Champagne Vinaigrette a winner any way!

Champagne Salad

Don’t know why I have never made Champagne Vinaigrette before, but that is certainly going to change in 2012. Wow, wow what took me so long. I guess I just really didn’t think alcohol….salad……alcohol?…in a salad dressing? So I just never really went down that road. But then of course I realized…….I read that wrong. It wasn’t Champagne……it was champagne vinegar. Uh-oh. Well, guess what?  I had some Champagne on hand and thought it sounded Great! It is not something you can taste (the alcohol), but it is such a vibrant and fresh tasting dressing. Pow! (wonder what the vinegar version tastes like?) And it was a BIG HIT! I made a simple salad of romaine lettuce, cranberries, bleu cheese and candied walnuts and topped it off with this zippy, incredible dressing! Don’t miss out. Save a 1/4 cup of your next bottle of Champagne and treat yourself. Or you can make it with Champagne vinegar and maybe not dance through dinner! But do give it a try with the real deal. I got this recipe from  epicurious.com.

Here’s all you do:

• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons dijon Mustard
• 1/4 cup champagne vinegar (oooops;-)
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 or 3 dashes hot sauce (definitely 3)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Whisk together all the ingredients.  Pour over a lovely salad………then wait for applause! No really!

Bon Appétit