Crudités are very popular all year round – as hors d’ouvres or just as everyday snacks. The name comes from the word crude, which means in its raw or natural state. Save this recipe for the summer, when all the Canadian grown vegetables are so plentiful – that’s the time to make large plates full of carrot strips, celery sticks, broccoli and cauliflower flowerets, green onions, green, red, yellow and orange peppers and cherry tomatoes in all colours. The sky’s the limit. Any or all of these vegetables can be presented in a most appetizing way on kitchen dishes, fine dinner china, or even on paper plates.
With summer being such a short season in this country, you’ll want to take advantage of your garden goodies as often as possible and there’s no better way to acquire all your body’s food requirements than to munch on raw vegetables. Keep a bowl of prepared dip on hand and along with those barbecued steaks, chicken or fish, you’ll have a full-course, nutrition-packed meal. Here are a few recipes for favourite dips.
¾ lb. creamy cottage cheese
2 green onions, chopped fine
salt, pepper and a sprinkle of parsley
Combine all ingredients well. Chill. Serve with fresh vegetables.
OR
½ lb. cream cheese (Philadelphia)
¼ t ground oregano
¼ t Italian seasoning
¼ t loose dry thyme
sprinkle paprika
sprinkle garlic salt
1½ t vermouth
drop of Tabasco sauce
Combine all ingredients well. Chill. Serve with fresh vegetables.
OR
1 small carton of sour cream
3 t finely chopped chives (or substitute chopped dill)
salt and pepper
Combine all ingredients well. Chill. Serve with fresh vegetables.
You can mix and match any of these variations. Try it. You’ll come back for more.
The working title for Carolyne’s Gourmet Recipes cookbook is From Lady Ralston’s Kitchen: A Canadian Contessa Cooks. This kitchen-friendly doyenne has been honoured and referred to as the grande dame of executive real estate in her market area during her 35-year career. She taught gourmet cooking in the mid-70s and wrote a weekly newspaper cooking column, long before gourmet was popular as it is today. Her ebook, Gourmet Cooking – at Home with Carolyne is available here for $5.99 US. Email Carolyne. Scroll down to the comments at each recipe column. Carolyne often adds complimentary “From Lady Ralston’s Kitchen” additional recipes in the Recipes for Realtors Comments section at REM.
