Yum Peaceful Cooking: Elvie's Homemade Salad Dressing and Veggie Dip

Friday, June 11, 2010

Elvie's Homemade Salad Dressing and Veggie Dip


Yes, that says Elvie (not Elvis. It's not a type-o). My grandmother's name is Elva and it seems that once one has grown up, it is customary in my family, for everyone (child, grandchild and all) to call grandmother Elvie.

Everyone except me.

I just won't can't change such a deep rooted habit. I will always call my mom, mom...never Lynn. Dad will forever be dad...not Pat. Nana is nana And grandmother will remain grandmother....and so on and so forth.

It just sounds weird coming out of my mouth any other way. There's a special meaning and feeling that accompanies those "titles"....and to one day start calling your parents and grandparents by their first names...just seems....I dunno....how do you explain it? It removes a certain sentiment. (I'm real big on keepsakes and sentimental things).

While my mom was here visiting a few weeks back, we shared recipes (one of my favorite things to do). Mom gave me grandmother's recipe for salad dressing. Which also makes a wonderful condiment on a crispy chicken wrap....veggie dip....secret sauce. What ever you can think of that is socially acceptable to use as a vehicle for transporting this dressing from the jar into your mouth. (a finger dip works nicely when no one's around to see)

I love it when I get recipes from the older generation in the family. It's like capturing a piece of your heritage.

You know what else? I didn't even know that grandmother had a special dressing. And now I have it. And now you can have it too.

Elvie's Homemade Salad Dressing
Printable Version

2 carrots, peeled
2 sticks of celery
1/2 white onion
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
Dash of Worcestershire Sauce
Squirt of ketchup (for color)
1 quart of mayonnaise
A few shakes of Mrs. Dashes if  you have some

With your food processor, shred / grate the carrots, celery and onion. Then puree. Add the remaining ingredients and puree some more. There will be some texture still...and that's ok. It just adds to that "fresh" flavor thing.



Allow to sit in the refrigerator overnight, allowing the flavors to marry. You know....get all familiar with each other and mesh.

Kinda like a food honeymoon.

Then you can do what eeeeeever you want with it


I can't wait until we grill some cheeseburgers. McDonald's secret sauce has nothing on this stuff!

13 comments:

  1. Oh that sounds great!!
    I'm with ya on the names!

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  2. I'm right with ya on the name thing. I prolly woulda got slapped if I ever called my mom, grandma or granny by their first names LOL Oh, and thanks for the dressing recipe, looks great and does sound fresh!

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  3. Double yum! You are correct...McD's has nothing on this sauce. It looks terrific!

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  4. I'd say you inherited a family heirloom with that recipe from Elvie.

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  5. Funny, the whole post I was thinking this would be great on a fresh grilled burger!

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  6. What a wonderful thing to have inherited from your grandmother and thank you so much for sharing this with all of us. I would love to give this special recipe a try.

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  7. Love that name! Your dressing looks delicious and I will have to try it. Yum!

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  8. I actually read Elvis when I saw the title - was very surprised that he ate any salads!!

    I even find it hard to leave out the "Aunty" and "Uncle" out!!

    The dressing looks and sounds fantastic.

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  9. So very different than any homemade dressing I have ever made, you are so nice to share such a treasure with us. Sounds delicious! How long would it remain good in the fridge, any idea? It is just hubby and I here seems like it would last us a while.

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  10. Tango - there's that level of respect, recognition and warmth (most of the time LOL) that those titles / names are attached to, right? :)

    DD - For as long as I can remember, my dad and his siblings called their mom Elvie. I don't know why!!! And now my cousins do. LOL

    Cathy - Ya...I like McD's sauce and all (love me a big mac) but there's something special about this one :)

    Linda - I just love all the recipe I've gotten from my both of my grandmothers

    Chris - Of course you'd be thinking grilled burger!! thats a no brainer LOL

    Bridgett - I hope you enjoy it. It is forgiving and open to taste adjustments!

    Pam - Let me know how you like it and if you made any changes :)

    Patti - It makes a ton!!! You're gonna wanna give some away. Mom said its good for a couple of weeks. If it's just you and hubby, you might want to cut the recipe in half.

    Brownie - i knew that would happen LOL. so i felt I had to clear up the name thing right off the bat ;)

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  11. I read Elvis too... and I was thinking it was gonna have to do with fried Banana and Peanut butter sandwiches... LOL

    But I love this... I hear a homemade Snack Wrap calling my name.... Awesome!!!

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  12. Is this dressing sort of like a thousand island dressing? It looks delicious. I'm with on the name thing. It seems disrespectful to me to be so familiar.

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  13. Shane - you're too funny!!! Ya, this stuff is really good on a wrap!

    Bonnie - it reminds me of thousand island only it's not as sweet and has more flavor. :)

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