Vegetable Dip , plus Lawry's Seasoning Salt Recipe

We were invited to a lovely potluck last week.  The hostess asked if we could bring a vegetable platter -- how fitting for us!  I always try to bring something healthy to a potluck, as we are not big dessert eaters & there seems to always be plenty of those.  We are not veggie dip people either, but I went scouring the Internet for some homemade recipes, realizing that most others enjoy it.  I adapted the following recipe from www.food.com  If you do not have access to fresh herbs, the substitution is 3:1 (fresh to dried).  Therefore for example, if your recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, chop up 3 teaspoons of fresh oregano.

Vegetable Dip

1 cup mayonnaise

1 cup sour cream

1 Tbsp dried onion flakes

3 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

3 tsp fresh dill, chopped

1 tsp seasoning salt (**)

1/2 tsp garlic powder

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Lawry's Seasoning Salt

2 Tbsp salt

2 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp turmeric

1/4 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp cornstarch

I put my extra seasoning salt in an empty glass herb container.  I plan on using it tonight on our fresh tilapia.  I do not know who to credit with the seasoning salt recipe -- it was all over the Internet, so kudos to whoever is responsible!

Tuna & Watercress Quiche

Watercress surfaces again!  Someone at market told me about ANDI scoring: Aggregate Nutritional Density Index.  Foods are scored from 1 to 1000 according to their nutritional density.  There are three foods (ie, Superfoods) that score a perfect 1000.  Can you guess them? (I'll post it at the bottom.)

After learning its terrific nutritional value, I decided to explore more watercress dishes.  I checked out the website I mentioned in a previous post (watercress.co.uk).  Though fresh watercress is quite strong-flavored, when cooked the flavor mixes in well.  (Please note, the full nutritional value comes when it is eaten raw.  Nothing wrong with tossing it in your salad!)  This recipe was a nice, elegant twist.  Freddie's response: This is very British.  And he can say that since he is 1/2 English!  We would like to try it again using salmon.

Tuna & Watercress Quiche

(adapted by yours truly)

4 oz (a little less than 1 cup) flour

1 oz Parmesan cheese, grated

2 oz (1/2 stick) butter, cubed & softened

1/3 cup watercress packed, finely chopped

2 egg

1 cup milk or cream

5 oz can tuna, drained

1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped

Preheat oven to 400F.  Rub flour, chesse & butter together.  Bind with a little cold water. (I used maybe a scant tablespoon.  Add little by little until you can work with the dough.)  Roll out & line the bottom of 4 individual flan dishes.  Mix cress, egg & cream.  Divide tuna amongst flan dishes.  Sprinkle with dill, salt & pepper.  Pour egg mixture into each.  Do not be afraid to pour clear to the top.  Place dishes on cookie sheet.  Bake 25-30 minutes until lightly browned & set.

ANSWER:  Watercress, Kale & Mustard/Turnip/Collard greens.  Baby Bok Choy comes 4th, scoring 824.
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/healthy-eating/health-starts-here/resources-and-tools/top-ten-andi-scores#greenvegetables

*** Starring: Dill ***

http://photo-dictionary.com/phrase/3772/dill.html

Dill is another wonderful herb. Usually, we associate dill with pickles or bread. A couple weeks ago, we thought that dill in a potato salad sounded good. We found a recipe on http://www.foodnetwork.com/ that was terrific.

Potato Salad with Dill

3 lbs pototoes, peeled

Cook the potatoes about 25 minutes. Do not overcook them. Drain and bring them back to the pot to completely dry. (I left mine in the colander and gently stirred them occasionally until they were room temperature.)

Combine:
2 stalks celery
1 c mayonnaise
1 small red onion, chopped
3/4 t salt
1/4 c fresh dill, chopped
1-2 T vinegar
1/2 lemon, juiced ( I did not squeeze my own for time's sake.)
1 T Dijon mustard

When potatoes are cooled, gently combine the sauce and potatoes. Serve room temperature. The recipe said that when the potatoes are chilled, they change textures. However, we had the leftovers the next day and could not tell much difference. I also halved the recipe and it worked fine. We loved it.