Blue Cheese Vinaigrette

-->

Here's a summer picnic ready to go.  Blue Cheese Vinaigrette;
Roasted Turkey Breast;
Pistachios; Local Tomatoes;
Raw Local Sweet Corn; Blanched Local Green Beans;
Local Pepper; Cucumbers; Scallions. 
Pack up the cooler along with some lettuces and you're good to go!

Makes about 1¼ cups

Recipe from October 1997 Bon Appétit

Served at the Peacock Dining Room at the Hassayampa Inn, Prescott AZ 

Husband-Tested in Alice's Kitchen

I'm a big fan of blue cheese so this recipe gets an enthusiastic thumbs up from me (and also the reviewers at Epicurious.com) This is not a thick, gloppy blue cheese dressing. This is a true vinaigrette, thin enough for drizzling, but rich with blue cheese flavor that will tickle your taste buds with a bit of tang. Now that fresh basil is in season, be sure to give this a try and serve it over your favorite salad, drizzle it over a platter of fresh tomatoes or try it drizzled over Summer's Best Salad In the winter, when fresh isn't in season, you could substitute 1 heaping teaspoon of dried basil or if you're lucky enough to have some pesto in your freezer, try a bit of that in the dressing instead! Then drizzle this over your favorite crisp salad or even on steamed broccoli or asparagus.

7 Tablespoons olive oil, divided

2 teaspoons minced garlic

3/4 cup crumbled blue cheese (about 2½ oz.)

1/4 cup white wine vinegar

1 Tablespoon water

1 Tablespoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 Tablespoon chopped fresh basil

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy small skillet over medium heat. Add 2 teaspoons minced garlic and sauté until golden, about 1 minute. Transfer garlic mixture to blender or small food processor. Add blue cheese, white wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon water, sugar, hot pepper sauce, salt, pepper and remaining 6 tablespoons olive oil; blend well. Transfer vinaigrette to bowl. Mix in chopped basil. (Vinaigrette can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) 

Nutritional Info:   1 Tablespoon = 62 calories