New Year, New Recipes

At Christmas this year my family gave me a new cookbook. I have found a love for new recipes and if you can't already tell I have my go to source and sometimes I need something new beyond that. Don't get me wrong, I love the roots of my new-found love for food, but it's important to stretch yourself from time to time.

This new year brings with it renewed hope for better living. For whatever reason it's often easier to begin new life trends with a new year. This year is no different. I want to cook more often, blog more often, and in the mean time find balance and joy in the things I do.

To kick off the new year my love and I tried a new salad dressing recipe. We put it together last night and had our first real taste this afternoon. The cilantro flavor is mild and it seems to have just a little bite, I blame the vinegar and garlic. I like to cook with cilantro but I'm not as big of fan as some people I live with. If you're timid about cilantro this is still worth a try.

This week we are going to pair this dressing/marinade with some fish. I imagine it will work really well together.

Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette by Our Best Bites
Ingredients

• 1/4 c. fresh lime juice (about 2-3 juicy limes)
• 1/4 c. white wine vinegar or rice vinegar
• 4-5 cloves garlic
• 1/2 tsp. Kosher or sea salt
• 2 tsp. sugar
• 1 c. canola oil
• 1/2 c. roughly chopped cilantro, stems removed
  

Directions

1. In the jar of your blender, combine lime juice, vinegar, garlic, salt, and sugar. Blend until ingredients are completely combined.
   
2. With the blender running, add the oil in a steady stream. Add cilantro and blend until the cilantro has broken down but still maintains some of its texture.
   
3. Serve with greens, on any type of Mexican salad, or use as a marinade. *It's best if you can refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.