Tzatziki

Greek food and I are really great friends. I remember the first time I tried tzatziki; despite my inability to pronounce it, I found it extremely delightful. And because I've since learned to speak its name with confidence, I decided it was about time to learn how to make it.

This fresh, cucumber-y spread is good on everything - crackers, pitas, sandwiches, vegetables, your fingers, etc. - and is healthier than its counterparts.

Tzatziki (adapted from recipe)

Ingredients:
-1 (32-oz) container plain Greek yogurt
-1 cucumber
-1/2 clove garlic, diced
-1 1/4 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
-1 tbsp. olive oil
-1/2 tbsp. salt
-1/2 tsp. pepper
-2 tbsp. fresh dill, chopped


1. Start by straining the yogurt. Use a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth, and place it over a bowl. Scoop yogurt on top, and allow to sit for about an hour to drain all the liquid into the bowl (the warmer the yogurt is, the faster it will strain).

NOTE: I have made this without straining the yogurt & it tastes fine - it just gets really watery after sitting.

2. While yogurt is straining, wash cucumber & chop off both ends. Use a cheese grater to grate the cucumber, and place on a paper towel. Using your hands, squeeze the excess water out of the grated cucumber while holding over the sink. Throw a bit of salt on top & wrap in a paper towel until ready to mix into the yogurt.

3. Once yogurt is done straining, put in a bowl & whisk until smooth. Add remaining ingredients, including the cucumber, and mix thoroughly. Eat immediately, or refrigerate. It's delicious right away, but gets even better as it sits.

Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip

Did I ever mention that I'm not a huge fan of vegetables? I've definitely learned to love them more as I've gotten older, but I still don't just get excited about them. Unless they're drenched in something like cheese, butter, or ranch dressing. So, today, I tried out a new snack. Instead of pulling out the bottled ranch dressing, I mixed a little bit of ranch dressing mix with plain Greek yogurt & a little bit of skim milk. The result? Awesome. I'm never using "real" ranch again.

Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip
1 packet ranch dressing mix
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 cup skim milk

Mix together in a storable container - and eat with whatever you would like! For a creamier dressing, use less milk.

In Search of the Perfect Chipotle Dressing...

I love the taste of chipotle.

I don't know what it is, but it is amazing.

Every time I go to a restaurant and something has any kind of chipotle sauce on it, there's a good chance I'm ordering it.

However, I've never been able to find a delicious chipotle sauce/dressing/anything at the store. I've tried a few different recipes, but nothing has quite done it for me.

So I decided to concoct my own dressing. It was pretty simple, but the results were amazing. Here's what I came up with:


Chipotle Ranch Dressing
1 cup mayonnaise (I used Smart Balance... I guess that makes me feel healthier)*
1/2-1 cup milk
1-2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
Ranch dressing mix
Salt, to taste
Juice from one lime

*To make this even healthier, use Greek yogurt.

Put all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor, and let the magic happen. You can adjust the quantity of peppers for spiciness, and the salt/ranch dressing mix for taste. You can add more or less milk to adjust creaminess. This is perfect with a delicious taco salad!


I made a yummy taco salad with cilantro, lime, shredded lettuce, black beans, red onions, and ground beef. It was life changing.


YUM.