Summer Sauces & Dressings

from InMiddlebury Magazine_July2021

Outdoor Living

Summer Sauces and Dressings

Hello InMiddlebury readers, I have always considered myself to be a foodie and find great joy in cooking for the ones I love. Over the last year of eating in more often I have continued to expand my own culinary repertoire in an effort to meet my desire for new and exciting dishes.

From time to time I would enjoy sharing some of my recipes with you and learning some of yours. Please share if you feel this is an addition you would enjoy seeing more of in our magazine as well as some recipes of your own to include by contacting us via our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ inMiddlebury/ or emailing me at delightfullyhere@ gmail.com

For this issue, with it being summer and a great time for salads and other fresh options, I would like to share different recipes for sauces and dressings that can be used on a variety of meals to add some excitement to your dinner table.

SESAME VINAIGRETTE

Great on any salad but I particularly love it on slaw based salads with almonds and avocado • 2 tablespoons avocado oil (or olive oil) • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar • 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce (or tamari) • 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger • 1 small garlic clove, pressed or minced (or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder) • A few twists of freshly-cracked black pepper Make the vinaigrette: Whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl (or shake together in a mason jar) until combined

SPICY PEANUT DRESSING

Delicious on spinach salads, grilled chicken or fried tofu. • 2 tbsp soy sauce • 4 tsp sesame oil • 2 tbsp vegetable oil • 2 tsp brown sugar • 2 tbsp rice vinegar • 1 garlic clove, minced • 1/2 tbsp grated ginger • 4 tsp peanut butter • 1 tsp sriracha For the peanut sauce, place all the ingredients in a medium bowl and mix. 8 inMiddlebury Magazine | JULY 2021

ROASTED RED PEPPER SAUCE

This hearty sauce adds a whole new dimension to any tossed salad.

Salad mix suggestions; spinach, diced cucumber, peas or edamame, julienned carrots, kalamata olives, avocado, cilantro and quinoa. Or your favorite options. • 1 16 ounce jar roasted red peppers, drained (or roast your own red peppers and win the food game!)

Jars of roasted peppers can be found at our local

Harding’s in the produce section on the shelves above the mason jars. • 1 clove garlic • 1/2 teaspoon salt (more to taste) • Juice of one lemon • 1/2 cup olive oil • 1/2 cup almonds INSTRUCTIONS: Pulse all the ingredients for the sauce in a food processor or blender until mostly smooth. The texture should be thick and textured (see picture).

YOGURT SAUCE

Excellent on gyros, chicken tacos, brats or a dipping sauce for veggies and flatbreads. • Juice of 1/2 lemon • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt • 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano Pinch of kosher salt and ground black pepper

INSPIRATION

A Lesson in Social & Emotional Learning

As the world prepares for the Summer Olympics in Japan, kids at the Boys & Girls Club in Middlebury are getting summer lessons in social and emotional learning in a program sponsored by a former Olympic athlete. The Michael Phelps Foundation provided a grant to offer the IM Program to Boys & Girls Clubs around the country. The foundation launched the program in 2010 to teach children and young adults important life skills including water safety, physical and mental fitness, nutrition and goal setting. In Middlebury, that program is being led by Youth Behavioral Specialist Natasha Lantz. The first part of the program is called “IM Healthy” and focuses on healthy lifestyles. To make the learning fun, she’s using sensory toys, along with prizes and healthy foods.

“Sometimes we have them take flyers and worksheets home to their families. We recently had them take an inventory of what is in their refrigerator, and we discussed that the next day,” she said. “It helps the families understand what they are learning.”

In one session, the kids learned that Phelps consumes 10,000 calories a day, but is able to burn them off through a lot of physical activity. They learned how many calories they should be consuming based on their activity level – and how many pounds they would gain each week if they ate like Phelps.

The second half of the program is called “IM Successful” and will focus on mental health, how kids see themselves and goal setting.

According to Dr. D’Arcy Lyness, a child and adolescent psychologist, children are more likely to have experienced feelings of anxiety and depression because of the isolation and disruption associated with Coronavirus. She says there are simple things parents can do to help their kids build emotional skills. Ask your kids to tell you about a few of the best moments of their day. • When your children share good news, listen with your full attention and give a positive comment. • When your children are upset, encourage them to say what’s wrong. Listen first, then be soothing to help them calm down.