DIY Olive Garden Salad Dressing

We don’t visit the Olive Garden very often, but when we do, I make sure to load up on their salad and breadsticks.  I honestly could drink their salad dressing straight from the bottle – it’s so good! I’ve been trying for years to dupe their dressing recipe and never really been successful.  Until now!  I found this recipe on foodnetwork.com and thought I’d give it a try.  It was close, but I made a few small modifications and I personally think this as close as I’m going to get to the real thing.

What you’ll need:

• 1/4 cup Canola Oil
• 1 tablespoon White Wine Vinegar (or Cider Vinegar)
• 1 tablespoon of White Vinegar
• 3 tablespoons of Mayonaise
• 1 tablespoons of Lemon Juice
• 1/4 teaspoon of Pepperonicini juice
• 2 tablespoons of Fresh Grated Parmesan Cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon of Garlic Seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon of Italian Seasoning

Combine ingredients into a blender, or a salad dressing shaker and mix until fully blended.  I personally use this salad dressing shaker and I love it because I can just throw all the ingredients in and give it a good shake, and I’m good to go.

I like to double the recipe and I find that the dressing lasts me a week of salads for lunch; I tend to keep it simple for myself, but if I was making it for a group and I wanted an authentic Olive Garden salad experience, I’d pour this over a mix of iceberg and romaine lettuce, sliced tomatoes, pepperoncini peppers, black olives, red onion, matchstick carrots, chopped purple cabbage, and croutons.  Top with freshly shredded Romano cheese and freshly cracked black pepper.  And maybe add some warm breadsticks too…;)

Adapted from foodnetwork.com  

Enjoy! 🙂

This & That Fridays – December 18

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve done one of these, which is sad because I had a good long stretch of doing them almost every week.  New Years Resolution: Stick to a consistent blogging schedule.

Can you believe it’s an exactly one week ’til Christmas?  I’ve got a jam packed weekend filled with wrapping presents, baking and getting the house ready to host Christmas Eve & Christmas Day dinner.  I’m determined to get some extra sleep in there too because I’m so friggin tired.

Tonight is going to be all about relaxing though!  The plan is to order pizza and watch Christmas movies.  Potential options include Home Alone, National Lampoons, and/or The Polar Express.  Any other suggestions?

Update to my Christmas Baking Menu post – the 3 ingredient Peanut Butter Cups are AMAZING!  So simple and they taste, dare I say, the closest I’ve had to a real Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup.  I’m going to make some more this weekend and swap the milk chocolate with semi-sweet.  I have some I need to use up and I find the milk chocolate is tad bit sweet.  We’ll see how that works out.

I’m dying to watch Amy Poehler and Tina Fey’s new movie, Sisters.  Looks hilarious!  I still need to see the Hunger Games too.

I used my $25 Sephora Coupon to purchase the MUFE HD Invisible Cover Foundation and I gotta say I’m liking it!  I had to return the Too Faced Born This Way foundation I purchased back in November as it was making me breakout.  This hasn’t caused any breakouts thus far and I think I like it better as it’s not as oily.  I’ll do a full review on it in the New Year.

Okay do you wear cuffed/rolled-up jeans with booties?  I do it but I feel like I look awkward.  Yet I see other people doing it and it looks great. The struggle is real.  I like this reference guide for cuffing your jeans.

Lastly, a story that warmed my heart and demonstrates what Christmas should really be about. ❤

Have a wonderful weekend!

This & That Fridays – November 6

This e-card literally made me LOL.  It’s true though, right?

Have you seen Oprah’s Favorite Things for 2015?  As usual it includes some truly ridiculous things like a $425 purse to house your tablet and cords, a $650 Suitcase, and $200 sweatpants.  But also some neat things like a Smartphone printer, keepsake books, birthstone stacking rings, and a Butter London Lacquer Wardrobe!   Also this pasta maker is quite possibly the coolest thing ever!  And I’m pretty sure my dog really wants this antler beanie from American Beagle Outfitters (haha!)….well maybe not.

I’m going through a bit of career crisis right now.  I’m unhappy with many aspects of my job which in turn, is making me question my choice of career.  I’m trying to decide what it is that I truly want to do which is not easy when you thought you already had that decided!  I’m currently reading this book, which was a gift from a friend.  I’m about 1/4 of the way through and I’ve already learned a few things about myself including that I am a Procrastinating Perfectionist! #revelations

I’ve been totally obsessed with watching Bob Ross episodes on YouTube.  If you don’t know who Bob Ross is, you’re missing out!  I used to watch re-runs on PBS when I was younger and I still love them today.  I’ve been watching these before bed and they totally relax me and help me fall asleep.  He makes me want to try painting!

Work Christmas Party = New Dress!  I received my invitation to our work function this week which automatically gets me thinking about shopping for atire.  I could just wear one of the dozen dresses I have in my closet that I’ve only worn once, but what fun is that?  Le Chateau is usually my go-to for cocktail dresses – I like this one, this one and this one.

Watch this video!  Because baby elephants!

Are you hitting up the Sephora VIB Rouge sale this weekend?  I am.  Please pray for my bank account balance.

I’ve got a Costco roast burning a hole in my freezer that I’m going to make Sunday.  I’m not big on including root veggies in with the roast, but this recipe throws them in the blender once the roast is cooked and adds the mixture to the gravy.  Intrguing!  Might have to give this a whirl!

I picked up this London Fog coat last weekend and I’m so happy with my purchase!  My trench coat is a little thin to be wearing now that the temperatures are dipping below zero.  This is just the right amount of warm, it’s got a hood and it’s the perfect length.

And I think that’s it for this week. Thanks for reading and have a fantabulous weekend!