellent! It would also be great in pasta salad (add chopped tomatoes, olives, feta, etc.).  There’s so many other great uses for this pesto, too. Get creative and let me know how you used it!

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Basil-Lemon Pesto
-recipe from williams-sonoma.com

A light and lemony variation on the traditional pesto, this version combines fresh parsley and basil. Toss with your favorite pasta, or spoon over grilled fish or chicken breasts. To toast the pine nuts, place them on a baking sheet and bake in a 350°F oven until golden, 8 to 10 minutes.

2 garlic cloves
3 Tbs. toasted pine nuts
1 1/2 cups loosely packed fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1 tsp. lemon zest
1 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
1 to 1 1/2 cups extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

In a food processor, combine the garlic, pine nuts, basil, parsley, cheese, lemon zest and lemon juice. Pulse until ground to a fine paste, about 1 minute. With the machine running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the desired consistency is reached. Season with salt and pepper. Makes 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 cups.

Tags: basil, garlic, lemon, olive oil, parmesan cheese, parsley, pesto, pine nuts

Cranberry sauce is a must-have at any turkey dinner, and every year I like to try out a new recipe. This year, however, I went back to a tried and true recipe that I love: Spiced Cranberry Sauce with Zinfandel. The name may sound fancy but it’s super easy to make. This delicious crimson sauce is lightly flavored with citrus and spice while the Zinfandel adds richness without tasting winey.  Serve alongside roast turkey, chicken, or pork.

I used 6 whole cloves and 1 cinnamon stick for just a hint of spice flavor, and 2 strips of orange peel. For another layer of flavor, I added 2 sprigs of fresh thyme, 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard and some freshly ground pepper to the simmering wine-sugar mixture (straining out the thyme and the spices before proceeding with the recipe). The sauce is good as written; I just wanted to play with the recipe and was happy with what I came up with. The first time I made it, I used Pinot Noir instead of Zinfandel (it worked great, too). Next time I make it, I might reduce the sugar a bit. For an easy appetizer, serve the cranberry sauce over cream cheese and spread on crackers.

Spiced Cranberry Sauce with Zinfandel
-recipe from epicurious.com

Yield: Makes about 3 cups

1 3/4 cups red Zinfandel
1 cup sugar
1 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
6 whole cloves
6 whole allspice
2 cinnamon sticks
1 3×1-inch strip orange peel
1 12-ounce bag fresh cranberries

Combine all ingredients except cranberries in medium saucepan. Bring to boil over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and simmer until reduced to 1 3/4 cups, about 10 minutes. Strain syrup into large saucepan. Add cranberries to syrup and cook over medium heat until berries burst, about 6 minutes. Cool. Transfer sauce to medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate until cold. (Can be made 1 week ahead. Keep refrigerated.)

Tags: allspice, Christmas, cinnamon sticks, cloves, cranberry sauce, holidays, orange, Thanksgiving, zinfandel

I have to be honest…figs never meant much to me. When a friend recently invited me to swing by and pick some ripe figs, I couldn’t pass up the offer for free fruit (even though it was for figs). I talked a few friends into joining me for the fig picking and we met at the fig tree. After we loaded up on the ripe fruit and other assorted veggies from the garden, we went our separate ways. Once home, I surveyed my freshly picked figs and decided I’d better do a little research on them.

I learned that figs are an excellent source of fiber, potassium and calcium. Ripe figs are soft (like a peach) but not mushy, and should be used within a day or two. And, I’m told that figs are quite the popular fruit in the Mediterranean.

So now that I had a pound and a half of figs on my kitchen counter, I had to figure out what to do with them. A few years back I’d tried a delicious fig and blue cheese appetizer at a restaurant. The memory of that delicious crostini was my inspiration for making Rosemary and Port Fig Jam, a recipe I found in Food and Wine Magazine. It’s super easy to make and is a creative use of the fruit. I used regular ol’ red port instead of white port since that’s what I had on hand. Depending on how sweet your figs are, you may want to add a bit more lemon juice to the boiling jam if you taste it and think it’s too sweet.

After the jam cooled, I slathered some on baguette slices (a little goes a long way) and topped it with a thin slab of rich and tangy aged blue cheese…a delicious combination! The fig jam would also be really good with roast pork or chicken.

Rosemary and Port Fig Jam
-recipe from Food and Wine Magazine

2 pounds green or purple figs, stemmed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup white port
1 4-inch sprig of rosemary

In a large, nonreactive saucepan, toss the fig pieces with the sugar and let stand, stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes, until the sugar is mostly dissolved and the figs are juicy.

Add the lemon juice, rosemary sprig and water and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. Simmer the fig jam over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the fruit is soft and the liquid runs off the side of a spoon in thick, heavy drops, about 20 minutes. Remove rosemary and discard.

Spoon the jam into three 1/2-pint jars, leaving 1/4 inch of space at the top. Close the jars and let cool to room temperature. Store the jam in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.

Tags: figs, rosemary and port fig jam