Salad dressing and an apology

No, I am not about to apologize for posting my favorite salad dressing recipe here. Even amateurian liked it when she and her family were here visiting a few weeks ago. Not that I took photos or anything. When one blogger takes a vacation and the other is slacking, you only get to read about how cool my Michigan friend is. So there.

 The ingredients: hazelnut oil, rice wine vinegar (I prefer the mid- grade or "light" as there is a bit less sugar but it still has a really pleasant bite), lemon juice, garlic, sea salt and a Mason jar.

 I like garlic and use one mid- sized to large clove for every 2 oz. of liquid. You can adjust to taste.

Smashing the peeled garlic clove with the side of your knife prior to chopping seems to release even more garlic flavor.

 Mince- for as long as you can stand to. The finer the garlic is minced, the more likely it is to melt into the rest of the dressing. I'm about half way there in my photo.

 Add the minced garlic and a few generous pinches of sea salt to a jar, close and shake a lot.

 You'll be using equal parts of your three liquid components. Add 1/3 lemon juice (or two ounces in this 6 oz Mason jar shown).

 Add an equal volume of rice wine vinegar.

 Add an equal volume of hazelnut oil.

Shake until emulsified and store in the refrigerator. Keeps at least two weeks, not that it will last that long.

It's tart and tangy, with a bit of a kick (yes, just like me). Wonderful on salads of any sort, from mixed micro herbs to Boston lettuce. Wonderful on a slaw- type salad or on blanched veg. Or grilled veg.

Reminiscent of the classic dressing used in French restaurants (not the goopy orange crap, geez!), this is light and wonderful.

The actual recipe:
equal parts rice wine vinegar, hazelnut oil and lemon juice
1 clove of garlic per 2 oz of total liquid volume (more or less to your taste profile)
sea salt

Crush and mince garlic.
Add to jar with generous sea salt and shake.
Add equal parts of each liquid (based on jar size) and emulsify.
Try not to drink directly from the jar.
Store in fridge is not immediately consumed. 

And now, for the apology you've all been waiting endlessly for... I have once again pushed this blog aside as soon as I got busy. And I will continue to attempt to be a better blogger. But there are so many things to write about. Like my new Google+ obsession. And my 12 year anniversary. My new exercise plan. Summer in general.

Until next time, please check out my new shop buttons, way up on the top right side. One per store. Fancy, huh?

Have a wonderful week!

The Friday News Round-Up

Yup, I stole this post's title from NPR. Go ahead, send Diane Rehm after me. I'd just force her to record my voicemail greeting. Because I'm evil.

No hot dogs were harmed during the taking of this oddly phallic photograph. Get your mind out of the gutter. It's a 1970s Avon gold plated chain and hot dog pendant. For the girl that has everything, including a twisted sense of humor.

Not much to report on the Retro Trend Vintage front, but there are several items worthy of noting.

- My lovely pal, Amateurian, is having a cool give-away on her blog. You should enter. And tell her I sent you.

-Fellow Vintage Market Team member and friend, PhotographicAmy, experienced an epic technical failure today. She has a new store, Amy's Old School, and blog. You should follow her. And tell her I sent you.

{Insert promises to be a more consistent blogger here.}

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

~S~S~S~S~S~S~S~S~S~S~S~S~S

One of my favorite bloggers, amateurian, has solved the age - old question for fellow lovers of snark.



Introducing... The Snark Mark.

Subtly perfect and ready to rock your world. Enjoy!

Aww, Shucks.

I've been honored with a blogging award from one of my favorite bloggers and dear friends, Angi of Amateurian. My friend (and her now husband), Mark, introduced us forever ago and they now live happily ever after with three beautiful children. Beautiful both inside and out- thoughtful, polite beyond compare, intelligent and utterly charming, just like both of their parents. Angi is a multi- tasker extraordinaire, Romantica is a business model she dreamed up. If I hadn't been the recipient of this award from Angi, she'd be on the top of my list to receive it.

The rules (which I will not completely follow):

-Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award. (See above.)

-Pass the award along to 15 other bloggers who you discovered and think are fabulous. (Or three, like me.)

-Share 7 things about yourself. (See below.)

-Contact the bloggers you chose and let them know about the award 

I am choosing to honor, in no particular order, the following:

Amy of PhotographicAmy, a fellow Vintage Market Team member and vintage-o-holic. I love the way she puts together blog posts. They reference her life and interests, while promoting a love of vintage, photography, design, literature and humor. Job very well done!

Next is Weezi and her amazing blog. She has an eye for patterns, an obvious love of vintage, kitsch and retro. She has her own adorable retail store (in Canada, otherwise I'd never leave it), makes aprons, coats and dresses to die for. Some of Lisa's wonderful pieces are available on Etsy, others on her Facebook page. And she hosts Beehive Tuesdays (and the like) on a regular basis.

Through her, I met HandsomeAndLace, who elevates vintage neckties to headbands, ascots, clip- on bow ties and mini ties for men, women and felines. Neck ties are one of my favorite items of clothing. Not easy for a chesty gal to rock but I love them! Normally worn as neckties tucked into the neckline of an open neck tee, as a belt or headband. Keira makes the beloved necktie a lot more wearable. There are quite a few drool- worthy examples in her Etsy shop.

And now... seven things you (probably) didn't know about me:

1- I have a strong dislike for cheap shoes.

2- I can hold a grudge forever. Literally.

3- I look nothing like my mother.

4- I cut and dye my own hair, and done so since I has twelve. In the past 20 years, I've gotten exactly 5 professional hair cuts and have disliked most of them.

5- I prefer savory to sweet and umami to all other tastes.

6- The Virgo in me does not allow the mixing of sports brands on my body. Since I only wear Adidas sneakers (which are great for feet with higher arches), that means I also only wear Adidas socks, track pants, shorts, sports bras, sports watch, etc.

7- I wish I were taller.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!