Sandra's Herb Dipping Oil/Sauce (for Homemade Bread)

A delicious appetizer for your guests
 pre-dinner with warm bread right out of the oven for dipping,
along with a nice glass of wine...

Yield: 1 cup
Prep: 5 Mins.
Let Stand: 2 Hrs.

Serve with:
Sandra's No-Knead Rosemary-Agave Bread(in a Cast Iron Skillet)
Click here for recipe!!

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup Mazola oil
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
1/2 TB dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 TB grated Parmesan cheese

METHOD

Place all ingredients into a 1/2-pint Mason glass mason jar, cover with lid and ring. Shake vigorously, then set aside for a minimum of 2 hours at room temperature for flavors to meld.

Shake before serving with your favorite, warm homemade bread. ~ Enjoy!

SANDRA’S SWEET BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

Another favorite vinaigrette I prepare
just prior to serving
over special green salads...

Servings: (6)

Prep: 5 Mins.

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1 garlic clove, grated

2 tablespoons honey

1/2 teaspoon fine-grain kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

METHOD

Whisk all ingredients, except olive oil, in a small bowl to combine.  

Drizzle olive oil in a slow and steady stream while whisking until emulsified.  

Serve vinaigrette over your favorite combination of salad greens and veggies. ~ Enjoy!

Feel free to try this vinaigrette with the following:

Sandra's Mediterranean Salad Recipe

SANDRA’S BAKED WHOLE-WHEAT HERB PITA CHIPS

These warm and crispy herb pita triangles
have a crazy-good texture and flavor
you just can't get compared to
the store-bought version...

Servings: (10)

Prep: 5 Mins.

Cook: 7 Mins.

INGREDIENTS

6 whole-wheat pita bread pockets

Olive oil cooking spray

Spice/Herb Mixture:

¼ teaspoon granulated garlic

¼ teaspoon granulated onion

1 teaspoon dried cilantro

½ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

METHOD

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line a couple of baking sheets with foil; spray, then set them aside.

Cut each pita bread around the circumference so you have 12 halves.  

Line the cutting board with foil (for easier clean up), and spray both sides of 12 halved pitas with olive oil spray. 

Mix the spice/herb mixture in a small bowl.  Sprinkle one side of the halved pitas with half of the spice mixture, then spray with olive oil for spices to adhere.  Repeat, doing the same on other side of pita halves as well.  Toss the tin foil, and cut pita halves into 4 equal triangles; yielding 48 total pita chips (or cut them smaller if you wish to yield even more smaller triangles).

You will be baking these in batches.  Begin by placing the pita triangles on baking sheets in a single layer, and bake for about 7 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.  Watch carefully, as they could easily burn! ~ Enjoy!

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Tip:  I only make as much as we are going to eat of the herb pita chips at one setting, as they tend not to store or reheat as well as when they first come out of the oven.

Click here for Sandra's Addicting Baked Tropical Jalapeno Spinach Dip

SANDRA’S EASY SLOW-COOKER ASIAN BONELESS PORK RIBS

Oh my, these Asian Pork Ribs 
turned out spectacularly fabulous...
~~~~~~~~~~~~

I found my photograph and recipe 
are featured 

@ http://3quartslowcooker.net/
sandras-easy-slow-cooker-asian-ribs/

Serves: (4)
Prep: 10 Mins. |
Slow Cook: 5 Hrs.

Posted by Sandra

INGREDIENTS

3 lbs. boneless country-style pork ribs
1 medium yellow onion, cut into ½” wedges

***Sauce:
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
4 tablespoons tamari
--(aged soy sauce)
½ cup ketchup
¾ cup apple juice
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
½ teaspoon toasted sesame oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
½ teaspoon ground pepper
½ teaspoon ginger
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
½ teaspoon dry mustard

Garnish Ingredients:
--1 tablespoon sesame seeds (toast in dry skillet over low heat, until light golden brown)
--1 green onion, sliced

METHOD

Trim ribs of excess marbling, and wash and pat dry.

In a medium bowl, whisk the sauce ingredients.

Place onion wedges in bottom of the cold slow cooker; top with ribs, and then pour the sauce over them. Cover, and cook on low for 5 hours, until meat is tender.

Place ribs on a serving platter using tongs, and the caramelized onions along side; sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds, and green onions. ~ Enjoy!


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Tip: I served these ribs with baked sweet potatoes, and a garden salad lightly drizzled with an Asian vinaigrette.

SANDRA'S HEALTHY ROASTED ROOT VEGETABLES

A healthy and flavorful side dish 
addition to most any entree...

Servings: (4)
Prep: 10 mins. |
Cook: 30 to 40 mins.

Posted by Sandra

Please do not cut root vegetables any smaller than size noted, as they tend to shrink while roasting. Also, don’t skimp on the olive oil because you’ll end up with dried out root vegetables otherwise.

INGREDIENTS

2 carrots, peeled, and cut into 1-1/4” cubes
2 russet potatoes, peeled, and cut into 1-1/4” cubes
1 sweet potato, peeled, and cut into 1-1/4” cubes

Vegetables prepped for roasting

1 small butternut squash, peeled and seeded, and cut into 1-1/4” cubes
1 purple onion, peeled, and cut into 1-1/4” pieces
1/3 cup olive oil
1 small clove of garlic, minced
1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley, chopped

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil, and set aside.

Toss the cut vegetables with the olive oil, garlic, kosher salt, and pepper in a large Ziploc bag, mixing to coat, and place on prepared baking sheet in a single layer (see photograph of prepped vegetables). Roast for 30 to 40 minutes, until slightly caramelized and tender when poked with a paring knife – (be sure to turn vegetables midway through cooking process for even cooking).

Remove from oven, sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley, and serve immediately – Enjoy!


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Tip: You can also grill these vegetables in a heatproof grilling basked (the type that has holes in it) for the same amount of cooking time.

SANDRA'S GO-TO GREEK SALAD

It just doesn't get better than this -
this is a salad that I often crave...

Servings: (6)
Prep Time: 10 min |
Stand Time: 30 min

Posted by Sandra

INGREDIENTS

***Salad
· 1 hothouse cucumber, (unpeeled) cut in half, and sliced 1/4-inch thick
· 1 red bell pepper, large-diced
· 1 yellow bell pepper, large-diced
· 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
· 1/2 red onion, sliced in half, and julienned
· 2 TB crumbled feta cheese:
(Sprinkle cheese on top just before serving)
· 1/2 cup calamata olives, pitted and halved

***Vinaigrette
· 2 cloves garlic, minced
· 1 teaspoon dried oregano
· 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
· 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
· 1/2 cup good olive oil
· 1 teaspoon kosher salt
· 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

METHOD

Place the cucumber, peppers, tomatoes, olives and red onion in a medium bowl.

For the vinaigrette whisk together the garlic, oregano, mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper in a small bowl. While still whisking, slowly add the olive oil to make an emulsion. Pour the vinaigrette over the vegetables.

Sprinkling feta on top (do not toss). Set aside for 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld at room temperature, and serve.

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Variation: Roast just the vegetables tossed with olive oil for 20 minutes at 400 degrees in oven.