Italian Salad Dressing

I already knew that homemade salad dressing is better and healthier than storebought, but it's one of my last holdouts of "trash" on my grocery list. I'm going to try to find recipes for all my favorites (if anyone can duplicate the Asian Toasted Sesame, please let me know!).

This was super easy to make and keeps for a long time in the fridge. The only thing is the oil solidifies in the fridge so I have to get it out early or set in a bowl of warm water to melt. Not a huge problem, as long as I remember! It's so delicious it makes up for it.

Italian Dressing 

1 cup apple cider vinegar (honestly any type is fine, but I do try to incorporate lots of unprocessed ACV into my diet. Just choose your favorite.)
1 1/3 cup olive oil 
2 tablespoons water
1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
1/2 tablespoon onion powder
2 drops liquid Stevia (or about 1/2 tsp of your sweetener of choice)
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
2 teaspoons sea salt

Pour ingredients into a glass jar or bottle with a tight-fitting lid (you need to shake without leaking)
Cover and shake well. I used my stick blender but I don't think it made a difference and gave me one more thing to clean.
Store in refrigerator.

* You can adjust seasonings to your liking or based on what you have on hand. Really, it would be hard to mess this up. Even with no seasoning at all it would be a tasty oil/vinegar blend!

* It also makes a great marinade. I've used on pork and chicken so far. Add a little lemon juice if you like.

*Variations are endless! 

* This makes about 2-1/2 cups - not enough for my quart jar, but too much for my Good Seasons Cruet. 

Ginger Cranberry Sauce

We have lamb for Christmas dinner, and we go out of town for Thanksgiving, so we always buy a turkey to fix later in the winter so we can have the yummy leftovers. Today is that day! I always make my own cranberry sauce, but haven't fallen in love with any one recipe so I usually wing it. I write in down in case it's good, and today, it is!

My husband and I are eating paleo at the moment, so that makes sweetening a bit more difficult. This batch turned out with exactly the right ratio of sweet and tart for me.

Ginger Cranberry Sauce

3 cups fresh or frozen cranberries, rinsed and picked over
1 apple, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup candied ginger, chopped (I used a naturally sweetened kind I got at the health food store. I can't remember the brand.)

1/2 cup orange juice

10 drops liquid stevia

Put everything in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for about an hour, stirring occasionally.

Cool and enjoy!