Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Basketball and Bleu Cheese: Dining Room Experiment, part 2

This past weekend a miracle occurred. I have witnesses. North Carolina State played #2 ranked Duke and won, won big time. I'd like to say I saw the game but every time State pulled ahead, ManO, my daughter and her boyfriend told me to leave the room. I can't help I'm both a State and a Duke grad. I'd be in the laundry room or my studio and hear a big roar of applause. I'd come into the family to see what was going on and State would mess up. So the family got to the point where they just pointed me out of the room. Yes, we are that superstitious about our Wolfpack.

Everyone  has their NC State shirts on. I made a nod to Duke with the blue and white tablecloth.


Lunch was actually Sunday dinner served in the dining room. We got so involved in our conversation about daughter's face turning red from my homemade baked Buffalo drummettes we missed the first ten minutes of the game. I also learned she survives too hot wings by coating them or drummettes in ranch dressing. Good to know. Score one for the dining room!

Of course, part of missing those first few minutes was due to our concentration on our wedge salads!

Gorgeous iceberg lettuce, a rarity this time of year, oven fried bacon but no tomato for daughter.
The kids had ranch dressing but ManO and I go traditional with bleu cheese. I have to make my own. No arguments. And it's easy.

Mayo, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce,bleu cheese  of choice. I used USA Buttermilk Blue.

Making dressing is really one of those things I never do the same twice. Salad dressing is also one of those things that means different amounts of ingredients depending on the person. In other words, improvise, taste it and add more of what you think is missing! But I love making my own because there are no ingredients I don't know are there!

Here is my quick and easy bleu cheese dressing recipe to use for anything, including lowering the temperature of hot wings and drummettes.

Bleu (Blue) Cheese Dressing  

1/3 cup mayo
1/2 cup sour cream
milk if needed to thin 
dash Worcestershire sauce
dash salt
blue cheese, crumbled

Using an immersion blender or a whisk and bowl, combine mayo, sour cream, Worcestershire, and salt until smooth and dressing consistency.

Add in blue cheese to taste. You can blend in a quarter cup for a smooth dressing or add a half cup of crumbles and stir.

Keeps in the refrigerator two days....if it lasts.

Serve over lettuce wedges or use for a celery and carrot dip.

Do you have game day superstitions? Are you a "house divided" when it comes to teams? Are you putting together recipes for the upcoming Super Bowl?   

15 comments:

  1. You made your own dressing. I am soooo impressed. I did chuckle and snort at the wearing of the colors at the table.

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    1. We are serious about our Wolfpack! As far as the dressing goes, since I am allergic to all the ingredients and preservatives in bottles, it is make my own or eat naked salad.

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  2. I'm not a dressing fan. And for the Superbowl, I do usually make something involving seafood, shrimp or crab legs. I haven't thought about it yet, but I better get on it....

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    1. Does this mean you are also not a salad fan? I pulled out my mom's shrimp gumbo recipe this morning. I am thinking I need to fix it. Thanks for the encouragement.

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    2. Yes, that's exactly what it means, although I will eat a salad with a non-mayo based vinaigrette. That's what was served at my wedding reception.

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  3. Funny, I was planning food in my head this morning for our big Daycare Half-a-Superbowl party! We have lots of families that come, lots of food, and then everyone has to go home at half-time. It's the perfect Ruthy party, kids, food and early to bed!!!! :)

    Julie, I haven't seen a wedge salad in years. That used to be a big thing here, but twigs and shoots have taken its place in so many places, and I've switched to broccoli slaw. What fun memories!

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    1. I have been in love with your Half-a-Superbowl party ever since you talked about it the first time. I've told all sorts of folks about it.

      We only get wedge salad at fancy steakhouses now which we go to once a year. I mean does iceberg lettuce even count as a green veggie? But it sure does cool down the mouth when spicy is too spicy.

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  4. And you guys sat down to eat during a game.... I'm sending this to all Blodgett boys.

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    1. We thought we allowed enough time to eat and get across the hall to the family room for the start of the game but we got caught up in, wait for it, conversation! We were astounded.

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  5. Your salad looks really nice. We have salad as part of our dinner meal a few times a week, so I could definitely use a new salad dressing recipe to jazz things up. And I love how you all sat down for dinner. When my husband watches a big game or we have a Superbowl party, we head down to the playroom to watch on the 50' television. I don't think anyone would sit down at the table on game day if I paid them.

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    1. I can tell you they refused to go back to the table for dessert. And there was a lot of jumping up and down for sure!

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  6. LOL -- no team sports superstition but I can be a fanatic figure skating fan. I hate it when the commentator says something like "Hasn't been able to land this jump in practice today. Let's see how he does when it counts." Gah!!!! Jinx! Jinx! Jinx!

    I don't think I've ever made my own salad dressing and I really should. There are some really good recipes here at the café.

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    1. Oh, I know what you mean about the skating!

      I try to stick to a few ingredients that make things that are so convenient like salad dressing still easy. Otherwise dinner prep would be days!

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  7. I love a wedge salad! But I've never made one at home. I'll be sure to try this. Thanks for the recipe! I adore bleu cheese dressing. And of course, bacon. :)

    These days, our house is divided every so often if Duke plays Georgia Tech. That's been fun. :)

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    1. The key is knowing you have a good head of lettuce!

      Oh, houses divided. They really can be so fun.

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