Caesar Salad

I'm a firm believer that no good Caesar dressing comes from a bottle. So, what's a girl to do during a salmonella scare when she's craving Caesar salad? Employ some good, old fashioned Duke's mayo, that's what. This dressing is not as thick as it would be with a nice fat egg yolk, but tasty and safe just the same!

Caesar Dressing
Serves 4

1 tbsp Duke's mayo
1 tspn dijon mustard
6 anchovies (in olive oil)
Scant 1/4 c. fresh lemon juice
3/4 tspn salt
1/2 tspn fresh cracked pepper
2 cloves garlic, chopped
3/4 c. olive oil
1/3 c+ grated parm reg cheese

Place mayo, mustard, anchovies, garlic, lemon juice, cheese, salt and pepper in food processor. Let it rip and then slowly add olive oil until combined. Taste and adjust seasoning, cheese and lemon juice to personal preference.

Toss w/chopped romaine (2-3 hearts or 1 big head) and a sprinkling more of cheese.

We also serve ours w/grilled/roasted chicken, roasted tomatoes and bacon on top. You could also make your own parm reg croutons to thrown in. Enjoy!

Tapas Nite

This summer has blown by and all of my friends and I have been scattered to the wind. So, I had to come up with a good excuse to corral us all together and that resulted in 'Tapas Nite.' Inspired by a Tapas cookbook two of them had given me as a gift, I might add.

I highly recommend a Tapas party if you like to theme it up. Just beware the salt lick of ham that crops up when you want to get your pinchos on. Take your Diurex early and often!

If you're looking for menu ideas, we had:

• Pork tenderloin, caramelized onions and brie crostini
  
• Ham, brie, walnuts and balsamic crostini


• Marcona almonds roasted w/rosemary and sea salt


• Beef empanadillas


• Goat cheese and serrano ham empanadillas


• Mascarpone, goat and chive stuffed dates wrapped in serrano ham


• Swordfish ceviche


• Shrimp salad


• Potatoes roasted with rosemary, shallot, garlic and sea salt


• Sausage and manchego toasts


• Sangria


• Cava for dessert

I made the potatoes (amongst a few other things) and they seemed to be a hit! So here's the recipe for you--

Potatoes Roasted with Shallot, Garlic and Rosemary

2 lbs smallish older potatoes, quartered
1 tbsp chopped rosemary
5 oz shallot- larger ones cut in half or quarters so they cook evenly
3 cloves garlic, sliced
1/4 c. good spanish olive oil
sea salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Bring water to boil, add potatoes and a fistful of salt. Once water is boiling again after adding potatoes, set the timer for 5 minutes. Strain. Toss in bowl with olive oil, rosemary and salt. Roast for 35 minutes. Add shallots and garlic, roast for approx 20 minutes more.