Showing posts with label Vinaigrette. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vinaigrette. Show all posts

4/1/12

Strawberry Basil Poppy Seed Balsamic Vinaigrette


"Strawberries are the angels of the earth, innocent and sweet with green leafy wings reaching heavenward"

~Jasmine Heiler~


Springtime in Central Florida brings the infamous Plant City Strawberries to every Farmer's Market and it's exciting to think about new recipes to create and new healthy dishes to enjoy!


On this first day of April, I desired a light vinaigrette for my salad so on the way home from Church, we found a new produce stand on Hwy 98N in Highland City, FL and decided to check it out.

2 quarts piled-highs of strawberries for $4.00 was not to be resisted so they became the fruit base for my new vinaigrette recipe. 

Strawberry Basil Poppy Seed Balsamic Vinaigrette

I started with my base salad: 
  • Romaine Lettuce
  • Fresh thinly sliced pear
  • Cucumber
  • Thinly sliced onion
  • Thinly sliced red pepper



Vinaigrette Ingredients:
  • 3/4 C Frangrante Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1 dozen large Strawberries, washed and hulls removed
  • 5 TBSP Balsamic Vinegar
  • 3 TBSP Raw Organic Blue and White Agave Syrup
  • 12 large freshly-picked Basil Leaves
  • 1/4 medium-sized Onion
  • 1.5 TBSP Poppy Seeds
  • 1/4 TSP Spike
  • 1/8 TSP Black Pepper
Steps:

1. Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor to blend slowly.
2. Check to see that all onion has been finely chopped and blended well into the liquid mixture. If not blended totally, set on a higher speed for 5 - 10 seconds. 

Makes approximately 10-12 oz.

Pour vinaigrette over your salad. 

* Optional: add walnuts or sliced almonds to top of salad for additional Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids and Protein




If like me, you are more of a Vinaigrette-lover than a creamy dressing lover and you don't have the time to be inventive and creative, then you might enjoy this kindle version of Wonderful Vinaigrette. And GREAT news: If you don't have a kindle, as I don't, you can download Kindle for PC and read Kindle books on you r home PC or laptop! Now isn't that wonderful!? I think so!


More Vinaigrette Recipes & Products that you may enjoy:



And PLEASE, email me or comment on this blog how you liked the recipe, how you used it, how you may have altered it (no worries, I do this frequently!, that's the fun of it all!) etc. Love hearing from you!

8/24/11

Savor The Flavor of Fresh-Grown Herbs



I first began growing my own herbs in 2009. Being a lover of and daily consumer of fresh green salads, it had been my longed-for desire to have fresh herbs to compliment them.  The Supermarket cost of 1 package of fresh herbs cost about the same or more than a new plant.






My wish came true:  it was in Idaho where I finally had my own  home so my husband and I designed and built a small raised garden in our backyard.




Besides planting veggies and  herbs in the garden directly, I also placed them in pots and crates on our patio pad.
   

I really enjoy the flavor of a variety of herbs but I think my most-favored one is BASIL!
I've grown Sweet Basil, Thai Basil, Boxwood Basil, Cinnamon Basil, Lemon Basil and Chocolate Basil and YES - they truly do taste just like those flavors.





My list of reasons why I love living in Florida seems to grow each day and one of them certainly is the fact that I can grow herbs outdoors most of the year (haven't tried it in Dec/Jan yet).
















Today I was craving the taste of my lovely Basil so I picked Sweet Basil, Cinnamon Basil and Boxwood Basil  









I mixed them all together and added them to my salad 


Salad Ingredients:

  • Spinach
  • Green Peppers
  • Carrots
  • Cucumber
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Cabbage
  • Portabello Mushroom
  • Frozen Blueberries
  • Frozen Raspberries
  • Frozen Blackberries
I topped it off with my Hazelnut Vinagrette:
  • Hazelnut Oil
  • Olive Oil
  • Minced Garlic
  • Balsamic Vinegar
  • Braggs Liquid Aminos
  • Red Wine
  • Maple Syrup
  • Minced Onion

Product Recommendations For Lovers of Herbs

Aerogarden 6 Pod Elite with Gourmet Seed Kit
  Aerogarden 6 Pod Elite with Gourmet Seed Kit


Grow delicious, healthy herbs and vegetables, right in your kitchen! AeroGarden's NASA-tested aeroponic technology grows plants in water, nutrients and air. It works so simply that anyone can succesfully grow. The AeroGarden Elite 6 uses a new more powerful Advanced Growing System to achieve 30% better growth than the already productive Aerogarden Classic. Comes with everything that you need to begin growing right away. Includes the gourmet herb kit with Genovese Basil, Chives, Thyme, Mint, Oregano, and Dill.




Aerogarden 6 Pod Pesto Basil Seed Kit

Aerogarden 6 Pod Pesto Basil Seed Kit
This all Genovese basil seed kit is perfect for making pesto. Specially designed for the Aerogarden 6 pod systems. Kit includes 6 Genovese basil pods and plant nutrients for a full season worth of basil.






The perfect companion to the abundant fresh herb harvests from your AeroGarden. Just add oil and vinegar to premeasured markings on carafe and a handful of freshly harvested AeroGarden herbs for garden-fresh vinaigrettes and marinades. Serve them tableside in the detachable carafe. Includes 20 recipes from around the world. Stainless steel blade, use-anywhere convenience (batteries included).