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Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Oil & Vinegar

Sometimes, my days just seem like a blend of oil and vinegar. Nothing feels cohesive. I'm pulled in twenty different directions at work, and then I come home to my real job. A job, which at the moment, involves learning the properties of air and the conjugation of french verbs a l'imparfait. Suffice it to say, it really has been a long winter and free time for exercise is pie in the sky.

To keep things under control while winter takes its sweet old time leaving, I've had to take matters into my own hands. My lunch routine involves gazing out my office window while squirrels scamper up and down trees, and people play musical cars while they drive around and around looking for a parking space. It makes me glad I start my day early. Oh, and all the while I'm relishing a salad topped with my favourite salad dressing.
I love my balsamic vinaigrette recipe. I've had it for years and I've had more requests for this than just about anything I make, with the exception, possibly, of my baked Gouda pastry. The recipe is from Pasquale's Kitchen. It's been years since I've seen Pasquale singing and cooking on television and when I googled him, I was surprised to learn he was Canadian, and from Toronto no less. I always thought he was from the States. I have no idea how big he became so maybe you've heard of him and maybe you haven't but that's okay. All you need to know is that his vinaigrette dressing with a few of my own tweaks, is light on the lips and even more so on the hips. 

6oz olive oil
1oz balsamic vinegar
juice of 1 lemon
pinch of oregano
salt and pepper
pinch of garlic powder
tsp of Dijon mustard

Whisk and Repeat

You may or may not be distracted by a cat perched on your dining room table.
The end result should still be the same.
That is, unless, it's my cat on your dining room table.

Store in a pretty jar, because the balsamic turns it brown and it's not the prettiest dressing. But it's what's on the inside that counts. One of those tweaks I mentioned, is that the original recipe calls for red wine vinegar, which might be prettier, but I'm no judge. 

And if you're not familiar with the popular Pasquale here's a little offering I found on YouTube. Enjoy!


I'm linking with the Turner Farm for one of my top 5 Yum's!


~Be well friends~

11 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

love your rooster pal! and your kitty cat kitchen helper too! :)

i hope you get some more "you" time soon with the weather getting warmer and the days getting longer...

MamaMonki said...

I'm going to try this dressing. Looks simple and yummy.

Deb said...

I love this dressing!

Michelle said...

This does look good. Thanks for the recipe.

Dawn said...

Looks yummy. I'll need to try it...if you're sure it will pull me out of my "(non)spring" blues;))

Nancy said...

No, I have never heard of Pasquale. But the dressing sounds great. I will definitely have to try it. :)

Laurie at Turner Farm said...

Wow, I have never heard of Pasquale, going to do some more snooping around on YouTube. Thanks for sharing. Great recipe ~ and I LOVE your little rooster! Too cute. GREAT Post!

MJ said...

Yum!! We make something very similar but with more dijon, less balsalmic. I would love to try your version!! Kitty is gorgeous!!

MountainBlessings said...

Thanks for the dressing recipe! I used to watch Pasquale and wondered what happened to him.
btw, My cat helps me too! thanks for sharing, Marla

crystal.cattle said...

A friend of mine were just talking that we need a summertime dressing recipe. This looks like it would fit the bill!

www.cdycattle.blogspot.com

Staci@LifeAtCobbleHillFarm said...

Yum! If your cat ends up on my kitchen table that means Cait (my cat) actually shared her space! :)