IPA Vinaigrette

I've been on a bit of a salad kick lately.  When I'm making a lot of salads I like to use various salad dressings to keep things interesting.  


I also like to make my own fresh salad dressings.  So, I'm always looking for something different and tasty to drizzle over my greens.

You may not think that beer and salad pair well.  But I made a dressing using one of my favorite India Pale Ales and it was superb. A wonderful combination of sweet and tart and citrus, it was refreshing and a perfect accompaniment to a hearty salad.

I used Alaskan IPA, but you can use whatever you like.  Experiment with different beer types for a new flavor sensation.

IPA Vinaigrette

3 Ounces Alaskan IPA

1 Tbsp Vidalia Onion, Minced

1 Tsp Orange Zest, Grated

1 Tbsp Raw Honey

1 Tbsp Spicy Guinness Mustard

4 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 Tsp Kosher Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper

In a food processor or blender combine onion, orange zest, honey, mustard, salt and pepper. 

Slowly add the olive oil and process until mixture well combined.

Toss with your favorite greens and pile on your favorite toppings.

I used this dressing on a salad topped with grilled steak, frizzled onions, provolone cheese, roasted red peppers, green olives and pepperoncini.  Yum!

Southwest Salad

A delicious crisp, crunch salad with the bite of sharp cheddar cheese.  Tasty like a taco but without all the calories.

Yum!

Southwest Salad

2 Hearts of Romaine
2 Roma Tomatoes, Chopped
1 Cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Shredded
1 Cup Tortilla Chips, Crushed
1/2 Cup Black Olives
1 Cup Ranch Dressing
1/4 Cup Salsa
1/4 Teaspoon Chili Powder
1/4 Teaspoon Cumin
Sour Cream (for garnish)

Mix lettuce, tomatoes and olives together in large serving bowl.  Top with cheese and tortilla chips.

Mix ranch dressing, salsa, chili powder, cumin in a small bowl.

Drizzle salad with dressing or serve on the side.

Healthy Pepperoni Pizza Chopped Salad

This is a healthy and satisfying salad made with a fresh, homemade dressing.  This is one of my favorite salads and makes for an excellent meal replacement.

Healthy Pepperoni Pizza Chopped Salad 


1 Head Iceberg Lettuce, Cored and Roughly Chopped
1 Small Red Onion, Chopped
1/2 Green Bell Pepper, Chopped
6 Low Fat Mozzarella String Cheese Sticks, Sliced
1/2 Cup Turkey Pepperoni Slices, Chopped
1/2 Cup Green Olives with Pimento, Halved
1/3 Cup Pepperoncini, Chopped
1/3 Cup Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 Cup Red Wine Vinegar
1 Teaspoon Dried Oregano
1 Teaspoon Superfine Sugar
1/2 Teaspoon Hot Pepper Flakes
1/2 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
Freshly Ground Black Pepper

In a large serving bowl, combine iceberg lettuce, cheese, pepperoni, red onion, pepper, and olives.

In a separate container, combine the oil, vinegar, oregano, hot pepper flakes, sugar, salt, and pepper, to taste. Shake or stir well to combine. 

Drizzle salad with dressing and toss.  Serve immediately.

Green Goddess Dressing

This is a classic salad dressing that is smooth, creamy and loaded with herbs.  Makes for an awesome veggie dip, too.

Mmmm, one of my favorites.

Green Goddess Dressing


2 Teaspoons Anchovy Paste Or 2-4 Canned Anchovies
1 Small Garlic Clove, Minced
3/4 Cup Mayonnaise
3/4 Cup Sour Cream
1/2 Cup Chopped Parsley
1/4 Cup Chopped Tarragon
3 Tbsp Chopped Chives
2 Tbsp Lemon Juice
Salt And Black Pepper To Taste


Put all of the ingredients in the bowl of a blender or food processor and blend or pulse until you get an evenly smooth dressing, about 30-45 seconds.

Serve as a dip, or toss with salad greens for a dressing.

The dressing should last about a week in the fridge.

Note: If using dried herbs figure 1 x dried herbs = 3 x fresh herbs

Alley oop!!

I was watching the morning news while drinking my coffee when the sports report came on and said something about some player alley ooping the ball.


Never the sports fan I can't say that I ever associated the expression 'alley oop' with basketball.  


My first recollection of hearing or seeing this idiom was in relation to the comic strip of the same name.  The cartoon was first syndicated in 1932 but didn't reach the heights of its popularity until the 1960's.  I remember reading the old Alley Oop comic books that I discovered in my Grammy's attic and also in the  newspaper funnies.




So, after listening to the news I got to wondering what the origin of this pairing of words . . . alley oop.


It is a variation of the  French expression 'Allez! Houp!'   . . . the 'h' is silent . . . which roughly translates to , "Go on! Jump!" or "Off you go!".  It was an expression often used by French circus performers who would exclaim 'allez houp' right before they launch themselves into the air.


It is interesting to note the French influence in some Arabic speaking countries . . . specifically Egypt . . . where laborers says 'hailly hooph' when lifting a large, heavy objects. 

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 Zesty Italian Dressing Recipe

In honor of a harvest of fresh veggies from the garden that I'm making into a salad I thought it appropriate to dress the salad in a fresh homemade variety of a classic.  This recipe is the best I've found!

1 Cup of Vinegar

2/3 Cup of Olive Oil

2/3 Cup Vegetable Oil

2 Tablespoons of Water

1/2 Tablespoon Garlic Powder

1/2 Tablespoon Onion Powder

1/2 Tablespoon Honey

1 Tablespoons Dried Oregano

1/2 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper

1/4 Teaspoon Dried Thyme

1/2 Teaspoon Dried Basil

1/2 Tablespoon Dried Parsley

1 Tablespoons Salt

1 Teaspoon Hot Pepper Flakes

Pour ingredients into a glass jar or bottle with a cover.   Cover and shake well.  Use or refrigerate for up to 90 days.

Print Recipe

I smoke all the time, one after the other

Have you ever had someone blow smoke up your ass?  Yeah, me too . . . all the time . . . oh, wait . . . no I haven’t!  Not ever!

There was a time, in fact, when it was a bona fide medical practice for a physician to literally blow smoke up his patient’s ass.  I swear!  You cannot make this stuff up.

The practice was known as a ‘tobacco smoke enema’.  It was common in the mid-18^th century until the early 19^th century as an acceptable method of artificial respiration . . . kind of like CPR but instead of blowing air into the lungs they would . . . well, you get the picture.  But just in case you don’t quite get it . . . the procedure entailed (get it . . . tail . . . hehe) inserting a rectal tube into the anus.  

The tube was connected to a fumigator and bellow that forced the smoke into the patient’s bum.  There were, of course, other more personal methods of introducing the smoke in to one's derriere.

Why, pray tell, would a doctor want to poof smoke into a tookus?  Sounds like a Clinton/Lewinsky thing with necrophilial undertones to me . . . but that’s where my mind goes.

The purpose was used to resuscitate drowning victims.  Supposedly, the stimulating effects of the tobacco combined with the warm smoke would encourage the person to start breathing.  Surely, if someone blew a gust of cigarette smoke into my fanny, I’d probably take a deep breath . . . and then smack the crap out of the whoever was administering the treatment.

 

Of course, this came at a time when it was common to use mercury to cure syphilis and morphine/opium compounds to quiet obnoxious children. 

The use of tobacco smoke enema’s fell out of favor when it was discovered that the chief component in tobacco smoke is a cardiac poison that can stop the circulation of blood . . . you got it . . . nicotine.  

Yes it can kill you.  Substances are rapidly absorbed at a higher concentration when passed through the intestinal walls . . . which is why the youths of today are giving each other alcohol enemas to get drunk faster . . . but that’s a whole other topic.

Anyway, the effects of the procedure dubious at best.  Hence . . . the evolution of blowing smoke up one’s ass coming to mean to lie or to tell a falsehood.

Greek/House Dressing

3/4 Cup Olive Oil

2 Teaspoons Garlic Powder

2 Teaspoons Dried Oregano

1 1/2 Teaspoons Dried Basil

1 1/2 Teaspoons Pepper

1 1/2 Teaspoons Salt

1 1/2 Teaspoons Onion Powder

1 1/2 Teaspoons Dijon-Style Mustard

1 Cup Red Wine Vinegar

In a quart container, mix together the olive oil, garlic powder, oregano, basil, pepper, salt, onion powder, and Dijon-style mustard. Pour in the vinegar, and mix vigorously until well blended. Store tightly covered at room temperature.

I smoke all the time, one after the other.
Greta Garbo