It's always fun and exciting to try a new recipe. At least, in my house it's considered fun and exciting. Our latest adventure was to create a dressing that we found online. Many of the ingredients were new to me. I had never worked with tomatillos or cilantro before, but I had heard of them. Plus, the recipe appeared innocent enough since the base is Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch Dressing. Boy were we wrong! Our first disaster came when we learned about a new food allergy...the hard way. Yes, Mom became violently ill. Consequently, we decided to alter the recipe to the Original Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing.
We also learned that green Tabasco Sauce doesn't offer enough heat. This means adding jalapenos instead. Having never worked with this ingredient before, I made the mistake of trying a teeny, tiny bite of raw jalapeno. The next thing I knew, my face burned bright red, my eyes popped out, and flames erupted out of my ears! I felt like a cartoon character that just swallowed a stick of dynamite! I never would have imagined that so much fire could be contained in such a small portion. Oh, and don't think for a minute that cold water or juice will put those flames out! They just numb it momentarily, so you keep drinking until you find yourself completely waterlogged AND on fire! It gives new meaning to the term "a walking contradiction!"
What a wake up call that was for me! Of course, even with all the allergic reactions and fires, it turned out to be a good recipe. I would definitely make it again. However, I would recommend the following tips.
First, use the Original Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix (it actually has a better taste because the buttermilk flavor is too overpowering).
Second, use gloves when preparing the jalapenos, and DON'T EAT THEM!
Third, store the dressing in a canning jar. This is a trick that we've used for some time now. It's great for traveling, doesn't take much space, and you can shake the dressing before pouring with no mess.
Now, I'm sure you're all anxious to experience your own adventures with this recipe, so here it is:
1 Original Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix (prepared as per the recipe with one cup milk and 1 cup mayonnaise)
2-4 Tomatillos (diced and lightly roasted in the oven)
1/2 a bunch of Cilantro
1 Clove of Garlic
Juice of 1 Lime
1-2 Jalapenos
Mix all the ingredients in a food processor until well blended. Refrigerate.
Enjoy!
Had to laugh at the jalapeno part. Mind, not AT you, but, with you! we grow them in our garden, as we like a LOT of mexican food and salsa ia a main food group. I have had the misfortune of messing with these little weapons of war. Last year I cut some up for use and did NOT, I do repeat, did NOT, wear gloves. That was for wimps. Right....I got the juice on my hands and the oils disspersed into the air burning my eyes. can you say OW! So, I washed my hands umpteen times and thought good and clean. Hours later I was on the computer and rubbed my eyes. OH HOLY MOTHER OF ALL GOOD AND HOLY!!!! IT BURNED LIKE HADES! My eyes were on fire. I touched my mouth and that was on fire. The only thing that seems to help me combat fire of the mouth is milk, but I couldn't bring myself to put milk in my eyes. I used one side of a washcloth dipped in ice water and made sure not to touch that side with my hands. I wish I could say this was my only experience, that I had learned it well. NOT. I was canning at my friends house (salsa) and when we cut up the peppers I had the same reaction to the oils in the air. i literally started chocking from the coughing. I know also know from an experience I had years ago that this is what pepper spray does. So, on to the present, like 3 wks ago...I was making a salad for Nick. I cut up lettuce, some tomatoes from the garden, and then thought, "Ooo, I'll add a pepper for kick!" It kicked my butt alright! I started coughing (oils) and then a minute later ate a toamto and burned my lip from the lasting juices/oils on my finger. These are NOT a fruit (HA) to mess with! They are weapons to be sure! But they sure do make the food taste good! Also a side note, I can pick them from two plants growing side by side and the same size and one will be fire hot, the just mild. Go figure! They are a mystery to me!
ReplyDeleteOh no! Judging by your experiences, I need to buy gloves! Chances are that I will make this salad again, and I can just see me making the mistake of touching my eyes!
ReplyDeleteI'll have to send you the full salad recipe, since you guys appreciate good Mexican food. It's based off a salad from a popular restaurant in Utah called Cafe Rio.
ha ha we probably ate there while we lived in Utah! we didn't usually get salads though
ReplyDelete