What's for dinner?

As previously promised " what's for dinner.".

Most nights we switch from tilapia to salmon, with veggies, veggies and yes more veggies.
I now include once a week some gluten-free, organic pasta. However rather than processed sauce, it is a simple use of fresh tomato's being sauteed in olive oil, and garlic.

The veggies is an array of bell peppers, zucchini and onion, and eggplant or butternut squash. The veggies are either steamed, or sauteed with a little of the olive oil. The seasonings are fresh herbs such as basil, rosemary, thyme, and red pepper for some "kick".

Salads are a big part as well. If I buy dressing it is organic. Mostly I make my own. It's not hard, and is less expensive. My standard dressing recipe?

1/4 cup of Olive oil.
1/4 cup of vinegar
2 cloves of garlic- crushed.
1 teaspoon of a Dijon style mustard
2 tablespoons of lemon juice.

Mix all the ingredients and pour. This will be more than enough for several individual salads or one big salad, with left over for later. Because you mixed fresh- the flavors are bold, so don't drown the salad. Just enough for taste. Best practice, Use a tablespoon- and mix after each application.

Cost factor: Olive oil can run from 3.49 for a small bottle up to over $25.00 depending on the amount and brand. If on a tight budget, purchase the smallest and use just for salad dressing. The vinegar can also range depending on what kind of vinegar. Experiment with the different flavors as you can afford them. If your budget is really tight- go for the apple cider, which is generally less than $2.00 for a bottle. Buy any Dijon style mustard, no need to go "glam" on the mustard. Just please not yellow mustard. On sale or a non brand Dijon is about 2.39. Garlic-buy fresh, and one bulb will run less than a dollar. As for the lemon juice, I have used the ones in the plastic squeeze bottle than can be had for under $2.00 as well. I Know what you are thinking, you can get a bottle of dressing for way less. If you stay on the "cheap" side it's probably going to cost about 8.00. However, think in terms of health as well as pocket book. The apple cider vinegar will last for several months. The bulb of garlic will handle at least 3 more applications. If you start out with the already squeezed lemon juice- will also have more applications. So while the in ital cost may be higher- in terms of healthier (no salt or preservatives)but you will be able to make the dressing in smaller individual amounts, and make the initial cost go down as you use it. Not to mention can be used in more varieties than bottled dressing. When I buy dressing, again its organic and a flavor that is really unique and not sure how to duplicate. Such as Organicville Sesame Turmeric. Working on it- but sesame oil, can be costly. A small bottle about $6.00.