Surprise Dressing Recipes

CREAMY SALAD DRESSING WITH SOUR CREAM

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Whisk together the salt, pepper, paprika, sugar, garlic powder, oil, and vinegar until sugar is dissolved.
• Add sour cream and whisk the mixture briskly to combine.
• Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

CREAMY DRESSINGS

Steps:

• For the Base: Whisk together the ingredients. Add one of the combinations below to change it up, then whisk in a little water, a tablespoon at a time, until you've reached your desired consistency. Transfer to a resealable jar or container and refrigerate up to 1 week.
• Ranch: Add 2 scallions, thinly sliced; 1 clove garlic, grated, pressed, or finely chopped; and lots of freshly ground black pepper to the base and whisk to combine.
• Caesar: Add 2 anchovy fillets, finely chopped; 1 clove garlic, grated; and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan to the base and whisk to combine.
• Cheese: Add 4 ounces crumbled feta, goat cheese, or mild blue cheese to the base and whisk to combine

PINEAPPLE STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 11-by-7-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Arrange the bread cubes in an even layer on a sheet pan. Bake until the bread is just beginning to dry but not browned, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
• Beat the butter and sugars in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs and mix on low speed until well incorporated. Add the vanilla, can of pineapple with the juices and 1/2 teaspoon salt and mix until well combined. Fold in the cooled bread cubes.
• Pour into the prepared pan. Bake until deep golden brown and bubbly, 45 to 50 minutes.

SOUTHERN DRESSING

Steps:

• Cut the cornbread and French bread into 1-inch cubes, place on a baking sheet and leave out until completely dried out, several hours or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Add the bacon to a skillet and saute over medium heat until cooked and almost crisp, about 7 minutes. Remove to a plate and wipe out any grease. Melt the butter in the skillet, throw in the celery, red peppers and onions and cook, stirring, until very soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the jalapenos and garlic and continue to saute for 2 minutes. Pour in the chicken broth, add the parsley, rosemary and some salt and pepper and stir. Cook for a couple of minutes, then turn off the heat.
• Add the bread and bacon to a large bowl and spoon in some of the broth mixture. Keep adding the broth, tossing as you go, until it is all mixed in. Add more salt and pepper if needed and toss it around, then check the seasoning. If you like your dressing extra moist, add a little more broth.
• Pile the dressing into a 3-quart (9-by-13-inch) casserole pan and bake, uncovered, until golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve piping hot.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Add the cornmeal to a large bowl along with the flour, baking powder, salt, basil, sage and thyme and stir together.
• Measure the buttermilk in a measuring cup, add the whole milk and egg and stir together with a fork. Add the baking soda and stir. Pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients and stir with a fork until just combined. Do not overmix.
• In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons shortening in the microwave and slowly add to the batter, stirring constantly until combined.
• In a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over high heat, melt the remaining tablespoon of butter and shortening. Pour the batter into the hot skillet, spread to even out the surface and cook over high heat for 1 minute. Then get it into the oven straightaway and bake until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. The edges should be crispy.

GRANDMA STOLL'S MOIST DRESSING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13x2-inch ovenproof serving dish or spray with nonstick spray.
• Put the turkey giblets in a medium pot, add 1 1/2 cups broth, place over high heat, and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, adding water if the liquid boils out. Strain and reserve the broth. Coarsely chop the giblets, removing any bones or extra fat. You should have about 1 cup giblets.
• In a large bowl, mix together the turkey giblets and the bread. In a large skillet on medium-high heat, heat the butter until it sings (is foamy). Add the onions and celery and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Pour into the bread mixture. Stir in the poultry seasoning, parsley, salt, and pepper, and enough reserved giblet broth to moisten the mixture, adding plain broth, if necessary, so that you are using about 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 cups all together. Toss thoroughly and pour the dressing into the prepared dish. Bake 30 minutes, adding more stock as needed to keep the dressing moist.
• The dressing can be refrigerated up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Let it defrost in the refrigerator overnight, cover with foil, and reheat at 350°F. for 30 minutes.

BASIC VINAIGRETTE DRESSING WITH 8 VARIATIONS

Steps:

• Shake all ingredients for your chosen variation together in a tightly-lidded container OR whisk together in a small bowl.
• Let stand 10 minutes to rehydrate dried herbs and blend flavors.
• Shake again then dress salad as desired.
• Note -- I recommend the lemon dressing on spinach.
• Note -- I recommend the Bacon Dressing, Mustard Dressing, and Balsamic Vinaigrette on strong greens such as escarole, curly endive, and dandelion greens.
• Note -- The sweeter version of the mustard dressing is great for a vinegar coleslaw if you discover that you have accidentally gotten one of those occasional cabbages that are a touch on the bitter side.
• Note -- feel free to play with other seasonings, more complex blends, flavored oils, and flavored vinegars. Once you've learned the technique you can customize your salad dressing to suit just about any meal.

"SIMPLE IS BEST" DRESSING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250°F. Butter a 13x9x2" baking dish and set aside. Scatter bread in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake, stirring occasionally, until dried out, about 1 hour. Let cool; transfer to a very large bowl.
• Meanwhile, melt 3/4 cup butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add onions and celery. Stir often until just beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Add to bowl with bread; stir in herbs, salt, and pepper. Drizzle in 1 1/4 cups broth and toss gently. Let cool.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Whisk 1 1/4 cups broth and eggs in a small bowl. Add to bread mixture; fold gently until thoroughly combined. Transfer to prepared dish, cover with foil, and bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of dressing registers 160°F, about 40 minutes. (Note: Dressing can be made one day ahead up to this point. Uncover the dressing, let cool, then cover again and chill. The next day, proceed with the final bake as described below.)
• Bake dressing, uncovered, until set and top is browned and crisp, 40-45 minutes longer (if chilled, add 10-15 minutes).

SURPRISE SALAD

Steps:

• Add the mustard and onion juice to the French dressing. While the vegetables are still warm, marinate them separately, each in 3/4 cup of the dressing. Set to chill for at least an hour.
• To serve, combine the potatoes and beans with the mayonnaise, and put them in a bowl lined with lettuce. Arrange the diced beets over the beans and potatoes. Rice the egg over these and sprinkle all with the chives and dill. Serve with marinated herring, or with thin rye bread sandwiches of cream cheese and anchovy paste.

MARTHA'S FAVORITE VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Place all ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Secure lid and shake vigorously until thickened. Refrigerate up to 3 days (shake vigorously before each use.)

CHICKEN SURPRISE

Steps:

• Place chicken in bottom of shallow oven pan.
• Combine cream of chicken soup, milk and half and half.
• Spread soup mixture over top of chicken breasts evenly.
• Sprinkle with pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley flakes and Italian seasoning.
• Place Swiss cheese slices over soup.
• In saucepan, mix melted butter and 1 box of the stuffing (bread and all).
• Spoon stuffing mixture over cheese slices evenly.
• Cover pan with foil.
• Bake at 450 degrees for 45 minutes or until chicken is done.