Copy Cat Olive Garden Italian Salad Dressing - Formulated and tasted side-by-side for accuracy! Fresher tasting than the original.

This is not just another average copy cat recipe. This dressing actually tastes like the real deal!

Copy-Cat Olive Garden Salad Dressing

This is the best copy cat version of Olive Garden's Italian salad dressing that I have tasted so far. I actually like this better than Olive Garden's bottled version. Their bottled version does not taste as fresh as my version does. Their soybean oil tastes a bit funky (usually rancid) and has some other off-taste in there that I'm not sure of where it is coming from...

Anyway, I have tasted many copy-cat versions of Olive Garden's dressing. There are a lot of versions online. They are not it. Most of them are too sour (too much vinegar), or are flat tasting, or are too runny, or have too much mayonnaise in them... They just aren't right.

My version has a zesty punch, but is balanced with all the other flavors. You need to have a hint of sweet to tame the vinegar, and enough salt to blend all the flavors and keep the dressing rich and tasty when it is actually dressing your salad. This dressing is thick and creamy enough to cling to the lettuce and not just end up as a watery mess at the bottom of your salad bowl.

I like my blend of seasonings but I may actually smash a clove of fresh garlic with the salt called for in my recipe next time. I do not taste fresh garlic in Olive Garden's version, but I think it would taste better with fresh garlic.

I used a blend of both Parmesan and Romano cheeses. I may just go back to using only Romano, increasing the portion to 3 T. (21 grams). Romano is stronger tasting, so you decide what you'd like.

The xanthan gum is critical to my recipe. The dressing will be very runny without it. Notice that the first ingredient in Olive Garden's version is WATER. That is why water is the first ingredient in my dressing too. It is much too vinegary if you do not add the water. Olive Garden's trick to thicken their dressing is adding the xanthan gum. Go get yourself some xanthan gum, I use it in almost all of my salad dressing recipes. Guar gum is an alternate option to using the xanthan gum. Look in your local health food stores or in the gluten free baking section of grocery stores to find it.

The annatto powder is used to give a richer color to the salad dressing, omit it if you choose to.

Olive Garden's ingredient listing on their salad dressing bottle:
water
distilled vinegar
soybean oil
high fructose corn syrup
salt
eggs
Romano cheese
garlic
sugar
xanthan gum
spice and spice extracts
parsley
lemon juice concentrate
calcium disodium EDTA (to protect freshness)
extractives of annatto.
(Contains milk, eggs).

I used my formulating background to recreate this dressing for my family and for yours. I hope you enjoy it! I conducted side-by-side taste test comparisons. I also compared ingredient lists. My version is healthier, although not sugar-free. I may formulate a sugar-free version later. My goal for this recipe was to as closely duplicate the original as I possibly could at this time. Let me know your thoughts on this recipe after you try it for yourself.




Leila's Copy Cat Version of Olive Garden's Italian Dressing:

1/2 c. (100 grams) purified water
1/2 c. (128 grams) Best Food's Mayonnaise (contains eggs)
about 1/2 c. (87 grams) white distilled vinegar (I prefer white wine vinegar)
1/4 c. (60 grams) extra-light olive oil (regular olive oil tastes too strong)
2 T. (36 grams) IMO syrup to replace corn syrup
2 T. (16 grams) Parmesan cheese
2 T. (14 grams) Romano cheese
1 T. fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 t. sea salt
2 t. xylitol, or slightly more, to taste
1/2 t. + 1/8 to 1/4 t. xanthan gum (3/4 t. xanthan gum makes dressing thicker than Olive Garden's)
1/2 t. Italian seasoning
1/2 t. parsley flakes
20 grinds fresh ground black pepper
1/4 t. granulated garlic
1/16 t. red pepper flakes
1/16 t. annatto powder (Mexican foods section of grocery store)


Method:

Mix the water, mayonnaise, vinegar, oil, and IMO syrup together until fully combined with a stick blender (or blend by hand).

Add the cheeses and lemon juice.

In a small bowl, mix together the salt, xylitol, xanthan gum, Italian seasoning, parsley,black pepper, garlic, red pepper flakes, and annatto powder.

Sprinkle the dry seasoning blend over the liquid and mix until well combined.

Chill in a jar with a tight fitting lid to allow the flavors to blend.

Serve over a salad of romaine lettuce, roma tomatoes, vidalia onion slices, black olives, pickled pepperoncini, garlic croutons, and freshly grated parmesan cheese.

Enjoy!

Leila.

The BEST Waldorf Salad (Sugar-Free, Gluten-Free)

Delicious Waldorf Salad - 

Perfect for a light lunch or as a sassy side to almost any meal.

Waldorf  Salad

This recipe is more than just the boring mayo stirred into diced celery and apples. This salad has a well balanced dressing that is a bit tangy, a bit sweet and a bit savory. It's perfect. it has been a classic in our homes for a long as I can remember. there is room for some unusual add-ins, like avocado, which tastes amazing. I like to add a touch more seasoned salt to the dressing if I'm using avocado.

When I was pregnant with my 3rd child, this salad got me through the long period of morning sickness. I'm glad it wasn't ice cream or chips that I craved! this salad has a nice balance of  healthful ingredients that my body must of needed then. Anyway, I still love this salad and I think you will too.


Perfect Waldorf Salad Recipe:

2 large red crisp apples, diced (about 2 cups)
4 large celery ribs, diced (about 2 cups)
1/2 to 1 cup crispy pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped
1/2 to 1 cup organic raisins or sweetened dried cranberries
2 large ripe avocados, diced, optional

Dressing:

1 cup mayonnaise (you can mix 50/50 regular and diet mayo)
1/2 c. sour cream (try Kitchen Cheetah's Sour Cream Blend on this blog)
2 t. fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 to 1 1/2 t. seasoned salt, to taste
2 T. raw honey, xylitol, Lakanto zero-cal sweetener, or raw sugar to taste
A pinch of cayenne powder, optional for a bit of heat


Method:

Mix up the dressing ingredients to taste in a medium sized serving bowl.

Wash and dice the produce, add to the dressing and mix well.

Add the avocado if using. Gently mix and check for seasoning and adjust as desired.

I like to sprinkle the nuts and dried fruit on top at serving time.

Make seasoned salt available at the table for sprinkling on top of the salad as well.

Serve immediately.


Notes:

You can make the dressing in advance and store in the fridge until needed. I will even make a bigger batch of dressing to use in multiple salads.

This salad is best eaten immediately once made.


Enjoy!

Leila & Nancy.

Exotic Thai Papaya Cucumber Salad recipe form Fiji

Exotic Thai Papaya Cucumber Salad

My family owned a lovely place in Fiji for several years. The tropical fruit, handmade fresh coconut oil, Fijian ice cream, colorful tropical flowers, fresh fish, and beautiful beaches were amazing, among other things. I would love to be there right now enjoying a baby coconut and some tree ripened mangoes, feet in the sand...

Fiji - the view from our deck

Our family has several recipes that evolved from the time my parents spent living in Fiji, that we would like to share with you on this blog. My mom is always creating, and these recipes have a Fijian, Asian, as well as an Indian influence.

You too can enjoy a taste of the islands!

This beautiful Thai salad is a great recipe to start with. it is so easy and versatile, and so fresh tasting - you will love it!



Thai Papaya Cucumber Salad Recipe:

Salad Ingredients:

Peeled Japanese cucumbers, cut into matchsticks, or julienned
Firm papaya cubes
Mung bean sprouts
Fresh chopped cilantro (lots!)
Clear noodles, prepared according to package directions (like mung bean noodles)
Slivered Napa cabbage
Red Jalapeno rings, to taste (or sweet red bell pepper slivers if you can't take the heat)
Grated carrot, a little for color, optional


Thai Dressing:

2 T. Peanut butter (if Paleo, use almond butter)
2 T. Thai fish Sauce
2 to 4 T. Agave/Vegetable glycerine mix (this sweetener recipe is on this blog), to taste
2 T. Bragg's Aminos
1/4 c. Rice oil
2 T. Fresh lime juice, to taste


Garnish:

Toasted peanuts or roasted cashews (Paleo), chopped


Method:

Prepare the above salad ingredients to fill a regular sized salad bowl, to taste.
Mix the Thai dressing ingredients together, to taste.
Pour dressing over salad and toss.
Serve immediately.


Variations:

You can omit the nut butter completely and substitute with 1 T. raw or toasted sesame tahini.

For a lighter salad, you may also omit the sesame tahini or any other nut butter and just add a teaspoon of toasted sesame seed oil. This is our favorite way to prepare this salad.

The Thai Salad before the noodles were added - you may omit the noodles if desired.

This time I used fresh rice stick noodles - They soak in boiling water 10 seconds and then they are done!

Pour Dressing over and toss well. Serve immediately.

The freshly mixed dressing.

Salad ready to serve.

Salad garnished with peanuts.

Papaya Tree

Enjoy!

Leila

Fijian flowers arranged by one of my daughters.

Tahini Dressing - The 5th in a series of excellent Raw Food recipes

Tahini Dressing

I am posting a series of RAW FOOD RECIPES created by my mother Nancy Glazier and her good friend Irene Hauver. 

Together, as raw food pioneers, they complied an amazing collection of unique recipes that they used in teaching a series of raw-food-living un-cooking classes. We have a selection of delicious raw food recipes big enough to fill an entire cookbook. I know, cool, right?

These recipes are amazingly tasty! This is doing raw food right. Most raw food recipes are seriously lacking in taste and texture - well, not this collection. These beautiful ladies don't do anything half way! We are excited for you to try them.



Raw Tahini Dressing is a creamy basic dressing that is easy to make. This tasty dressing is vegan, nut-free, sugar-free, and gluten-free, as well as being perfect for raw food diets. This is one of my mom's favorite dressings.

RAW TAHINI DRESSING Recipe:

Yield: Makes 2 cups

Ingredients:

1 c. Purified water
1 c. Tahini (or raw unsalted sesame seeds)
1/2 t. Garlic powder
1 T. Fresh lemon juice (1/2 lemon)
3/4 t. Sea salt
1/4 c. Parsley (fresh is best but dry will do)


Equipment:

Blender


Directions:

Place all the ingredients, except the parsley, into the blender. Process until smooth.

Taste for flavor. Adjust if necessary.

Pulse in the parsley.

Use immediately or chill for future use.

This dressing may thicken upon standing. To thin just stir in a little water. It should be pourable.

This is great over salads, as a creme base for soups, as a veggie dip, or spread on crackers.



Recipe created by the Kitchen Cheetahs, Nancy Glazier & Irene Hauver.


Enjoy!

Author, Leila wood.

Classic Vinaigrette Dressing - The 4th in a series of excellent raw food recpes

Dad's Classic Dressing

I am posting a series of RAW FOOD RECIPES created by my mother Nancy Glazier and her good friend Irene Hauver. 

Together, as raw food pioneers, they complied an amazing collection of unique recipes that they used in teaching a series of raw-food-living un-cooking classes. We have a selection of delicious raw food recipes big enough to fill an entire cookbook. I know, cool, right?

These recipes are amazingly tasty! This is doing raw food right. Most raw food recipes are seriously lacking in taste and texture - well, not this collection. These beautiful ladies don't do anything half way! We are excited for you to try them.

Dad's Classic Dressing is a basic to always have on hand. This all-purpose dressing goes with just about everything, and also works great as a marinade. If you are on a raw food diet, you are probably having at least 1 salad a day, so you will go through it quickly.


DAD'S CLASSIC DRESSING Recipe:

Yield: Makes 1 pint

Ingredients:

1 1/2 c. Olive oil
3 Cloves garlic
2 T. Fresh lemon juice
1/2 t. Sea salt
1 t. Dried oregano
1 t. Dried basil


Equipment:

Blender


Directions:

Place all ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth.

Keep in the refrigerator. It will keep for 2 weeks.


A weeks supply of Dad's Classic Dressing:

Yield : Makes 2 quarts

6 c. Olive oil
12 Cloves garlic
1/2 c. Fresh lemon juice
3 t. Sea salt
4 t. Dried oregano
4 t. Dried basil


Directions:

Proceed the same as above.


Recipe created by the Kitchen Cheetahs, Nancy Glazier & Irene Hauver.


Enjoy!

Leila

Poppy Seed Dressing - the 3rd in a series of excellent Raw Food recipes

Raw Poppy Seed Dressing

I am posting a series of RAW FOOD RECIPES created by my mother Nancy Glazier and her good friend Irene Hauver. 

Together, as raw food pioneers, they complied an amazing collection of unique recipes that they used in teaching a series of raw-food-living un-cooking classes. We have a selection of delicious raw food recipes big enough to fill an entire cookbook. I know, cool, right?

These recipes are amazingly tasty! This is doing raw food right. Most raw food recipes are seriously lacking in taste and texture - well, not this collection. These beautiful ladies don't do anything half way! We are excited for you to try them.

This Poppy Seed Dressing is a favorite at the Hauver household. You can vary the flavor by using different fruits - So have fun with it!


POPPY SEED DRESSING Recipe:

Yield: Makes 1 1/2 cups.

Ingredients:

1/4 c. Fresh lemon juice (or juice from 1 lemon)
1/2 c. Strawberries, fresh or frozen (about 8 strawberries, or 12 raspberries, 1 apple, or jam to taste)
3/4 c. Olive oil
16  Honey dates, soaked and pitted (or 6 T. Sucanat) (or 1/2 c. date sugar)
2 T. Raw onion (up to 1/4 c. fresh onion)
1 t. Sea salt
1/2 t. Dry mustard
1/4 t. Beet powder (optional for color)
1/4 c. Purified water (to thin as needed)
2 t. Poppy seeds


Equipment:

Blender


Directions:

Place all of the ingredients, except the poppy seeds, into the blender. Blend until smooth. thin as necessary to get a pourable dressing. Taste for flavor. Adjust if necessary.

Stir in the poppy seeds. Chill until ready to use.

Keeps 1 week in the refrigerator.

This dressing is great over spinach salad.


Five times the recipe to make 7 1/2 cups:

1 1/4 c. Fresh lemon juice
2 1/2 c. Strawberries
3 3/4 c. Olive oil
80 Honey dates, soaked and pitted
10 T. Raw onion
5 t. Sea salt
2 1/2 t. Dry mustard
1 1/4 t. Beet powder (optional for color)
1 1/4 c. Water (to thin as needed)
10 t. Poppy seeds


Recipe created by the Kitchen Cheetahs, Nancy Glazier & Irene Hauver.


Enjoy!

Leila

Sunny Sour Cream - The 2nd in a series of excellent Raw Food recipes

Sunny Sour Cream

I am posting a series of RAW FOOD RECIPES created by my mother Nancy Glazier and her good friend Irene Hauver. 

Together, as raw food pioneers, they complied an amazing collection of unique recipes that they used in teaching a series of raw-food-living un-cooking classes. We have a selection of delicious raw food recipes big enough to fill an entire cookbook. I know, cool, right?

These recipes are amazingly tasty! This is doing raw food right. Most raw food recipes are seriously lacking in taste and texture - well, not this collection. These beautiful ladies don't do anything half way! We are excited for you to try them.


SUNNY SOUR CREAM Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 c. sunflower seeds, soaked 2 hours in 2 cups water, drain
3/4 c. water
1/2 t. sea salt
2 to 3 T. fresh lemon juice
1/4 t. garlic powder
1/2 t. onion powder
1/2 t. dill weed


Equipment:

Blender


Directions:

Place all the ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth. Adjust water and seasonings to taste and consistency desired.


Mom's Tip: This makes an awesome topping and dip base to flavor to taste.


Recipe created by the Kitchen cheetahs, Nancy Glazier & Irene Hauver.


Enjoy!

Leila

Almond Sour Cream - The 1st in a series of excellent Raw Food recipes

Raw Almond Sour Cream

I am posting a series of RAW FOOD RECIPES created by my mother Nancy Glazier and her good friend Irene Hauver. 

Together, as raw food pioneers, they complied an amazing collection of unique recipes that they used in teaching a series of raw-food-living un-cooking classes. We have a selection of delicious raw food recipes big enough to fill an entire cookbook. I know, cool, right?

These recipes are amazingly tasty! This is doing raw food right. Most raw food recipes are seriously lacking in taste and texture - well, not this collection. These beautiful ladies don't do anything half way! We are excited for you to try them.


BEST ALMOND SOUR CREAM Recipe:

Ingredients:

Yield: 5 cups

1 cup raw almonds, soaked 8 hours and drained
2 c. Purified water
1 c. Olive oil
1 1/2 t. Onion powder
1 t. Sea salt
1/4 t. Vitamin C powder (ascorbic acid), optional
1/4 t. Garlic powder
1/4 c. fresh lemon juice (or juice from 1 lemon)


Equipment:

Blender


Directions:

Place all the ingredients into the blender. Process until smooth and creamy. Taste for flavor. Adjust if necessary.

Use immediately or chill for future use. This dressing may thicken upon standing. To thin just stir in a little water. My mom prefers this Almond Sour Cream thick, Irene prefers It pourable.

This is great over salads, as a cream base for soups, as a substitute for mayonnaise, and to spread on crackers topped with an avocado.


Double this recipe to make 10 cups:

2 c. Almonds, soaked
3 c. Purified water
3 c. Olive oil
3 t. Onion powder
2 t. Sea salt
1/2 t. Vitamin c powder
1/2 t. Garlic powder
1/2 c. Fresh lemon juice



Note: This is my mom's favorite raw sour cream ...And she loves sour cream!



Recipe created by the Kitchen Cheetahs, Nancy Glazier & Irene Hauver.


Enjoy!

Leila

La France Spinach Salad - A REAL Restaurant recipe

La France Spinach Salad

There used to be a fabulous French restaurant called La France on University Ave. in Provo, Utah, that we loved. This is their salad recipe. We would order this yummy salad all the time. My mom has a way of talking with people, and they give her recipes that they won't normally give out. The restaurant has been gone for many years, so I feel good about sharing this recipe now.

The tarragon vinegar is excellent in this dressing, and is worth seeking out. The flavors and textures in this salad harmonize beautifully, I think you will love it too.

This salad is a delicious meal all by itself.



La France Spinach Salad Recipe:

Dressing:

2/3 c. sour cream
1/3 c. Best Foods mayonnaise (or healthy diet mayonnaise)
1 T. tarragon vinegar
onion salt, to taste
fresh ground pepper, to taste

Salad:

2 to 3 large bunches of fresh spinach, washed, stemmed, and dried in a salad spinner
3 slices crisp diced bacon, crumbled
sliced avocado
sliced tomato
3 to 4 hard boiled eggs


Method:

Mix the dressing ingredients together, seasoning to taste with the onion salt and pepper.

Put the prepared spinach into a large mixing bowl.

Toss the spinach with the dressing.

Immediately portion spinach mixture onto 3 individual shallow soup bowls.

Top each salad with an equal portion of bacon.

Top each salad with an avocado slice and a tomato slice.

Top each salad with an equal portion of hard boiled eggs pressed through a ricer.

Serve immediately.


Note: This is the restaurant's representation of this salad. personally, I load up on the sliced avocado and ripe tomato (if the tomatoes are not ripe and juicy, 1 slice as a garnish works fine).

Potato Ricer

Enjoy, 

Leila

Sugar-Free KFC Copy-Cat Coleslaw recipe and a homemade coconut buttermilk for a dairy-free option

KFC Copy-Cat Coleslaw (reduced fat and sugar-free) and a recipe for Coconut Buttermilk

This is a great copy of KFC's Coleslaw. It's even nicer that this recipe is sugar-free. I like the coleslaw best the first day, but it is still excellent left over.

I prefer using dairy ingredients here because they are more authentic and neutral tasting. You can use coconut milk instead if you don't do dairy, which also will make this salad low-carb. An alternate mayonnaise can be used as well.

I am not concerned about the fat from the coconut milk because it is a healthy fat that our body thrives on. Plus fat adds to the feeling of satiety, so we don't need to eat as much food to feel satisfied. Fat also has the added benefit of slowing the absorption of sugars and starches in our diet, which is good for our blood sugar levels.


KFC COPY-CAT COLESLAW Recipe:

Dressing:

1/3 c. erythritol or xylitol (or mixture of the two)
1/2 t. sea salt or BioSalt (recipe on this blog), to taste
1/8 t. freshly ground pepper
1/4 c. organic 1% milk
1/2 c. Best Foods low-fat mayonnaise
1/4 c. low fat buttermilk
1 1/2 T. white wine vinegar or raw vinegar
2 1/2 T. fresh lemon juice

Salad:

8 c. very finely shredded, then chopped cabbage
1 c. peeled and grated organic carrots


Method:

Mix the dressing ingredients together with an electric hand mixer, or stir by hand.
Add cabbage and carrots and toss well to coat.
Cover and chill at least 3 hours before serving.


Variation: You can convert this to a dairy-free recipe easily.
Use coconut milk for milk, and make a coconut buttermilk to replace the dairy buttermilk.


COCONUT BUTTERMILK Recipe:

1/4 c. coconut milk, canned or homemade
1 t. white wine vinegar or raw vinegar (or fresh lemon juice)

Mix and allow to sit for at least 5 minutes before using.


Note: The added acid sours the coconut milk so that it behaves like dairy buttermilk in foods, like baked goods.


Enjoy,

Leila

First make the dressing to taste.

Add the freshly shredded vegetables.

Mix well.

Place in a serving dish.

Serve and enjoy.

Author, Leila.

A different twist on broccoli salad - and it's now sugar-free!

Broccoli Salad (Sugar-Free)

This is a variation of the sweet broccoli salad usually found in restaurants. I have removed the sugar, making it a delicious low-carb salad. Do not use a grape seed oil based mayonnaise, it has to much of the fatty acids we don't need more of in our diet. A homemade mayonnaise is best.

This is a great salad for the Sugar 100 Diet by Jorge Cruise. I like this book of his by the way. This recipe is also paleo friendly and gluten-free (do check your mayonnaise ingredient list though).


BROCCOLI SALAD Recipe:

Serves 8 to 12

Dressing:

1 c. Hellman's mayonaise Or Best Foods (or better yet, homemade)
1/4 c. erythritol (or Lakanto's zero-cal white granular sweetener)
1/4 c. xylitol
2 t. white wine vinegar
1 t. prepared mustard
1 t. sweet paprika
Sea salt or BioSalt (recipe on this blog), to taste
Fresh ground pepper, to taste

Salad:

2 bunches of broccoli florets
1 c. chopped red onion
1 c. organic raisins (Craisens have added sugar)
1 c. sliced fresh mushrooms, optional
2 fresh mandarin oranges, peeled and separated into individual segments (or 1 small can, drained)
1/2 c. cashew pieces (or sunflower seeds) (see recipe for "C" soaked Sunnies on this blog)
8 slices fried bacon, crumbled


Method:

Mix the dressing ingredients until smooth. S
eason to taste.
Cover and chill overnight.
Just before serving, pour dressing over salad and mix well.
Serve.


Enjoy!

Leila

A delicious hearty Italian salad with an easy homemade dressing

Red & Green Italian Salad

This is a hearty beautiful salad and can make a meal by itself. It is something different to take on a picnic or pot-luck.

This is an easy recipe to adjust for specific diets like paleo, low-carb, vegan, gluten-free, or dairy-free. Use gluten-free pasta or omit the pasta altogether if you want to. Omit the cheese if you avoid dairy.


RED & GREEN ITALIAN SALAD Recipe:

Salad Ingredients:

1 can jumbo pitted black olives
2 c. cooked gluten-free large shell macaroni, or other shape if desired
1 4-ounce jar pimentos with juice, sliced into strips
4 to 5 small zucchini, sliced thick
1 quart lightly steamed broccoli, cut into uniform bite-sized pieces
1 quart lightly steamed cauliflower, cut into uniform bite-sized pieces
1 medium red onion, sliced in rings
1 to 2 dozen small mushrooms, stemmed and sliced in half

Dressing ingredients:

1/2 c. good olive oil, or more
1/2 c. red wine vinegar
1 to 2 garlic cloves, well smashed
1/2 to 1 t. sweet paprika
1 t. fennel seed (soaked in water to soften, then drained)
1 t. dried oregano
BioSalt, to taste (recipe on this blog)
Fresh ground pepper, to taste
Mozzarella or Jack cheese, cubed, optional

Garnish:

Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, optional


Method:

In a large bowl, toss the salad ingredients together.

In a separate mixing bowl, combine the salad dressing ingredients together. Season it well.

Pour the well-mixed dressing over the salad ingredients and toss together thoroughly.

Marinate 1 hour.

Serve garnished with Parmesan cheese, if desired.


Note: You can serve this salad on a bed of lettuce.


Enjoy,

Leila

Fresh Orange Ginger Oriental Dressing (Oil-Free)

Dad's Dressing - Quick & Easy (oil-free)

We all love dad's delicious salad dressing. It has an Asian flair and is a nice combination of sweet, tangy, savory and spicy. He mixes it up fresh in the salad serving bowl, to taste. Then he adds the desired salad ingredients, tosses and serves at once.

At our house, we like a mix of romaine, spinach, and baby greens, topped with scallions, shredded raw vegetables (carrot, zuchinni, celery...), diced apples, oranges, even bananas, sprouts, slivered almonds, shredded chicken, etc...

Try this healthy alternative to store bought dressing!


DAD'S DRESSING Recipe:

Yield: Enough for 1 large salad

Juice and mashed pulp from 1 sweet orange
2 T. real maple syrup, or to taste
1/2 to 1-inch piece of ginger root, grated fine
2 t. sesame seeds, to taste
Tamari soysauce, to taste

Method:

Place the orange juice and pulp in a small mixing bowl.
Add the maple syrup, ginger and sesame seeds, mixing well.
Add enough Tamari to salt the dressing to taste.


This dressing is best used fresh and is good over many kinds of salads.


Enjoy,

Leila

Sugar-Free Thai Cucumber Salad (Noodles & Co. Copy-Cat)

Thai Cucumber Salad  
-AKA- Noodles & Co. Tomato Cucumber Salad Copy-Cat


I find this salad very refreshing. I set out to duplicate this typically sugar-laden salad that is frequently served in Thai restaurants.  It is very easy to make, especially if you prepare a quantity of dressing in advance. My family likes this salad a lot. Sometimes I make this with only cucumbers and a touch of red onion, I like that it is very versatile. Now you and your family can enjoy this sugar-free version too.

I made a seasoned sprinkle to garnish your salad with too!



THAI CUCUMBER SALAD Recipe:

Dressing:

3/4 c. rice vinegar
1 1/4 c. xyitol (to replace the conventional 1 1/4 c. white sugar) (or Lakanto sweetener to taste)
1 clove garlic , mashed in a mortar & pestle
1 small shallot, peeled and finely sliced
1-inch piece of fresh ginger root, peeled and very finely sliced, or grated
1/2 to 1 small hot green chili, minced fine
2 cilantro roots, washed and minced or 12 cilantro stems, minced fine
6 ground coriander seeds (use if you do not have the fresh cilantro roots)
1 t. BioSalt or sea salt, to taste

Method:

Boil the vinegar with the sweeteners, garlic, and coriander roots (or the cilantro stems plus ground coriander seeds) for about 2 minutes, to blend flavors and thicken slightly.

Let cool to about room temperature before adding the minced shallot, grated ginger root, and minced hot chili.

I double the dressing recipe and store it in a jar in the refrigerator.


Salad:

1 large cucumber, diced
1 small bunch coriander leaves (cilantro), chopped, optional
1 - 2 ripe garden tomatoes, diced, optional
A few slivers of red onion


Method:

Place the prepared vegetables in a serving bowl.

Pour enough dressing over to coat and marinate the vegetables. Toss well and let marinate a few minutes before serving.

Garnish on top with the seasoned sprinkle (recipe below), if desired.

Serve as a side or relish.



Garnish:

2 t. sesame seeds (preferably toasted)
1 t. ancho Chili powder
1 t. sweet paprika powder
1/4 t. onion salt

Mix together and store air-tight. You have made enough for a few salads.

Enjoy!

Leila

Mother Nature's Salad Recipe - Does a body good!

Mother Nature's Salad 

This is one my most favorite salads, and has been so since I was in my preteens.
It is so fresh and beautiful piled high on a soup plate. It is quite stunning to present and is a meal in and of itself. This is a unique herbal dressing too and it goes perfectly with this salad. I often add even more of some of the herbs listed in this recipe (Tarragon and Basil).  I usually cut back on the thyme, for my personal tastes. Make sure there is enough salt or the dressing can taste a bit flat.

I do not have a picture of this salad yet....hopefully coming soon.



MOTHER NATURE'S SALAD & DRESSING Recipe:

Fill a soup plate with the following fresh ingredients in the order listed:

Diced Romaine Lettuce
Shredded carrots
Shredded red cabbage
Diced cooked beets (or raw shredded beets)
Sliced tomatoes
Sliced avocado
Diced white cheese (or shredded)
Thin-sliced mushrooms
Thin-sliced red onions
Alfalfa sprouts

Garnish the salad with:

Raw cauliflower florets
Raw broccoli florets

Top the piled-high salad with the dressing recipe below, to taste.


MOTHER NATURE'S HERB-OIL DRESSING:

3 c. olive oil
1 c. apple cider vinegar
1 t. sea salt, or BioSalt to taste
1/2 t. fresh ground black pepper
1 crushed garlic clove
1/3 c. dried parsley
4 t. dried dill weed
2 t. dried basil
2 t. dried thyme (or less. I think too much thyme makes foods taste moldy. Weird)
1/2 t. dried tarragon, crushed

Mix the dressing ingredients and give it some time to sit to let the flavors blend. Note that when you store this dressing in the refrigerator, the olive oil will solidify, so allow time to let it come to room temperature before using. shake well before use.

Mother Nature's Herb Oil Dressing

Enjoy nature's bounty,

Leila

Cafe Rio Copy-Cat Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette (Sugar-Free)

Cafe Rio Copy-Cat Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette (Sugar-Free)

I love this dressing. I had to recreate it. I did side-by-side comparisons until it was right. It will last a few days in the refrigerator, but I like it best fresh. The tangy-sweet balance of flavors goes great on a Cafe Rio-style Mexican salad, and on tacos or tostadas, along with the Cilantro Lime Rice recipe. I chose to use white wine vinegar instead of white vinegar for health reasons. If you decide you want to use sugar instead of xylitol, Just replace it with an equal amount of sugar. I hope you enjoy this as much as our family does.


Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette Recipe (Sugar-Free)

2 to 3 garlic cloves, finely minced (to taste)
1 T. finely minced sweet onion (to taste)
1 large bunch cilantro with stems
Fresh lime zest from 2 limes
1/2 c. fresh lime juice (from 4 limes)
1/2 t. fresh ground coriander
1/4 c. white wine vinegar (not regular white vinegar)
6 T. xylitol (to taste) (or Lakanto zero-cal sweetener)
1 T. BioSalt (recipe on blog)
1 1/2 c. salad oil



Method:

1.  Dissolve the xylitol and BioSalt into the vinegar by gently heating together in a  microwave-safe 2-cup measuring cup 20-30 seconds. Stir until completely dissolved. Set aside.

2.  In a food processor, place the cloves of garlic, process until minced fine.

3.  Add the onion and mince fine.

4.  Roughly chop the cilantro with stems and add to the food processor. Chop fine.

5.  Add the lime zest, lime juice, and coriander. Pulse to blend.

6.  Pour in the salad oil and vinegar mixture. Process just until mixed (do not puree).


Tip: If you do store it in the fridge, let it come back up to room temperature if the oil has solidified.


Enjoy!

Leila