Dressings & Sauces
If I had to pick one recipe group that I think a home cook should master, this would be it. Creating a tasty dressing or sauce does NOT have to be hard, but it WILL be a game changer. With no judgment on how you roll whatsoever, I have not bought a bottled dressing in decades. It is possibly because I was in charge of vinaigrettes in every single kitchen I worked in during my year in France. I mastered variety: creamy, herby, EVOO & acid, spicy, juice-based and more. And then there were all those make-ahead dressings that were part of every catering job – made by the gallon, again and again.
One of the simplest things you can do is mix equal parts fresh lemon juice and good quality olive oil. Basic, fresh, clean. You can add Dijon, or herbs, or spices, but it will totally elevate your salad with just those two ingredients. Or throw things in a blender and get this creamy avocado dressing. This zippy salsa verde can be a game changer for all kinds of dishes, and I have included a long list of the ways you might use it. Or take this mango habanero BBQ sauce and add it to your grilled cheese. Curried avo dressing? Creamy Caesar? Check and check. And this recipe for a garlicy Panzanella salad dressing was inspired by famous chefs from London who I styled for on the Today Show. This version is just as tasty and so much simpler. Dive deep into these recipes and change up mealtime.
Salad Days of Summer: Farm Fresh Summer Squash & Arugula Salad
How is it exactly that "Salad Days" has gone from meaning green and naïve (Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra) to the more current American connotation of being at one’s heyday or pinnacle? So American, right? Wait long enough and it can mean whatever you want. ...
Firecracker Cole Slaw – a Side with More than a Little Sass
Okay, Okay, Okay!! I heard you already. I have been getting a lot of requests for the Firecracker Cole Slaw that got a fleeting mention at the end of the burger pot lucky post. I guess it’s time. This is a recipe adapted from my very first menu at New World...
Summer Grilling: South of the Border Texmati Rice & Grilled Veggie Salad Bowl
Sponsored by RiceSelect It was a perfect confluence of events. I was invited to a dedication at a local yacht club, complete with naval officers and Girl Scouts, and asked to bring a side to share. I had just loaded up with fresh corn, heirloom tomatoes, peppers...
Oh Sweet Pea, Won’t You Dance With Me….
Say it ain’t so!! This sad infographic appeared this week from a consulting company that focuses on food and beverage trends. For me, the really sad part is the title – Erosion of Meal Rituals. According to the Hartman Group, more people are eating meals alone...
So Long. Farewell. Auf Wiedersehen. Goodbye.
Oh for crying out loud. I’m a grown-ass woman. You would think I could get over the end of the farmer’s market and the demise of my herb bed without this drama. But.......have you met me? Deep breath in. Deep breath out. In. Out. Focus! You know what to do. Pretty...
Meet Katy
Well, hello there! I’m Katy. And I’m all about Palate & Passion & Purpose. I’ve spent my whole life weaving together a passion for food, entertaining, and enjoying family & friends with a purpose for improving the lives of others. There’s no better way to live with purpose than to break bread with others. See how that all came full circle? And…I was lucky enough to make a career out of doing so!