Lemon Poppy-Seed Dressing

I brought this easy dressing to a potluck tonight and received several requests for the recipe. People, I was out of poppy seeds and they still liked it! The trick is to use fresh local lemons in season - the flavor just isn't the same with grocery store citrus. In the off season, try substituting white balsamic vinegar for a different but still tasty spin.

I usually pair this dressing with a simple salad comprised of butter lettuce, strawberries, red onions, Persian cucumbers and Israeli feta. It's also good with roasted yellow beets, Marcona almonds and goat cheese.

1 smallish lemon
1 1/2 Tbsp honey, to taste
1/4 tsp dry mustard
salt and pepper
3 Tbsp olive oil
2 tsp poppy seeds

Juice the lemon, passing juice through a coarse strainer to remove seeds and pips. Add honey; stir with a fork to blend. Stir in mustard (this helps emulsify the dressing), salt and pepper. Add olive oil in a thin stream, stirring furiously until dressing comes together. Add poppy seeds. Remove to a glass jar and cart to your potluck.

Roasted Chile Frittata with Hash Brown Crust

I roasted several big trays of bell peppers and poblano chiles earlier in the week, making tonight's dinner very easy.

3 c peeled and shredded leftover baked potatoes
olive oil spray
salt
2 tsp olive oil
1 c chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1/2 tsp coriander powder
1/4 tsp crushed dried oregano
salt and pepper
1 roasted bell pepper, chopped
1 roasted poblano pepper, chopped
2 ozs cotija cheese
3 slices veggie bacon, crumbled
4 eggs
1/2 c milk

Preheat oven to 425.

Spray a 9" pie pan with cooking spray. Press potatoes into pan and up sides to make a crust. Spray again with cooking spray; sprinkle with salt. Bake 15-20 minutes or until beginning to brown.

Meanwhile, saute onion and garlic in olive oil until softened. Add spices; saute until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Stir in bell peppers; remove from heat. In a separate bowl, beat eggs and milk together. Set aside.

Sprinkle cheese over baked crust. Top with bacon, then sauteed vegetables. Pour egg-milk mixture atop. Reduce heat to 375; bake 20-25 minutes or until set and beginning to brown.