Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Greens with Ecstasy

I have never been so ecstatic about greens!
Between the lettuce in our garden and the wonderful greens arriving weekly in our CSA bag from Southfield Organics, we are swimming in greens!


So tender, so tasty and oh so nutritious!!!




                                                                                                                                                          Even the boys notice the difference in the fresh picked, organic leaves. This past winter, as I served up the token bits of boring salad with our root veggies; night after night, William would send his greens back to the kitchen relatively untouched.

TIP: Never assume that  kids will never like a  certain food! Keep serving the food in small amounts. Refer to blog on Sweet Potato Success.




I sounded like a broken CD (?) -
"Eat your greens, eat your greens, elbows off the table, eat your greens!"



Well, fast forward to this summer - William is stuffing them into his mouth looking like a cow chewing grass. I am so happy that I resist the urge to insist on manners, instead, I revel in watching him enjoy his greens!

TIP: Interested in CSA boxes? go to: http://acornorganic.org/cgi-bin/acorn/search

Fresh homemade vinaigrette is a must for these greens!
Check out this list of ingredients on a typical commercial salad dressings: water, corn syrup, soybean oil, vinegar, egg yolk, salt, sugar, modified food starch, garlic juice, sodium lactate, MSG, phosphoric acid, xanthan gum, artificial color, polysorbate 60, spices, parsley, lemon juice concentrate, natural flavor, Vitamin E, lactic acid, natamycin.....WOW, I don't know about you - but I do not have a lot of those ingredients in my kitchen!

And you thought that you were being virtuous eating greens! Well, I want to push you one step further to make your own dressing - make enough for the week and store in the fridge - you will never go back to commercial salad dressings again!!

Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette


Put the following ingredients into a 500 ml jar with a tight fitting lid. Shake, shake, shake!



1 cup extra virgin olive oil              
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup honey
many crushed cloves of garlic












                                                                                                                                                                                                   This is our 'house' vinaigrette, but sometimes, if we are feeling a little reckless, we will make one or two of the following adaptations:
Use apple cider vinegar instead of balsamic.
Replace some of the vinegar with a couple of tbsp of freshly squeezed lemon juice
Add some chopped fresh chives, oregano, rosemary, etc
Add a some freshly ground pepper and salt

Why not come up with your favorite house dressing!
Believe me ecstasy is just a shake away!

3 comments:

  1. Great salad dressing ideas Edie!
    Commercial dressings are uckky! I will always make my own now, thanks to your blog.
    Margaret

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  2. I also love greens. A lot! Thanks for your lovely recipe for vinaigrette!

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  3. having trouble reading the 2nd dressing variation for which the print is superimposed over the photo. :0(

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