Cesar dressing- the quick and easy kind

For months now, maybe years, my husband and I put a chicken on the rotisserie every Sunday. It's our easy Sunday dinner, the day we try to wind down before the beginning of the new week ahead. Not only does it make for an easy Sunday dinner, paring it with a green and often a starch of some kind, it really has become a "no brainer" for us- and that's a good thing come Sunday afternoon! The best part of this chicken? Well, it becomes multiple meals, and in my book that's a very good thing. We will use left over chicken for

1. Chicken fajitas
2. Chicken enchiladas
3. Chicken salad (lunch type)
4. Cesar salad with chicken

Most often we make chicken fajitas with left overs on our inside griddle- super easy and super tasty. Last night we chose Cesar salad with fresh Romaine, fresh ground  parmesan cheese and  black pepper. Since we were out of Cesar dressing, Joe whipped up this tasty recipe.

Cesar dressing:

6 cloves garlic (we omit this)

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

1 Tbsp Vinegar

2 Tbsp Mayo (we use Veganase)

Salt

Pepper

Lemon juice

Minced Anchovy fillets (optional)

Compine garlic, mustard, vinegar and two pinches of salt in a bender and mix thoroughly. Add may and blend together. In a slow  stream and olive oil through hole in lid. Scrape dressing with spatula into a bowl and season to taste with salt, peper and lemon juice. Add minced anchovies to taste if you desire.

Yum, yum! Love this recipe, and we always have the ingredients on hand to whip it up in a jiffy. We toss the romain, chopped up left over cold chicken, parmesan and black pepper in a big bowl and dig in. Love, love, love this!

Enjoy!

Karan

Date Nut Cake

Although this recipe is thought of usually during the winter months, I thought I'd share it now because I've got fresh dates sitting in the fridge from a gathering that I wasn't quite sure what else to do with. I know most folks plug there noses at the mention or site of dates, but these tasty edibles make one moist and very delicious bread- and I'm not talking the "fruit cake" kind. I dare you to try it. 

This recipe, as simple as it may seem, has been a cherished favorite in my family for generations. There was nothing better than as a kid to dig around the chest freezer and come up with a frozen foiled loaf (of date bread)- you knew you'd practically found gold. No kidding! I spent years twisting my mother's arm to get this recipe from her aunt ... and here it for all to enjoy. Picture will be posted when the next batch is out of the oven.

Recipe:
1 cup chopped dates
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup boiling water

Mix and let cool...

Now mix together:

1 cup sugar
1 Tbsp shortening
1 egg
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups flour

Mix together and add to cooled date mix, being careful to not overwork. Pour into greased loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes. This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled.

Enjoy!
Karan