DRESSING UP
Once a month, my husband and I gather with eight other people to share a dinner. The person who brings the entree also designs the menu and gets the recipes to the group. Last Saturday, that person was Jeff Hodges, (our bachelor member), and he selected a Cuban theme.
Pat Krieger (our bachelorette member) was assigned soup and salad detail. Her salad, Ensalada de Aguacate y Cebollas (avocado red onion salad) came with a very simple dressing recipe. But Krieger, a veteran cook, had a better recipe: Celery Seed Dressing. We were all impressed with her zippy change.
She wasn't surprised.
"Here's the recipe for the salad dressing," she wrote in a note,. "It's from Mary Mecede's 'Magic Recipes' and everyone I've served it to begs for the recipe. For the salad we had for the dinner I sliced one large red onion and added it to the dressing to marinate in the fridge. That helps take the bite off the onion. Then I drained the onions and tossed them with two sliced avocados."
So you won't have to beg, here it is.
Celery Seed Dressing
Makes 1 pint
2/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 cup tarragon wine vinegar
1/4 medium-sized onion
1 cup salad oil
1 tablespoon celery seed
Blend all ingredients until smooth.