Small Investments Going Miles - Making Sauces and Dressings at Home

I love my mini-chopper. I got it at WalMart years ago - where it still goes for $10 to this day - by exchanging a wedding gift that I did not need.

I use my minichopper for a variety of uses:

1-2 small smoothies
Blending homemade baby food (much cheaper, yea!)
Chopping vegetables for omelets and stir-fries

...but the most common use has been to make my own sauces, dressings, marinades, and rubs. The three removable pieces (cup, lid, blade) are easy to assemble and disassemble and all (woo!) dishwashable. Mine still performs like the day I bought it.

Of course, when I can get such condiments very cheaply with coupons, I do, since they are great step-savers.

But using my mini chopper - smaller than a dessert plate - enables me to use a wide variety of ingredients, including those "almost gone" sauces, dressings, etc. in the fridge.

Here is an example of some low-cost dressing/sauce recipes that can be made using a minichopper. Add all ingredients and chop until well-blended!

Tarragon Lime Dressing

Complements chicken or fish, to serve 2 people. Refreshing on salads!

2 tablespoons oil (safflower or extra virgin olive oil are good)
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon mayo (your choice, regular or lighter)
Pinch pepper
Pinch salt
Pinch sugar
Generous pinch dried tarragon

The following two are great on almost anything where you want an Asian-inspired kick:

Sesame Ginger Dressing,
to serve 2:

1 tablespoon oil (safflower or extra virgin olive oil are good)
1 tablespoon sesame oil (cheaper at Asian grocery stores!)
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds (also cheaper at Asian grocery stores)
1 tablespoon plain white vinegar
1 tablespoon molasses
1 tablesppoon (a small knob) finely chopped fresh ginger, or 1 tsp. dry ground ginger
1 clove garlic
1 tablespoon lemon pepper
Pinch salt

Peanut Sauce,
for dipping (for grilling marinade, thin with oil), serves 2-4
1 tablesppoon (a small knob) finely chopped fresh ginger, or 1 tsp. dry ground ginger
1/2 tablesoon dry chipotle pepper flakes
Pinch cayenne (skip if you don't want too much heat!)
2 tablespoons peanut butter (coarse natural gives the best texture but all kinds work)
2 tablespoons molasses
1 chopped scallion
1/4 c. soy sauce
2 tbps. Worchestershire sauce

For more marinade , sauce, and dressing ideas, check out allrecipes.com!

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