Asparagus salad

Ah, time for Asparagus.
Green Asparagus, roasted on the grill or the white one in a hollandaise sauce with ham or as a salad or even in a Risotto or a soup. Asparagus is great.

This salad is just plain refreshing.


1 pound green or white Asparagus, cut in 1 inch pieces

1 tsp. salt
1 tbs. vinegar
1/2 tsp. sugar
2 tbs. mayonnaise
4 tbs. parsley, chopped
1/4 cup whipping cream

2 tomatoes, chopped
2 slices pineapple, cut in chunks
1 cup chicken, cooked and chopped or 1/2 cup of ham, cut in strips

Cook the Asparagus in saltwater for about 5 minutes. You still want them crunchy, not mushy.
Drain in a colander and set aside to cool.

With the salt, vinegar,sugar, mayonnaise, whipping cream and parsley make a dressing.
Combine the cooled Asparagus, dressing, tomatoes, pineapple and chicken/ ham and toss lightly to coat everything with the dressing.

Naan bread

Naan bread is the perfect accompaniment for Indian food, or just like that. Yumm!

Naan bread

1 pkg. active dry yeast
1 cup warm water
1/4 cup sugar

3 tbs. milk
1 egg, beater
 2 tsp. garlic, minced

2 tsp. salt
3 1/2 cup flour

1/4 cup butter, melted

Dissolve the yeast and sugar in the warm water and let it sit until it's frothy.
Mix the liquid ingredients ( milk, egg and garlic ) together and set aside.
Mix the flour and the salt together and also set aside.

When the yeast is foaming, combine all of the ingredients and knead, adding flour if necessary until the dough is not sticky anymore. Cover and let rest until double in size. ( 30-40 minutes.)
After the dough has risen, punch it down and knead some more. Pinch off about 8 balls and flatten then on a floured surface, with your hand. Let them rise again for about 30 minutes and fry them in a low to medium hot frying pan or on a grill, brushing the uncooked side with the melted butter ( about 3 -4 minutes on each side.)
Oh so good!

Italian Dressing Mix

As promised, here is the Italian dressing Dry Mix.

Italian Dressing Mix:

1 tbs. garlic salt
1 tbs. onion powder
1 tbs. sugar
2 tbs. oregano
1 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. dried parsley
1/4 tsp. celery salt
2 tbs. salt

Mix all spices together and store in an airtight container.

  For a salad dressing:

1/4 cup white vinegar
2/3 cup canola oil
2 tbs. water
2 tbs. dry mix


Happy mixing!

Fiesta Dip

Here is a refreshing dip you are going to like. So easy, so fast, just great for summer.

Fiesta Dip

about 1 cup of cilantro, chopped
1 can of tomato chunks, partially drained
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium cucumber, seeded and cut in chunks
1 can black beans, drained
1 can corn, drained
1 pkg. Italian dressing ( I have a recipe for a dry mix Italian dressing. I make sure I post it next time)


Mix all the ingredients together and let the flavors blend for at least an hour before serving.
 Serve with tortilla chips.

Note: You can reduce the amount of cilantro in this recipe, if cilantro isn't your thing.

Hamburger Buns

I have not found a good hamburger bun here in Germany. Most of them fall apart as soon as you put your Burger on it. 
So, homemade it will be. This recipe is perfect, they don't fall apart and are still soft enough just like a bun should be.

Hamburger Buns:

1 cup water
2 tbs. canola oil
3 cups flour
1 tbs. sugar
3/4 tsp. salt
2 1/4 tsp. active yeast ( I used 1/2 cube of fresh bakers yeast)

Preheat the oven to 350 F ( 175 C )
Mix together the yeast, water, and the sugar. Let that mixture sit until it is frothy.
Add the flour, salt, and the oil and knead until the dough is glossy.
Place the dough in a bowl and cover and let it rise until double. ( about 1 hour )
When the dough is done rising, punch it down and knead for another 2 to 3 minutes. Then divide the dough in 8 equal parts and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. ( roll the dough parts in your hands until they form a ball and then flatten them to resemble buns.) Cover them again and let them rise for another
30 to 45 minutes. Bake the rolls in the preheated oven until the tops are golden brown, about 12 minutes.
Cool the buns on a rack before slicing them.

Dressing

Here in Germany, I definitely miss Ranch; and for the Taco salad, Catalina dressing.
Both are nowhere to be found in the stores. When we went to Subway at one point in time, we wanted to have a Sandwich with Ranch dressing, the guy told us they are not allowed to sell it in Germany. WAIT WHAT, WHY???
 I do not understand that at all.

Well fine then, I'll make my own!!!!
So, I started experimenting with recipes and it actually worked.

Here are a couple of my favorite homemade dressing recipes.

 

Catalina dressing:

 1 cup sugar
2 tsp. salt
1 dash paprika
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. celery salt
1/2 tsp. mustard
grated onion to taste or onion powder
1/2 cup vinegar
2/3 cup ketchup
1 cup olive oil

Whisk all ingredients together.

Ranch dressing:

 3 scallions
1/2 cup fresh basil
2 tbs. lemon juice
1 1/2 tbs. mustard
1 tbs. olive oil
2 gloves garlic
2 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper

Blend in a food processor until it makes a smooth mixture.
Add:
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1/2 cup buttermilk

Stir well and place in the refrigerator about 1 hour until flavors blend together. 

Keep in mind, no additives, so the dressing's does not last as long as the store bought one.

Hope you like it.