Domestic Goddess
We are playing a bit of a waiting game here.
I keep pacing the yard waiting for those little baby robins to hatch. Unfortunately watching paint dry waiting for birds to hatch is about all I had energy for Monday. Luckily, I was not alone in my exhaustion.
There really is no better place to take a breather than a slab of concrete.
I settled for the couch. It’s a pretty unnerving feeling to wake up in the middle of the afternoon when you are in charge of two kids under the age of six, a sadistic cat and a pregnant bird and realize you are WAKING UP. I’m sure my nap was only about ten minutes long since my contacts only felt like cardboard in my eyes and not sandpaper. And Gigi was still singing the same Taylor Swift song she was singing when I dozed off, but now that I think about it, that’s not necessarily a strong indicator of anything, except for maybe why I’ve hidden the Taylor Swift cd.
That’s not to say that my day was not without it’s accomplishments. I thought of a great way to avoid actually having to leave the house to buy water balloons for the girls.
Aside from the gallons of water being wasted, hose-play is really an environmentally friendly alternative to multicolored plastic fragments across our lawn.
Someone just needs to remind Gigi not to stick a running hose in her mouth. I almost had to utilize my CPR training, and that’s far more ambitious than I wanted to be.
In my other undertaking of the day, I pieced together the secret behind Deb’s addictive salad (and surprisingly it’s not just serving it up alongside pizza and red wine…although, those certainly don’t hurt). It really is just some greens, veggies, avocado and this crack in a bottle.
Deb left it here, but I didn’t feel right about using it, especially since she will soon read this and want it back.
The ingredients are pretty simple.
But while Deb runs marathons and can utilize the extra calories and fat of this oil-based dressing, I don’t and can’t. Did you catch that my big activities of the day were napping and turning on the hose? Refueling isn’t really a big concern. Deb is a working mom, marathoner, breadbaking, scrapbooking, gardening, salad-making goddess. I didn’t leave the house today. I believe that makes me a domestic goddess (which sounds better than “shut-in”).
Domestic Goddess Dressing
Makes 1 cup dressing
- 1/2 an avocado (about 1/3 c. cubed)
- 1/2 a summer squash (zucchini or yellow, about 1/3 c. cubed)
- 1/3 c. water
- 1 T. Braggs Amino Acids (or reduced sodium soy sauce)
- 2 T. apple cider vinegar
- 2 T. lemon juice
- 1 1/2 T. tahini
- 1 t. minced garlic
- 1/4 t. salt
- 1/2 t. onion salt
- 1 t. dried parsley
- 1/4 t. xanthan gum
- stevia to taste (optional)
Blend avocado, squash and water in a high speed blender or food processor until smooth.
Add remaining ingredients and process until dressing is at desired consistency. You can adjust the seasonings or add more water until dressing is to your liking.
I made a large salad of organic field greens, spinach, carrots, snap peas, broccoli and cucumber,
drizzled it with about 1/4 c. of the dressing,
and tossed it before topping it with some hemp seeds.
I’m in love. And I have a new way to use summer squash that is multiplying at a rapid rate. I should know. I’ve been watching it grow all day. But today I have bigger plans. I may even leave the nest and walk to the mailbox. That doesn’t require a shower, right?
Yum. I want to make this! Guess I need to find some xantham gum.
Your blog never ceases to make me laugh
I love the dressing recipe too, I’m always looking for a new and exciting dressing to try out and zucchini seem to be multiplying like rabbits so I’ll have to give this a whirl soon!
I love Annie’s Goddess dressing. Would love to try a homemade one!
I will have to try this simply because I’m too cheap to buy the real thing. And turning on a water hose can be a big chore, don’t sell yourself short
Love the idea of blending the squash to make a creamy dressing!
that’s such a cool idea to add squash to the dressing! and so healthful too. yet another winner mama pea
oHooH I want that dressing!
I used to be a stay at home mom but then I had to go out and get a job to catch a break. Seriously, staying home is the hardest job in the world!
And I feel you on the contacts…they feel like sandpaper in my eyes all day long.
I dozed off yesterday too. Thank goodness I’d set the oven time on the fruit cobbler or I would have awoken to firemen kicking down our door. (Oh wait….oh right, that would have been BAD) I’m blaming my nap on the whole wheat pasta I had for lunch. And maybe my book’s kinda boring.
oooh I love this!!! What a great dressing! Great job
All I could think about when I read the title of this post was Nigella Lawson.
Best dressing ever. For sure. And, if it makes you feel any better, I slept in until 1 p.m. today. And I mean that I woke up at that time FOR THE DAY. What has my life become!
That dressing sounds fab! Can I ask what the xanthan gum is/does? I’ve seen you use it in several recipes and have always wanted to ask
No prob, Christy. It is a thickening agent. I like to use it in dressings because it helps them emulsify without using a bunch of oil. It is “natural” in that it is a strain of bacteria made during fermentation. You’ll see it in a lot of commercially prepared dressings and ice cream.
Shockingly, I have never tried goddess dressing. Looks good!
I can’t have that dressing because it really is crack in a bottle.
This continue to be my favorite food blog.
… and I read a LOT of ‘em.
Thanks Darcie! I read a lot of ‘em too
Amazing. So much so that I think I just might head right on down to the kitchen and whip some of this up RIGHT now. Like right as soon as this comment is done. Aaaaaand GO.
Turning on the hose is definitely work, so don’t ever sell yourself short. There may be people out there doing more, but remember there are also people out there doing less!
Goddess dressing used to be gluten-free and I got hooked on it, so good! Then they changed the recipe and I’ve been depressed ever since. Until you cracked the code and I can make it gluten-free now! And raw too! Thank you!
Pregnant bird? You crack me up.
Haha you are too funny but I definitely think that you don’t give yourself enough credit. You may not be running marathons but running around all day with two preschoolers is probably just as exhausting as running a marathon!
YUM! I love goddess dressing. I measure it out, though, and only use 1 Tbsp. at a time bc it’s so dense.
I haven’t tried that dressing…I usually eat it plain
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. I’m going to need to try this. Thanks!
I LOVE Annie’s Goddess dressing, THANK YOU for recreating it!!
If you want a more “authentic” replicate, add 2/3 c. of olive oil INSTEAD of the squash and avocado. I was just looking to go a bit lighter
I LOVE Goddess dressing! I don’t like to eat too much of it, because of all of the calories and fat. I will try your recipe…it sounds divine! Thanks for sharing!
PS. I’ve been gone awhile from blogging and just wanted to say
oops… wanted to say the girls have gotten SO BIG!
That stuff is crack! Everyone we’ve had try it has loved it! It is hard to just use a little but I try
How do the nutritionals of your dressing compare?
Okay, I did this just for you: 2 T. of my dressing has about 35 calories and 3 g. of fat. I’m going to be dumping it on from now on
I’d say making a delish salad dressing is an accomplishment! Besides, who says raising two little girls is a walk in the park!
Ah, thank you for the tips on the dressing! I have been buying at least 2 bottles of Annie’s every time I’ve gone to our local co-op this week because they’ve had it on sale! I may actually stop my stock-up frenzy now and try to make your version!
Can I email you the ingredients of the $8.99/lb. crack granola I’m addicted to for a homegrown version of that, too?
Yes, please send me the ingredient list for your granola! (and ironically, I made granola today…recipe coming tomorrow…)
That salad looks delish!
Oh..and where does one find xanthum gum and liquid amino acids?
I buy both at the health food store or Whole Foods!
I want to eat that salad for breakfast tomorrow. And lunch and dinner. Yum! Thanks for the recipe. Trip to the mailbox doesn’t require a shower. I, on the other hand, went to the grocery store in pajamas today. Oops!
Please please tell me the secret to getting thick stuff out of the bottom of the vitamix! I hate to waste any of the goodness that is trapped down there!
I use a tiny spatula. Or just add a splash of water and then run it again so it’ll pour out. I’ve tried my face before…it doesn’t work.
I wish I liked Goddess dressing, but I just can’t get into the taste. Not sure what the offender is. Your version does look delicious though
Haha, I love that this post directly follows up “how to be social.”
you’ll probably have a fresh post up like 3 mins after i get done leaving this comment LOL but love your spin on Goddess Dressing. I was actually never really that in love with the storebought version…but!!! I am digging your version!
I love goddess dressing!! Squash gets so super creamy when blended. It’s so weird to me!! But, it’s great for making things stretch, especially when you have lots of it. Your version looks fabbb.
Your salad dressing sounds perfect! I love that you were able to “sneak” in some extra veggies to it.
Oh, and the water pictures are adorable!! Totally reminds me of my brother, sister and I when we were small.
Once you see the papa bird come back, the babies will either have just hatched or will be hatching soon. We played this game not long ago as well!
I am intrigued with the dressing! It sounds fab! How long does that tahini last? I’ve seen it at WF and have wanted to get it but wasn’t sure if a big container would go bad before I used it all up.
I don’t post too often, but I read your posts everyday! I was wondering if you have tried Annie’s Lite Honey Mustard dressing? It is the only one I use!
I love the pics of the girls! I wish we lived closer so we could do a playdate with my two little girls!
Thanks Kerri, yes, I’ve tried the Annie’s Lite HM. I like it too, but I usually just make my own dressings.
I LOVE that salad dressing, but I also can’t afford the extra fat/calories! Your dressing looks great!
This dressing looks like a great substitute for Annie’s. I’ve never had green goddess but yours looks amazing. I definitely want to give it a try. Do you know if they sell xanthan gum at Whole Foods? I haven’t seen it but I’m probably looking in the wrong place.
Thanks for another great recipe!
I haven’t bought it at Whole Foods, but it is probably on the baking aisle. It is sometimes sold in the gluten-free section since it is a good substitute in GF baking (to give bread elasticity). Good luck!
i LOVED your last post – i wish more people would see the value in accepting and honoring differences rather than preach, “mine is better than yours, mine is better than yours!” although i may still do that subconsciously when i see bad fashion on the street. c’est la vie. tis’ is life.
anyways – LOVE the idea of incorporating actual veggies into the dressing. this one is definitely getting bookmarked. love you mama pea!
Bless you! I’ve wanted a healthy ‘Green Goddess’ dressing recipe for ages.
I love me some Goddess Dressing, so I will definitely have to try this!
I just wanted to let you know that I made the dressing last night and it was FABULOUS!!! I’ve actually never had the Annie’s version (although I hear about it all the time in blog-world!), but had both squash and avocado that needed to be used up, so I went for it! Delicious…and an easy way to sneak in some veggies!
Thanks for posting the recipe…love, love, love your blog!
I recently discovered the Annie’s dressing and I definitely need to make your version before my addiction gets out of control!
I LOVE Green Goddess Dressing, can’t wait to try this version. My only concern is the amount of sodium. My niece has been vegitarian for 3 yrs and vegan for 1 so I will pass this and your site on to her! Thanks Mama
Thank you, Teri!
OMG, you did it again. I don’t know why its taken me this long to try your dressing recipe. I’m hooked on the Amy’s stuff. I think I’ve found healthier crack! So glad I preordered the book this weekend!
Thanks for the pre-order and I’m so happy you like the dressing!