Homemade Croutons and Italian Dressing

Crouton ingredients

1 Tbsp butter
5 Tbsp light oil (EVOO)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tsp oregano
1 Tsp thyme
5 slices day-old white bread

Melt butter in a skillet and then add the oil.  Mix in the remaining ingredients except for the bread.  Cut the crust off the bread and then cut them into 1/2 inch cubes.  Fry slowly until lightly brown.

Italian Dressing ingredients

3 Tbsp oil (EVOO)
2 Tbsp vinegar (white wine)
salt
black pepper
1/2 Tsp minced garlic
1/2 Tsp italian seasoning
1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Mix together well.

Our review

The croutons were not exciting but they were eatable.  The salad dressing tasted like a traditional Italian salad dressing.

Lemon Vinaigrette

Ingredients

1/2 C olive oil (EVOO)

3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

1 Tbsp minced shallot

1 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard

1/2 tsp grated lemon peel

1/2 tsp sugar

Mix all ingredients and then season with salt and pepper.  

Our Review

It was very lemony.  Not in a sour way, but just lemony.  Guest thought it tasted very good.

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Quick Potatoes

Ingredients

1/2 lb small red skinned new potatoes

1 Tbsp unsalted butter

1/2 tbsp olive oil

coarse salt, to taste

fresh ground pepper, to taste

1 tsp chopped fresh dill leaves

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.  Add the potatoes and cook until tender, but not mushy, about 8-10 minutes.  Drain the water and then toss with butter and oil.  Season with salt and pepper and toss with dill.

Our Review

I actually didn't follow this recipe but I used to to help me figure out how to make a quick potato side dish.  I boiled the water, added the potatoes and cooked them for about 10 minutes.  I drained them and then I added salt, pepper, garlic, and a little olive oil into a bowl and tossed the potatoes to coat everything.  The kids asked for second so it must have tasted good.  They were quick and easy and I did enjoy them as well.

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Mediterranean Salmon

Ingredients

1/2 C olive oil (EVOO)

1/4 C balsamic vinegar

4 cloves garlic, pressed

4 salmon fillets (3 ounces each)

1 Tbsp chopped, fresh cilantro

1 Tbsp chopped fresh basil

1 1/2 tsp garlic salt

Mix the olive oil and balsamic vinegar in a small bowl.  In a shallow baking dish, rub the garlic on the salmon.  Then pour the olive oil and vinegar mixture over them, turning to coat.  Season with cilantro, basil, and garlic salt.  Set aside to marinate for 10 minutes.

Preheat the broiler.  

Place the salmon about 6 inches from the heat source and broil for 15 minutes, turning once, or until browned on both sides and easily flaked with a fork. Brush occassionally with the sauce from the pan.

Our Review

I used dried cilantro and basil and one large salmon fillet instead of 4 smaller pieces.  This was really good and both boys really liked it (which says a lot since the younger one hasn't been liking salmon lately.)

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Italian Salad Dressing

Ingredients

• 1/4 Tsp dried oregano
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1/4 C red wine vinegar
• 3/4 C extra virgin olive oil
• 3/4 Tsp salt
• 1/4 Tsp pepper
• 1 1/2 Tsps honey

Mid all ingredients well.

Roast Potatoes

Ingredients

2 pounds red potatoes cut into quarters

2 Tbsp vegetable oil (I used olive oil)

1 Tsp salt

1/2 Tsp freshly ground pepper

1/2 Tsp dried rosemary, crushed

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.  Place potatoes in a large roasting pan and toss with the other ingredients.  Spread into a single layer and bake for 20 minutes, tossing occassionally.

Our Review

These were good but I had to cook them for almost 40 minutes.  I also didn't measure any of the ingredients.

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Rosemary Roasted Chicken

Ingredients

Olive Oil

Rosemary

Salt

Pepper

Bone-in Chicken pieces

Toss chicken to coat it with the other ingredients.  Bake it at 450 degrees for 40-50 minutes until cooked thoroughly.  

Our Review

I made this recipe to go along with the Roast Potatoes recipe.  I didn't measure the ingredients.  It tasted pretty good.

Grilled Marinated Flank Steak

Ingredients

1/3 C olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 Tbsp red wine vinegar

1/3 C soy sauce

1/4 C honey

1/2 Tsp freshly ground black pepper

2 pounds flank steak

kosher salt

ground black pepper

Mix the first six ingredients in a small bowl to create the marinade.  Pour the marinade into a dish or a plastic bag with the steak and seal.  Put in the fridge to marinate.

Our Review

This may be the best flank steak that I have ever had.  I marinated it for almost two days and then grilled it on the George Foreman grill because it was raining outside.  It was very good and I will definitely make it again.

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Basic Bread

Ingredients

2 cups warm (almost hot) water
4 tsp. yeast
1 Tbsp. sugar
Combine together and let rise for 5 minutes

1/4 cup oil
5 cups bread flour
2 tsp. salt

Mix in a large bowl.  Add to yeast mixture and knead until smooth and elastic. 

Cover and let rise for 20-25 minutes.  

Beat dough down and make into loaves (this recipe makes 2 loaves).  

Here’s the trick to get your bread to come out right.  You need to roll out the bread into a rectangle, then roll up into a loaf, like you would when making cinnamon rolls.  

Lightly slice top of bread to get diagonal cut look when baked. (refer to pic)  Let loaves rise (I put my loaves on separate cookie sheets) for 20-25 minutes.  

Bake on 350* for 20-25 minutes, until top of loaves are golden brown.  Let bread cool for at least 10 minutes before slicing.

Our Review

We love this bread and have made it many times.  Even if you mess up, you don't really mess it up.  

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Honey Garlic Pork Chops

Ingredients

1/4 AND 1/8 C honey

3 Tbsp soy sauce

6 cloves garlic, minced

6 pork loin chops, boneless (4 oz each)

In a shallow bowl mix the first three ingredients.  Coat the chops in the mixture.  Reserve left over honey mixture for basting.  Place chops on a greased grill over medium-high heat, cover and cook, basting two times.

Our Review

This tasted good but I did marinate it for about 8 hours first.  We also cooked it on the George Foreman because of bad weather.

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Sweet Adeline's Homemade Salad Dressing

Ingredients

3/4 C cider vinegar

1 C vegetable oil (we use olive oil)

2 Tsp garlic granules

1 Tsp salt

1 Tbsp black pepper

1/2 C sugar

Mix well.

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Honey Grilled Pineapple

Ingredients

1 fresh pineapple - peeled, cored, and cut into 1 inch rings

1/4 Tsp honey

3 Tsp melted butter

1 dash hot pepper sauce

salt to taste

Place pineapple in a large resealable plastic bag.  Add all of the ingredients, seal bag, and shake to coat evenly.  Marinate for at least 30 minutes, or overnight.

Cook over a high heat grill that has been lightly oiled.  Grill 2-3 minutes per side until heated through and grill marks appear.

Our Review

I'm not a fan of cooked/warm pineapple, but the boys ate it.  We had triangle slices of pineapple, so that is what we used instead of rings.  We also didn't put hot pepper sauce or salt on it.

California Cobb Vinaigrette

Ingredients

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

1/4 C red-wine vinegar

2 Tsp Worchestershire sauce

1 garlic clove, minced

1/2 Tsp coarse salt

1/2 C extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 Tsp ground black pepper

Our review

This recipe sounded familiar to another dressing that I made.  I didn't have Cobb salad ingredients so we made it with a regular salad and it did taste good.

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