Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing & Croutons {recipe}

Last night, my mom and I were rockin in the kitchen! We made 5 recipes in 3 hours...all for dinner and dessert!

Todays recipes are 2 that we LOVE...{stay tuned for the other three...i'll be posting them in the next few days}

The dressing is new to us, and is the closest caesar dressing we've ever made that tastes anything like Carraba's Caesar Salad Dressing. It was a HIT, even my dad {who doesn't like caesar dressing do to anchovies} ate it!

The crouton recipe is one that my mom has used for forever, ever since I was a young kid! I've always loved her buttery & crunchy croutons. Absolutely delish!

Enjoy them! Post comments below and let me know what you think after you try them!

Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing   

Prep Time: 15 minutes
adapted from Ina Gartens Caesar Salad with Pancetta Recipe with some modifications

Ingredients

1 large egg yolk at room temperature*

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

2 large cloves garlic, chopped

2 tablespoons anchovy paste 

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 1/2 cups olive oil

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 

Directions

Place the egg yolks, mustard, garlic, anchovies, lemon juice, salt, and pepper into the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Process until smooth. With the food processor running, slowly pour the olive oil through the feed tube (as though you were making mayonnaise), until thick. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and pulse.

Serve over romain lettuce with parmesan cheese and croutons or other fixings.
Dressing can be refridgerated for up to 1 week. Store in a air-tight container such as a jar.

*If you're nervous about raw egg yolks, substitue 2 tablespoons of real mayonnaise.

we stuck our dressing in a mason jar after it was blended

Homemade Croutons
Total Time: 20 minutes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients
1/2 loaf of day old or older french bread
1/2 stick of butter
1/4 cup olive oil
Salt & pepper to taste

Directions
Preheat oven to 400.
Line a baking sheet with foil.
Cut up french bread into 1/2 inch cubes. Lay out on lined baking sheet.
Melt butter in microwave and add olive oil, salt & pepper. Stir well.
Drizzle butter mixture over the bread cubes. Toss well, making sure most cubes are covered.
Cook in oven for 7 minutes, toss again.
Cook for another 3 minutes or so or until golden brown.

This recipe is super versatile. You can add garlic powder, minced garlic, parsley, basil, or any other spices to it!

Here are pics in prep order

{GO TRY THEM NOW!}