My Favorite Summer Dressings

Healthy dressings are hard to come by.  They're either filled with cheeses, milk, or other processed dairy or they simply have ingredients that don't provide adequate nutrients.  There are a few great natural companies out there (check out your grocery store, find the label that says "All natural", but then double check the ingredients list to see if they're honest about that. Not all companies are).  The problem with some of these dressings is they're quite pricey.  Here are some great dressings that are quick & easy to make in your food processor/blender, and can keep well for the week.  The first 3 recipes are some of my favorites from from Dr. Fuhrman's recipes in "Eat to Live".

Apple Pie Dressing
2 peeled apples
1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
cinnamon, to taste
-Blend ingredients in food processor/blender.  Store in air-tight container.

Caesar Salad Dressing
3 cloved garlic, roasted
1/2 cup almond milk
1/3 cup raw cashew butter
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons dijon mustard
dash of black pepper
-Roast garlic (Break cloves apart, leaving skins on. Roast at 350 degrees for 25 minutes until mushy.)
-Remove skins and blend with remaining ingredients in a food processor/blender until creamy & smooth.

Blueberry Dressing (My favorite!!!)
2 cups fresh or frozen & thawed blueberries
1/2 cup pomegranate juice
3 tablespoons raw cashew butter
3 tablespoons fruit-flavored (or blueberry flavored) vinegar
-Blend in food processor/blender until smooth & creamy

Mango Salsa (while not exactly a dressing, this tastes GREAT on top of salads and then no dressing is needed)
1 ripe mango, peeled, cut into small pieces
2 green onions, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilatro
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons chopped, seeded fresh jalapeno chili
-Combine in bowl.  Store in air-tight container

I hope this gives you some ideas for some yummy summer dressings that are not only easy to make, but extremely healthy.  Be creative! Don't like blueberries? Replace with strawberries or blackberries. Have some sun dried tomatoes? Put in the food processor with some garlic, olive oil, basil, and other flavorful seasonings for a fresh italian salad dressing.  Use some honey, lemon juice, and poppy seeds for a light flavor.  This is about testing out what you have in your kitchen, understanding which foods compliment each other and learning to combine different flavors.  Have fun with it!

Here's to fresh, fun dressings!
-Lacey