Table Side Caesar Salad

Monday: Pasta & Rice

So far so good. We are starting off easy for Becky. Nothing fancy, difficult, nor made for scratch for tonights dinner. Sometimes you want easy and this is about as easy as you can get, Spaghetti and Meatballs. For tonight's dinner we will be using a bottled pasta sauce (Classico Tomato & Basil) and pre-made frozen meatballs from Costco. I do suggest a salad for nutritional balance and what better salad than a Caesar Salad to pare with Spaghetti. So the featured recipe of today will be fresh Caesar Salad Dressing. This was one of the first recipes I learned in culinary school and could be made table side. A fun and elegant item that you could charge a customers a little more for the experience (which usually lead to better tips). For a family it can be fun to make with the children and the bonds made around the table are the best tips you can get. So here goes.

Table Side Caesar Salad

The most important concept that was taught here was the French term "Mise en Place (meez-on-plahss)" or "Everything put in Place". A good chef takes pride in the thoroughness and quality of their pre-preparation and having everything in place makes all the difference both in the final product and the amount of stress preparing it. I like to get all the ingredients together, put in individual bowls or containers and staged when ever I cook. My children hate this (as it makes a lot more dishes). One final word by Mark Ruhlman, author of "Elements of Cooking",

"Good mise en place makes the process easier and more pleasurable and the result tastier than preparing a recipe with no mise en place."

INGREDIENTS

Romaine Lettuce, torn to bite sized pieces (can be cut as well)

Croutons

Caesar Dressing

Parmesan Cheese, grated

Fresh Cracked Pepper

Dressing:

6 Anchovy Fillets (or Anchovy Paste) (optional)

1/2 tbsp Garlic, crushed

1 Egg, beaten

1 1/2 oz Lemon Juice

1/3 cup Olive Oil

Salt to taste

Worcestershire Sauce (just a few drops will do)

INSTRUCTIONS

Mash anchovys and garlic in a large bowl. Beat in the egg(s) an lemon juice until smooth. Slowly drizzle the oil into the bowl while beating with a wire wisk until all the oil has been added and the dressing is the desired consistency. Season to taste. Toss together in a bowl with the salad ingredients and grind fresh pepper on top if desired.

Enjoy