Episode 6 - San Francisco Caesar salad

There’s no place like home for the holidays, if you can be there safely :) 

In this December installment, we get back to the garden West Coast Style. I’m blessed to have a guest star I’ve known all my life, my mom! Move over, Rice-a-Roni, because we’re bringing you the REAL San Francisco Treat. 

This salad is a meal in itself because it includes so many strong flavors and features hearty, delicious and addicting croutons made from San Francisco Sourdough bread. This rustic Ceasar is without fail, the first thing I want whenever I get to mom’s house and in this episode, we learn from the salad queen herself. 

Once you learn to make these croutons, you may end up saving them for uses other salad as well. They are perfect sprinkled on top of Tomato or French Onion soup, or even just as a savory snack on the go. You can also pump it up if you’re extra hungry or feeding crowd by adding grilled chicken, steak or any protein of your choice. All of it tases great in that salty, tangy Caesar dressing.

While many holiday recipes are a designed for decadence via cavity inducing sweetness by the fire, this one is fresh, tasty, good for you and features local citrus juice in the dressing. I had lots of fun with my guest stars and this episode was a family affair! I say guest STARS because I owe a big thank you to TWO guest stars: my mom, Priscilla Hopkins who dazzled in her roles as salad savant, hair & make up consultant and camera operator, and a big round of applause to my father in law, Gary Bauman! Who blessed our ears with his fantastic guitar playing while a surprise dream guest shows up for second…

From my family to yours, enjoy this dreamy trip to California and our treasured family recipe.

Happy Barely Cooking!