'Render unto Ceasar' Salad

Part of the joy I take in cooking comes from my Aunt Margeaux, who is not only an extremely stylish and beautiful woman, she is also a vegetarian genius in the kitchen!  When I was 14 I spent the end of my 7th grade year living with her family in their Tea House styled home in the mountains overlooking Stinson Beach.  I was in the best shape of my life and ate this exquisite ceasar-style salad daily.  It is a flavor that can be defined as a ceasar dressing because of the ingredients but this dressing is uniquely tangy and is of the lighter persuasion.  Ceasar in restaurants often turns me off because of it's thicker creamier texture.  This dressing doesn't contain any cream or dairy product and is meant only to lightly coat your tossed salad.

This makes dressing for a salad that would serve at least 8!

Ingredients
1/2 C. Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
3 TBSP Fresh pureed Garlic  (using a Mortar & 
             Pestle with 1 Tsp. Salt or a food processer)
3 TBSP  Olive Oil
Anchovy Paste (To taste...normally I squeeze out 1 & 1/2 inches of paste...about 1.5 tsp)


Put all the ingredients in a jar or blender and shake or blend vigorously for several minutes then chill.  The colder the dressing is, the more flavor comes out.

Pour the dressing over 2-3 heads of chopped romaine, grated or chopped Parmesan cheese, and some croutons.   Add some chopped chicken off the grill or last night's roast into the mix for some meat and protein.


Feel free to add whatever your favorite veggies are to your salad.  The roman empire died long ago and won't be offended if you take creative liberty with you salad.  Plus brighter veggies add more vitamins and nutrient value to your meal.

Voi'La

(My roomate Lydia actually gets most the credit for the salad creation...she just devoured all the leftover veggies in the fridge with a dull chop and tossed them with my dressing genius to create this wonder!)

SuperBowl Queso

ATTENTION LADIES OF AMERICA!

Make your man (and all his friends) happy this SuperBowl Sunday with a quick crock-pot queso!  Not only is it fast and SOOooooo easy, it cooks without your help so you might actually catch the game as well...or at least sit next to your man and yell when he does!  Without neglecting the grand layout of All-American Super-bowl foods!

Ready for KickOff In just in time! (Feel free to double or triple the ingredients for company!)

Ingredients
1 Velveeta Loaf
2 Cans Diced Tomato with Green Chile or Garlic
1/4 Diced Onion
3 Cloves Diced garlic
2 lbs Ground Turkey or Beef  (Turkey is WAYYY healthier...just dont tell the MEN!)
1 Packet Chili Seasoning

Steps To a Delicious Crock Queso

1st Down:  Open the two cans of Tomatoes and put them in the Crock Pot on HIGH.  The will prep the pot for the meat and cheese.

2nd Down:Brown the Turkey with the Onions and Garlic 

3rd Down: While the turkey browns cut the Velveeta Loaf into cubes.

4th Down: Once the Turkey is fully cooked add the McCormick Chili seasoning packet to the meet and mix it in well.

TOUCHDOWN:   Turn the heat down to low and top the meat with the cubes of Velveeta.  Let sit for 10 minutes and the cheese will soften without loosing shape.

Field Goal:  Check to see if the tomatoes and crock are steamy and then spoon the meat and cheese into the tomato sauce stirring as you go.  Put the top on, turn it to LOW, and there is your SuperBowl Queso!

"If the SuperBowl had a flavor, that is what it would be!"  -Lydia Wilkin

USES FOR THIS QUESO:
Chips
Nachos
Hot Dogs
Hot Links
Top a new york strip, carne asada, or tri-tip with this cheesy goodness!
Chilli-cheese dogs (it is both the chilli and the cheese!)
Put it inside a hollowed out sourdough bread bowl!
ANYTHING ELSE THAT NEEDS A DIP OR TOPPING!

Drop it into this for serving!