I'm not much of a drinker, but I do enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail on occasion. Here in NC, we have become a destination for wineries, breweries, cideries, and distilleries. The Yadkin Valley region has a plethora of wineries thanks to its fertile hills and nearby rivers. My husband and I enjoy traveling into the area to try new wineries and old favorites. One of our favorite wineries is Slightly Askew. Slightly Askew has fantastic wines for all palates: dry and discerning, like my husband, and sweet and sassy, like me. Located in Elkin, NC, they also have fantastic names for their wines, based on the area, their family, and pets.
I found this dressing recipe and paused, because it calls for a sweet wine. It wasn't the wine necessarily, but the fact it was called for in a Baptist cookbook. I realize that some Baptists consume alcohol and others do not; many people choose to or not to imbibe for a variety of reasons, regardless of religious beliefs. However, growing up in a small, mostly conservative town and finding a recipe that calls for wine in a local Baptist cookbook was surprising. I immediately thought of my Slightly Askew blueberry pomegranate zinfandel AKA "Nasty B*****d" and decided it would perfectly fit the description of "sweet." It also would give me an excuse to open it and enjoy a glass with dinner (not that I needed much of an excuse.) This was really delicious and easy to make. I have made it my go-to dressing and made it several times since I first discovered it.
Ingredients: vinegar, sweet wine, Italian dressing mix, olive oil
Step 1: Add vinegar, wine, and the package of dressing into a bottle or container and shake vigorously until blended. (Note from the recipe: you can use water instead of wine if you prefer. Frankly, I would use more vinegar if I didn't use wine. I used red wine vinegar, although other types may work well.) Step 2: Add the olive oil to the container and shake again until well blended. Best if not refrigerated and will last at least 2 weeks.
Trudy's Salad Dressing
Recipe:
1/4 c. vinegar
3 T. sweet wine, such as blackberry
1 pkg. Italian dressing mix
1/2 c. olive oil
Add vinegar, wine, and the package of dressing into a bottle or container and shake vigorously until blended. Add the olive oil to the container and shake again until well blended. Best if not refrigerated and will last at least 2 weeks.
Source: Trudy Avery, Break Bread with Us from Southside Baptist Church, 2006