Saturday, July 21, 2012

Too hot to cook

Growing up my grandmother's famous excuse for not cooking was that it was simply "too hot to cook." Now, I didn't grow up on a tropical island, houses didn't normally have air conditioning, and some years it seemed like it never topped 25 degrees celcius. However, it was a great excuse to avoid the stove and simply have tea and toast for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (because apparently it is never too hot for tea and toast). When I'm feeling a little lazy, I dance to my dear nanny's words that it is simply too hot to cook.

However, in all honesty, this month I may as well be living on a tropical island because Toronto has been HOT. Real hot. Too hot to cook hot.  Which fits in perfectly with the Recipe ReDux Challenge this month: Beat the Summer Heat with No Cook Meals. 




Cashew Lemon Creamy Salad Dressing

Makes: about 1 cup of dressing

Recipe: 
3/4 cup cashews
1/2 cup water
1/2 lemon
1 clove garlic
2 basil leaves
1 tbsp fresh cilantro 
1 tsp coconut (optional)
1/2 tbsp Maple Syrup (you can also use honey or agave)

Directions: 
1. Throw cashews and juice from half a lemon (I actually added some more in after, so maybe a little more than half a lemon, depending on how much you like lemon) in a food processor. Process until cashews become smooth. To help the process add water 1 tablespoon at a time. Keep processing. It took about 10 minutes and 1/2 cup of water (8 Tbsp) for my dressing to get the desired consistency. 
2. Add garlic, herbs, coconut, and syrup and process until well blended. 
3. Take a taste test - is it sweet enough? sour enough? garlic-y enough? Take the time to play with the recipe a little bit and add more of whatever it needs. 
4. Once your dressing tastes delicious and is the desired consistency add it to your favourite salad. 

My salad had arugula, corn, match stick carrots, and raisins. I topped it off with smashed cashew pieces.




Before you leave be sure to check out some of the amazing recipes posted by other Recipe ReDuxers.

Wishing you tasty meals and happy days,
Rebecca




3 comments:

  1. Wow - this very well may be my new go-to salad dressing - sounds delicious!

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  2. I love lemon and cashews. Great idea to put it together in a salad dressing. :)

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  3. I'm jealous! I absolutely love Toronto. Hasn't it been a great summer? I'm Just south of Queenston in the states.

    Love the salad. Arugula is the best.

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