Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette

It's summer, and it's WAY to hot to cook! I really love salads in the summer so I'm always looking for new dressings. This is delicious!

Ingredients

• 1/2 c balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 c honey
• 1/4 c olive oil
• 1 tsp soy sauce

Directions

1. Whisk together the vinegar, honey, olive oil, and soy sauce until the honey has dissolved, and the dressing is smooth.

No Mayo Ranch

I'm a huge ranch dressing fan. HUGE! I like to eat it on baked potatoes, french fries, veggies, my hamburgers, and of course, salad. I even conveniently 'forget' it's made from mayo (which I used to love but after the birth of my fourth child, could no longer stomach if I smelled it, go figure) to enjoy it. Except recently, I came to the horrifying realization that there are MEGA calories in my favorite dressing. So I had all but cut it out....until! This dressing.

Ingredients

• 1 cup low-fat sour cream
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon dried chives
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon dried dill weed
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper

Directions

1. Place sour cream and buttermilk into a mixing bowl. Season with parsley, chives, garlic powder, dill, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Whisk together until smooth. Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving. You can whip this again before serving for a thicker texture.

Real Lemonade

Ice cold, fresh squeezed, lemonade. What could be better?

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 c white sugar
• 8 c water
• 1 1/2 c lemon juice

Directions:

1. In a small saucepan, combine sugar and 1 cup water. Bring to boil and stir to dissolve sugar. Allow to cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until chilled.
2. Remove seeds from lemon juice, but leave pulp. In pitcher, stir together chilled syrup, lemon juice and remaining 7 cups water.

Balsamic Glazed Salmon

I love fish. My kids love fish. My husband...hates fish. One out of seven is not bad odds! Out of all fish, salmon is my favorite! One of my favorite restaurants has a blackened salmon with a strawberry vinaigrette salad. Such a wonderful combination!!!

This recipe reminds me of that. The flavor is wonderful and I could easily eat this for days. My kids feel the same way, lol, so it's almost a family favorite! Serve this with grilled asparagus and rice pilaf for really yummy, light summer dinner. I also grill these in foil packets on the bbq to keep from heating the house up in the summer!

Ingredients:

• 6 (5 oz.) salmon fillets
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 TBS white wine
• 1 TBS honey
• 1/3 c balsamic vinegar
• 4 tsp Dijon mustard
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 TBS chopped fresh oregano

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Coat a small saucepan with non-stick cooking spray. Over medium heat, cook and stir garlic until soft, about 3 minutes. Mix in white wine, honey, balsamic vinegar, mustard, and salt and pepper. Simmer, uncovered, for about 3 minutes, or until slightly thickened.
   Arrange salmon fillets on foil-lined baking sheet. Brush fillets with balsamic glaze, and sprinkle with oregano.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 14 minutes, or until flesh flakes easily with a fork. Brush fillets with remaining glaze, and season with salt and pepper. Use a spatula to transfer fillets to serving platter, leaving the skin behind on the foil.

Brown Sugar Biscuits

OK, these aren't real biscuits. And they're not cinnamon rolls. But they're really yummy, and make a great morning breakfast treat!!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/2 cup butter flavored shortening
• 2/3 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 5 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F . Lightly grease a baking sheet, or use parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt and cream of tartar. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Mix in milk and vanilla. Knead briefly on a floured surface. Roll out into a large rectangle, 1/2 inch thick. Spread softened butter onto surface of dough. Mix together brown sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle evenly over butter. Roll tightly, and cut into 12 equal slices. Place on prepared baking sheet.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown.