condiment – Strong Roots Nutrition

May 15, 2017

Zesty Balsamic Dressing

Most things are so much tastier when made at home, including salad dressing. Store-bought dressings are convenient, and sometimes convenience is a necessity, but when you have a spare 5 minutes to whip up a dressing yourself, it's worth it. This week's recipe is a simple one, but it's a good one to have in your arsenal and a good template to use for making your own salad dressings. Don't love balsamic? Use champagne vinegar instead. Want a little extra zing? Add a dab of dijon mustard. Not a fan of spice? Omit the red pepper flakes. This recipe is versatile[...]

condiment, summer

October 5, 2014

Dried lemon rounds

Lemons make a great addition to so many dishes. A little squeeze of juice can make a dish come alive, they add wonderful tartness to fresh fruit sorbets or homemade popsicles, and who doesn't love a good lemon tart? When it's the beginning of fall and we're not yet ready to give up the fresh flavors of summer, the answer might be dehydrated lemon rounds. Dried lemons are more versatile than you might think. Drop a couple into a water bottle for a gently infused drink. Toss them into soup, simmering rice, or pots of brazing meats. Pulverize them in a coffee grinde[...]

condiment, side, snack, summer, vegetable, vegetarian

July 23, 2014

Spicy dill refrigerator pickles

Cucumbers can be a valuable addition to many dishes. They add fantastic fresh flavor to my Tzatziki on some creamy-crunchy Black-Eyed Pea Falafel. A few slices of cucumber and a squeeze of lemon juice transforms ordinary water into sippable spa heaven. Sushi isn't really sushi without some cucumber strips inside. I'm totally intrigued by Joy the Baker's Cucumber Gin Salt and Pepper Cups. Homemade pickles are crazy simple to make and their flavor is unmatched by grocery store brands. Kirby cucumbers are classic for pickling, but Pe[...]

appetizer, condiment, snack, summer, vegetable, vegetarian

May 5, 2014

House guacamole

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Does anyone actually know why we celebrate this day? Because I didn't until I Googled it just now. In Mexico, it's a celebration of the Mexican army defeating France in the Battle of Puebla during the French-Mexican war. To Americans, it's a wonderful day that requires the consumption of Mexican food and salty drinks. No matter your reason for celebrating, there's no better way to commemorate this day than with a big bowl of guacamole. This guac is a favorite in the Larson home, and until I went to write this recipe, we had never measu[...]

condiment, vegetable, vegetarian, winter

April 2, 2014

Fantastic Fermentation: Raw gingered sauerkraut

It's hard to say when the world looking at bacteria as the enemy, but if you pay attention as you go about your daily life, you'll probably notice hand sanitizer, anti-bacterial wipes, and signs telling you when, why, and for how long you should wash your hands in just about every building around. Don't get me wrong - personal hygiene is important - but bacteria is not always a bad thing. Our digestive tracts contain billions of bacteria, some good and some bad. The "good" bacteria in the gut play a role in health that's not fully understood yet but may in[...]