Apple Cider Vinaigrette

December 6, 2015 by hastemakestaste 1 Comment

You can buy salad dressing and vinaigrettes. But, why? It’s so easy to make at home in whatever quantity you need, there’s no reason to buy the preservative-laden bottles at the market.

Super simple, this slightly sweet and citrusy vinaigrette is a perfect addition to a light salad (like this spinach salad). Whip it up in seconds and wow your guests at home, or make your co-workers jealous at lunch.

Apple Cider Vinaigrette

2015-12-06 00:50:15

Serves 12

A slightly sweet vinaigrette perfect for a simple salad.

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Prep Time

5 min

Total Time

5 min

Prep Time

5 min

Total Time

5 min

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size

23g

Servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 94

Calories from Fat 80

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 9g

14%

Saturated Fat 1g

Trans Fat 0g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 7g

Cholesterol 0mg

Sodium 2mg

Total Carbohydrates 4g

Dietary Fiber 0g

Sugars 4g

Protein 0g

Vitamin A

Vitamin C

Calcium

Iron

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

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Ingredients

½ cup olive oil
¼ cup lemon juice
¼ cup apple cider (apple juice could be substituted out of cider season)
2 tablespoons honey

Instructions

Whisk together all ingredients and pour into a vessel from which the vinaigrette can easily be drizzled (preferably with the ability to shake as needed).

Tips

Be sure to include the honey in the vinaigrette - it acts as a surfactant, meaning that it helps the molecules of oil and other ingredients to bind together longer, creating a vinaigrette that doesn’t separate as soon as it’s set on the table.
For an even longer lasting bind, use a blender to combine ingredients instead of whisking.

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Smoked Salmon Crostini

November 5, 2015 by hastemakestaste Leave a Comment

It was at my first restaurant job, at 16 years old, that I fell in love with smoked salmon. We were allowed meals on the house during our brief breaks, and that was my first opportunity to experiment with smearing a perfectly toasted bagel with cream cheese, press in chopped green olives, and then top it with copious amounts of smoked salmon. My co-workers were not impressed. I was head over heels.

Just starting-to-melt cream cheese covering crunchy yet airy warm, toasty bread, topped with the slightly salty fish, became my go-to treat-breakfast for years after, not only for (what I perceive to be) its well-rounded taste and textural qualities, but for its aesthetics as well. Even if you don’t have a fish-crush on salmon like I do, it’s hard to deny the beauty of the contrast of bright salmon atop the stark whiteness of cream cheese underscored by golden toasted bread (unless you take it up a notch and use pumpernickel – my absolute favorite- which elevates the whole dish to a visual art form).

So, clearly, smoked salmon always equals fancy breakfast food to me.

However, there are obviously other uses for thinly sliced cold fish, and this appetizer version is an elevated handheld appetizer take on one of my first adult breakfast loves.

The creamy, citrus-spiked fresh spread offsets the saltiness of the fish while the crostini adds a complementary crunchy texture. It’s so incredibly simple to make that you can nosh on it on Friday night, or you can serve it to guests for your holiday party. It’s simple, it’s affordable, and it’s just plain pretty.

Smoked Salmon Crostini

2015-11-04 23:44:54

Serves 12

Pairing my quick dill dip with smoked salmon and crostini makes for an easy yet elegant appetizer.

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Prep Time

30 min

Prep Time

30 min

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size

76g

Servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 85

Calories from Fat 14

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 2g

Saturated Fat 0g

Trans Fat 0g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 0g

Cholesterol 21mg

Sodium 294mg

12%

Total Carbohydrates 10g

Dietary Fiber 0g

Sugars 1g

Protein 9g

Vitamin A

Vitamin C

Calcium

Iron

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

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Ingredients

8 oz smoked salmon
Dill dip (see below)
Baguette
Green onions

For the dill dip, see below or at

http://hastemakestaste.kitchen/2015/11/zesty-done-in-…inute-dill-dip/

Dill dip

1 16 oz container fat free sour cream
¼ cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup fresh dill

Instructions

Slice baguette into thin slices
Spread dip on slices
Top with small slices of smoked salmon
Sprinkle sliced green onions on top

Notes

Storage: Store individual ingredients separately and prepare on the day intended to serve to avoid sogginess of bread.

Tip

Purchase the bread the day before intending to serve so it is crunchy and toothsome. If the bread is fresh, slice as advised, then toast briefly on a cookie sheet for a few minutes.
Salmon is easier to work with when it's cooler. If you are comfortable pulling off slices by hand, use straight from the refrigerator. If you want it to be sturdier in order to cut or precisely place, freeze it for 15 - 30 minutes before working with it.
For affordable smoked salmon, check the seafood section at your local grocer for trimmings. Stores like Harris Teeter often sell containers of the trimmings that are far less expensive than the pre-packaged slices. Also, Trader Joe's often sells packaged smoked salmon at reasonable prices.

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calories

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carbs

10g

Haste Makes Taste http://hastemakestaste.kitchen/

Mediterranean White Bean Tomato Salad

November 3, 2015 by hastemakestaste Leave a Comment

At the beginning of the week, I’m chanting the healthy mantra: I’m going to prep my meals, I’m going to eat lots of veg. I’m going to prep my meals….

By many Thursdays I’ve spiraled to: Have you tried that taco/bbq/sandwich place around the corner? (as I try to discreetly, yet guiltily, wipe sauce from my hands and attempt to forget the $12 that I just spent because I was too busy the previous night studying/writing/watching Modern Family to actually prepare my lunch for the next day).

Seriously, how hard is it to make lunch? Well, sometimes, it’s really hard. Am I right?

The hours between 8 and 5 seem to slowly tick by at a pace that would make a turtle cry. But the hours between 6 pm and 9 pm fly by, right? You charge (or stumble…) through the door and into your home with the best intentions, but all of a sudden it’s an hour from bedtime and you’ve barely scraped through the evening chores.

This salad fixes your lunch problems. Make it on Sunday in a matter of minutes, divvy it up into 5 containers, and it’s done. It beats a traditional salad with greens because there’s no wilting by the end of the week, and the beans soak up the spices and moisture from the oil as the days go by, so they only get creamier and more flavorful. Plus, with all of those calories and dollars you save from not eating takeout, you’ll have plenty left over for some well-earned Friday night cocktails.

Mediterranean White Bean Tomato Salad

2015-11-01 23:17:26

Serves 4

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Nutrition Facts

Serving Size

118g

Servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 140

Calories from Fat 78

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 9g

14%

Saturated Fat 1g

Trans Fat 0g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 6g

Cholesterol 0mg

Sodium 166mg

Total Carbohydrates 17g

Dietary Fiber 2g

Sugars 14g

Protein 1g

Vitamin A

Vitamin C

10%

Calcium

Iron

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

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Ingredients

1 12 oz package of grape or cherry tomatoes
1 can cannellini beans
1/2 cup green olives
1/8 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon fresh parsley
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Cut tomatoes in half (or thirds for larger ones).
Combine with beans and olives.
Mix together olive oil, lemon juice, basil, salt, and pepper, then pour over beans and tomatoes.
Sprinkle on fresh parsley and mix all ingredients together.

Notes

Storage: Refrigerate up to 5 days.

Tip: When cutting small varieties of tomatoes, use this strategy to cut them all quickly

1) Turn a plate upside down.
2) Put tomatoes on top.
3) Cover with another plate (that is right side up).
4) Hold the top plate with one hand to keep tomatoes securely in place.
5) Use a serrated knife to slice through all tomatoes.

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calories

140

fat

protein

carbs

17g

Haste Makes Taste http://hastemakestaste.kitchen/

Zesty Done-In-A-Minute Dill Dip

November 3, 2015 by hastemakestaste Leave a Comment

Some people embrace Friday night in all of its throw-back-a-few-to-forget-the-week glory. Others are catching up on Netflix after crawling into pj’s and diving into pizza. I won’t say I don’t indulge in either of these. But my true weekend night love affair is with a table full of tasty small bites that I can nosh on sporadically while I dig in to a good book, catch up on the DVR, hunker down for some writing, or indulge in a few end-of-the-week beverages with friends.

That said, weekend nights should be carefree, right? We all worked hard all week – too hard to come home and make elaborate meals or snacks, that’s for sure.

So, this is an easy go-to for Friday or Saturday night… or a last-minute Monday night football party. Whether you’re curling up for some cheesy cable movies, or you’re hosting a spur-of-the-moment soiree, this dip is faster than stopping at the store and standing in the lines, and low-cal enough that you can eat the whole bowl if you’re in that kind of mood. And it’s the end of the week. So you probably are.

Fresh and creamy with a touch of bright citrus, this dip is a bit reminiscent of a tzatziki, but takes the cumbersome process of dealing with cucumber out of the equation. You can serve it with veggies to be super healthy, but I love some hearty pumpernickel or toasted rye to dig in.

Cheers to the weekend… Or Monday night. Either way, you can get to the “cheers” part of the night far faster with a quick app like this – and that’s something to which we can all raise a glass.

Zesty Done-In-A-Minute Dill Dip

2015-11-01 23:02:06

Serves 12

Unexpected guests? Last minute party invitation? Whip up this fresh dip with bright flavor in seconds.

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Nutrition Facts

Serving Size

44g

Servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 30

Calories from Fat 0

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 0g

Saturated Fat 0g

Trans Fat 0g

Polyunsaturated Fat 0g

Monounsaturated Fat 0g

Cholesterol 3mg

Sodium 153mg

Total Carbohydrates 6g

Dietary Fiber 0g

Sugars 0g

Protein 1g

Vitamin A

Vitamin C

Calcium

Iron

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

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Ingredients

1 16 oz container fat free sour cream
¼ cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup fresh dill (if you don't have access to fresh dill, substitute to dried dill instead, but reduce the quantity to a third of of a cup, at most)

Instructions

Rinse dill, then cut into small pieces.
Stir together all ingredients.
Refrigerate for at least one hour.
Serve alongside vegetables or bread, or use as sandwich spread.

Notes

Storage: Refrigerate for up to a week.

Tip

Want creamier dip? Add 1/4 cup of mayo.

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Haste Makes Taste

Recipes, tips, and tricks for making real food, fast.

Apple Cider Vinaigrette

Smoked Salmon Crostini

Mediterranean White Bean Tomato Salad

Zesty Done-In-A-Minute Dill Dip

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