When I was asked to bring a vegetable platter to a party last weekend, I said to myself, " No matter how busy I am, I am not going to pick up one of those boring supermarket ones with store-bought ranch dressing." Besides, they're not organic.
Three dozen guests were expected, so I decided to use my heavy-duty half-sheet pan rather than a platter. It's big, but I still didn't have room for all the organic vegetables I bought. I do like homemade ranch dressing, but ranch has become a bit of a cliche on vegetable platters, so I made a three-cup batch of a favorite dressing of my own invention.
I had no idea what to call it, but you have to call a recipe on a blog something. So how about Homemade Caesar Dressing or Sorta Caesar Dressing? Or maybe Caesarish Dressing? Anyway ... the recipe is below.
My new Wusthof Classic 6-Inch Extra-Wide Cook's Knife, recently sent to me for review, really made quick work of that huge pile of vegetables. I love my Wusthof Classic 8-Inch Cook's Knife and will continue to use it for certain tasks, but this shorter (but just as wide) knife instantly became my all-time favorite knife!
WÜSTHOF Classic knives have extremely sharp blades with exceptionally long edge retention. And the handles just feel "right" in my hand. That and the right blade length for both the task and one's hand make up the right "fit," which is key when choosing a knife. This is such a well-balanced knife, I feel like I could go on chopping for hours!
Tell me about your knife situation, and enter the giveaway below.
Homemade Caesar Dressing - well, Caesarish
(Makes about 3 cups)
2 cups real mayonnaise
3/4 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime and/or lemon juice
3 tablespoons capers, rinsed and chopped
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper
Optional: Fresh herbs from the garden
3/4 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime and/or lemon juice
3 tablespoons capers, rinsed and chopped
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper
Optional: Fresh herbs from the garden
Just whisk the ingredients together, cover and refrigerate until serving time.
WÜSTHOF Giveaway
One winner will receive a WÜSTHOF Classic 6-Inch Extra-Wide Cook's Knife 4584/16cm from WÜSTHOF. All US residents who leave a comment about knives (one entry per person - and please include your email address in the body of your comment) on this post before 11:59 pm Eastern time Wednesday July 9 will be put into a random drawing. Winner will be announced here in the comments before noon Eastern time on Thursday July 10. If I don't hear back from the winner of the random drawing by 11:59 am Eastern time Sunday July 13, another drawing will be held and a new winner selected from the original entrants (those who commented before the giveaway deadline).
Buy It Now Wusthof knives, including the Wusthof Classic 6-Inch Extra-Wide Cook's Knife, are available on Amazon.
Disclosure: WÜSTHOF provided a knife for review purposes and for the giveaway. I received no compensation. The views expressed here are entirely my own. I always tell my readers what I really think!
Disclosure: WÜSTHOF provided a knife for review purposes and for the giveaway. I received no compensation. The views expressed here are entirely my own. I always tell my readers what I really think!
Sounds like a good Caesar dressing. I have four favorite knives: One is big and white and I got it at Sams. Perfect for cutting meat and veggies. One a steak knife, one a bread knife, and a nice stainless steel paring knife. Oh. And one cleaver. I guess that makes 5. I actually have duplicates of all except the cleaver, but they work great for me!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good collection, Judy. Keep them sharp!
ReplyDeleteI am hoping to start a knife collection by winning this beauty. Obviously I have something that cuts in the kitchen, but it's a version of a Walmart special from back in the day!
ReplyDeleteI forgot my email address
ReplyDeletedrags59 at yahoo dot com
Don't worry, other entrants, each person will have just one entry in the drawing (I would probably forget to include my email address and have to send a second email too!).
ReplyDeleteWe love a good sharp Wusthof knife and have several. But ... I can always use one more! Love this recipe, and your blog - can't wait to explore more.
ReplyDeletesavingdessert@aol.com
Tricia
Thanks, Tricia!
ReplyDeleteI could use a good knife such as this one for preparing meals.
ReplyDeletekellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom
I take my knives and kitchen tools super seriously. That's why I have a block with knives that I don't care about on the counter (for certain teenaged people and others to use) and a drawer with my 'real' knives in it. Right now it had linen dishcloths in it but I want to buy one of those in the drawer knife holder thingies.
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margueritecore [at] gmail [dot] com
AnnaZed, we think alike! :D I have a place for knives other people can use and a drawer where I keep MY knives with blade guards. And, oddly enough, that draw also has in it linen dish towels I don't use!
ReplyDeleteObviously I'm not entering the giveaway! The dressing sounds delicious though!! xx
ReplyDeleteAmy, thank you for noticing the dressing!
ReplyDeleteJean's Delightful Caeserish Dressing; this is another must try!
ReplyDeleteOh knives... I had a lovely set of perfectly balanced knives which were sized for my (smallish) hands until we had a fire a few years ago. Now I make do with some which used to belong to my father, until I can find others which suit me. They are far too large for me to hold comfortably but I'm rather picky about my knives... This one sounds perfect!
kitchenelixers@gmail.com (Yes, I know it's not spelled properly, that was already taken, lol.)
Jacqueline, thank you! Hope you'll try the dressing soon. Yes, I really think this is the perfect knife for those of us with smallish hands. (See, isn't "ish" a handy little set of letters to have around!)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rusthawk! You should read about my mother and dull knives! http://www.delightfulrepast.com/2012/06/pork-chops-pork-chop-incident.html
ReplyDeleteJean, I am leaving this comment to replace my previous (I forgot to leave my email!). If you would, please delete my prior one. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI love your recipe and will have to try it, as Caesar-ish dressing is my favorite! I don't own a really good knife and appreciate the value of a well-engineered and sharp knife, and would love to own this one for my daily kitchen tasks.
rusthawk at gmail dot com
Love your Cesar dressing (with homemade mayonnaise, I guess?) Don't know about Wusthof..I still have some cheap knives..but usually use just one chef knife.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recipe friend!!! I am always looking for new dressing recipes as I like to keep things as homemade as possible around these parts! It looks delicious! And good for you for not bringing one of those store bought platters !!! As for the Wusthof knife count me in!!!! I really like these knives and have to get several more as I have one main knife besides my bread knife and steak knives that I rely on. Mygardendiaries@yahoo.com. Thanks for this super giveaway!!! Nicole xo
ReplyDeleteAngie, thanks! I usually just use store-bought mayonnaise in the dressing.
ReplyDeleteAll hail Solingen! I have two excellent (and large) German knives that are great for some tasks, and two nice paring-size knives that were made by an historic knife manufacturer in the US. I use the smaller ones more often, multiple times daily, really. The Wustof giveaway design sounds like the perfect sep up from a narrow-bladed paring knife. My fingers are firmly crossed!
ReplyDeleteq.piper@yahoo.com
Thanks, Nicole! I'm going to get organized and expand my garden next year.
ReplyDeleteYes, Quinn, I think you'll find it IS the perfect size knife!
ReplyDeleteUm…let’s start off with 5 cleavers on account of you don’t give anything less to someone talking about knives and saying stuff like, “…I could chop for hours.” Cleavers vs. knives – no contest. Knives win. I gave up trying to find good ones years ago, BTW. Now I just have a woodblock with 5 ordinary ones in them and when they go dull, I give them a couple of passes on an electric stone grinder, problem solved. And though we already know where I stand with veggies (or vice versa), I see you achieving instant fame with your assembly. Will dutifully watch for the TV ad: “You’ll want to seize her Sorta Caesar Salad to avoid a seizure of the cardio variety.” Or something.
ReplyDeleteThat's right, Sully, don't mess with a woman who has a drawerful of sharp knives! (Love the seize her / Caesar / seizure bit!)
ReplyDeleteI have a couple of knives, small ones that I like. Both steel, that rusts, so I have to dry them immediately after use. They are great in that they can be sharpened, and so can always cut a tomato!
ReplyDeleteA bigger knife that you say is great would be lovely to have.:)
joymama@pacbell.net
Joanne, I think you'll find the high carbon stainless steel much easier to care for, though I always hand wash and dry my knives promptly, just to be on the safe side!
ReplyDeleteI recently upgraded to a beginner set of "CLASSIC" Wusthof knives after researching the heck out of them. Don't have a 6" one though! I read EVERY review on Amazon, in Chef's Catalog, William Sonoma etc. Didn't know about your Blog then:) I went down to a retail store to compare Henkels with Wusthof. I drove the clerk nuts insisting on holding each type of knife. Wusthof was the clear winner. The Classic is heavier than their other models and as you say perfectly balanced. I now guard my knives like they are gold. People laugh at me! I bought a new thick Boos Cutting Board just so I wouldn't wreck my knives. I plan on adding on asking for specific knives for XMAS & my Bday.
ReplyDeleteI just signed up for your blog after reading the great recipe for Ceasar dressing. Yum! vixter888@aol.com
Thanks so much, Vixter! You sound like me - just researching the heck outa something! :D Did you see the posts about the 8-inch, the bread and paring knives?
ReplyDeleteCaesarish, yes. Meaning it has all the best qualities. GREG
ReplyDeleteI have been really wanting to try out a Wusthof knife! I hear only good things about them!
ReplyDeleteMy knives are a mess, it's a huge mish mash of knives. It would be nice to have a new one.
ReplyDeleteSorry forgot the email address, fiveburners at aol dot com
ReplyDeleteGreg, thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteYes, Ashley, they're wonderful!
ReplyDeletePeggi, I understand completely! So many people have been there - a mish mash! :D
ReplyDeleteBeing married to a chef, we have quite a few knives (at home and in the restaurant), but my chef/husband took my favorite one to work and will not bring it home. (It's his favorite as well.) It's so light and has such a wide blade that it works well for so many things. It's not made by the company any more or I would just buy a second one. This one looks like a nice one try though. :-)
ReplyDeleteJennifer at emulsifiedfamily dot com
Jennifer, yes, I do like this wide blade. It's as wide as blade on the regular 8-inch chef's knife (and I think the blade on the extra-wide 8-inch is as wide as the blade on the regular 10-inch, etc). This is not a light knife, but it's so well-balanced it seems lighter.
ReplyDeleteI have a chef's knife and a shorter santoku knife. They're pretty great - although my spouse and I find ourselves passing a knife back and forth because the other one is dirty.
ReplyDeleteLindsay, you're a friendlier cook than I am -- I never let my spouse or anyone else use my knives! :D
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for visiting. I have never seen your blog before, but after reading through, I will definitely add you to my list. This knife sounds like a great thing to win -- who wouldn't want a great new knife?
ReplyDeleteI just realized that I didn't have to enter my email to post a comment -- that's very unusual.
ReplyDeletescribble.etsatmacdotcom
Thanks, Scribbler. So glad you like it.
ReplyDeleteI need a new knife -- you should see the motley collection of knives I have. Most of them won't cut butter.
ReplyDeleteDigicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
Carolsue, I know what you mean! I was helping a friend (who is a very good cook) with a meal at her house and was astonished at her "motley collection" - like yours, her knives wouldn't cut butter. I went out and bought her a knife and a blade guard so next time there'd be a knife I could use!
ReplyDeleteLove this creamy dressing and the name!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bonnie -- especially for appreciating the name! :D
ReplyDeleteIn my house all our knives are either to small or way to big for most tasks. I use 4" paring knife for just about everything because it's easier to handle. So really, I need the "Goldielocks" sized knife which this appears to be! So count me in. (richard at art studios dot com.)
ReplyDelete"Goldilocks" - love it! Yes, I think this size is perfect. Especially when held (I'm sure the grip has a name, I just don't know it) pinching the blade between the thumb and index finger just in front of the handle.
ReplyDeleteMy knives are so dull I can hardly cut bread. Would love to win this one. xo Laura
ReplyDeleteimsovintagelw@yahoo.com
Oh, Laura, you would (will?) love this knife!
ReplyDelete*Giveaway Winner Announced* - The winner, by random drawing, of the Wusthof Classic 6-Inch Extra-Wide Cook's Knife is Jacquelineand. Jacquelineand, as soon as you send me, delightfulrepast at aol dot com, your name, address and phone number (required by shipper), Wusthof will ship the knife to you. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteIf I don't hear from the winner of the random drawing by 11:59 am Eastern time Sunday, July 13, another drawing will be held and a new winner selected from among the original entrants (those who commented before the giveaway deadline).
Watch for my next giveaway! In the meantime, follow me on Google and Twitter (@delightfulrepas) and Pinterest. You can even use the Follow Me By Email button in the right column so you never have to miss another recipe, review or giveaway.
Thank you Jean! I've replied to your email and, if you couldn't tell, I'm SO excited!
ReplyDeleteOh those tomatoes look yummy.
ReplyDeleteI had a nice knife like that as a Christmas gift one year. So nice and sharp that I tore up old carpeting with it in two rooms! :) I could use a replacement, sure! :)
Deb, how funny! I thought it was only men who ruined knives using them as tools (yes, I'm still holding a grudge about a ruined paring knife years ago)! But, seriously, *this* is THE Knife to have.
ReplyDeleteAm I missing something? Who won?
ReplyDeleteAnnaZed, as with all my giveaways, "Winner will be announced here in the comments before noon Eastern time on Thursday ..." If you look a few comments above the last one, you'll see a long comment from me that starts with *Giveaway Winner Announced.* Maybe you'll win the next one! Not sure yet what it will be, but it's always something good!
ReplyDeleteJean, ::Duh!:: I was indeed missing something. What a charming blog and a wonderful prize, thanks.
ReplyDeleteAnnaZed, thank you for letting me know you got my reply! I was just wondering! Be sure to get in on the next one -- I don't know what or exactly when it will be, but it's always something really nice.
ReplyDeleteYour caesarish dressing sounds perfect to me! I love making homemade dressing and can't remember the last time I bought any.
ReplyDeleteJen, thank you! I hope you'll try it soon and let me know how you liked it. I'm with you - I never buy bottled or packaged dressings.
ReplyDelete