Last night I could have sworn the shower smelled like sugar cookies. Or maybe sugar cookies are just seeping through my pores? This is the point when I realized we are at the peak of the holiday season – so very close to Christmas and the New Year. Starting today, I have back to back Christmas/holiday parties lined up where there will, no doubt, be enough cookies, pies and cocktails to feed and hydrate a small army of elves.
In an effort to avoid colds, tummy aches and sugar crashes, I’ve been trying to eat a lot more greens this week. Today, I made a really simple but tasty baked tofu and broccoli salad with a new-to-me dressing, Simply Dressed by Marzetti, Balsamic flavor . Recently I’ve been making my own dressings, but I had the opportunity to try out the brand and was impressed with the minimal number of ingredients, which are all-natural and simple (meaning no preservatives, trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, MSG or artificial flavors or colors). I had my eye out for the Pomegranate and Strawberry Poppyseed flavors, but I couldn’t find them at my local store. Instead, the Balsamic caught my eye. I like to experiment with flavors, but knew I could use the Balsamic for a variety of things.
Overall, I liked the dressing – it was creamy and thicker than the usual balsamic’s I have in my fridge. It had a tangy, rich and versatile flavor. I really like when I can see the ingredients in the dressing and when it is a little more chunky than smooth and that’s how I felt about this dressing. Also, it blended very nicely with my baked tofu and “clung” to my broccoli. Watery dressings just suck, in my humble opinion. I imagine you could use it in a creamy pasta salad or in a veggie wrap.
To make my salad, I chopped up about 1/3 head broccoli, added a handful of greens, a piece of Trader Joe’s teriyaki baked tofu, crumbled and about 2 tablespoons of the Balsamic dressing. Mix well.
For those of your interested, 2 tablespoons comes in around 90 calories and 9 grams of fat. Many of the dressings in the Simply Dressed line are gluten-free and dairy-free, making them a safe choice for those with allergies or specific dietary preferences. More information can be found on the website here , but you can find Simply Dressed salad dressing in the refrigerated section of the grocery store (by the bagged lettuce). There are about 10 different varieties to choose from, including Blue Cheese, Ranch, Caesar, Pomegranate, Balsamic , Coleslaw , Champagne, Strawberry Poppyseed, Greek Feta and Ginger Sesame.
I also like that Marzetti has a recipe database on their website, which came in particularly handy as I was trying to decide what to make for each of the five parties I’ll be attending this week. Although this particular recipe does not call for one of the Simply Dressed dressings, I’m considering making a variation of these Hummus Fritters or these Stuffed Mushrooms . They have quite a few great salad ideas on the site as well. So many appetizers, so little time!
What is your favorite salad dressing? What are you making for the holidays?
I was one of the bloggers selected by T. Marzetti Company and Clever Girls Collective to host a Marzetti Simply Dressed review. They provided me with product to test myself and compensation for my time. However, my opinions are entirely my own.
Last night I could have sworn the shower smelled like sugar cookies. Or maybe sugar cookies are just seeping through my pores? This is the point when I realized we are at the peak of the holiday season – so very close to Christmas and the New Year. Starting today, I have back to back Christmas/holiday parties lined up where there will, no doubt, be enough cookies, pies and cocktails to feed and hydrate a small army of elves.
In an effort to avoid colds, tummy aches and sugar crashes, I’ve been trying to eat a lot more greens this week. Today, I made a really simple but tasty baked tofu and broccoli salad with a new-to-me dressing, Simply Dressed by Marzetti, Balsamic flavor . Recently I’ve been making my own dressings, but I had the opportunity to try out the brand and was impressed with the minimal number of ingredients, which are all-natural and simple (meaning no preservatives, trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, MSG or artificial flavors or colors). I had my eye out for the Pomegranate and Strawberry Poppyseed flavors, but I couldn’t find them at my local store. Instead, the Balsamic caught my eye. I like to experiment with flavors, but knew I could use the Balsamic for a variety of things.
Overall, I liked the dressing – it was creamy and thicker than the usual balsamic’s I have in my fridge. It had a tangy, rich and versatile flavor. I really like when I can see the ingredients in the dressing and when it is a little more chunky than smooth and that’s how I felt about this dressing. Also, it blended very nicely with my baked tofu and “clung” to my broccoli. Watery dressings just suck, in my humble opinion. I imagine you could use it in a creamy pasta salad or in a veggie wrap.
To make my salad, I chopped up about 1/3 head broccoli, added a handful of greens, a piece of Trader Joe’s teriyaki baked tofu, crumbled and about 2 tablespoons of the Balsamic dressing. Mix well.
For those of your interested, 2 tablespoons comes in around 90 calories and 9 grams of fat. Many of the dressings in the Simply Dressed line are gluten-free and dairy-free, making them a safe choice for those with allergies or specific dietary preferences. More information can be found on the website here , but you can find Simply Dressed salad dressing in the refrigerated section of the grocery store (by the bagged lettuce). There are about 10 different varieties to choose from, including Blue Cheese, Ranch, Caesar, Pomegranate, Balsamic , Coleslaw , Champagne, Strawberry Poppyseed, Greek Feta and Ginger Sesame.
I also like that Marzetti has a recipe database on their website, which came in particularly handy as I was trying to decide what to make for each of the five parties I’ll be attending this week. Although this particular recipe does not call for one of the Simply Dressed dressings, I’m considering making a variation of these Hummus Fritters or these Stuffed Mushrooms . They have quite a few great salad ideas on the site as well. So many appetizers, so little time!
What is your favorite salad dressing? What are you making for the holidays?
I was one of the bloggers selected by T. Marzetti Company and Clever Girls Collective to host a Marzetti Simply Dressed review. They provided me with product to test myself and compensation for my time. However, my opinions are entirely my own.