Condiments Low Calorie Vegetarian

Creamy Apple Tarragon Dressing & OXO Giveaway!

May 4, 2012

If you’ve been following my blog, you know how lately I’ve been watching my calories and eating more healthy. I’m thrilled to be part of the OXO Blogger Outreach Program and help them spread the word about some of their healthy eating tools. The tool I got to try was their Salad Dressing Shaker. I was really excited about this one because the salad dressing container I own isn’t exactly going to win any awards for ease of use. I chose to make Creamy Apple Tarragon Dressing for two reasons. One, I wanted something with bulky ingredients to really test the new shaker and I wanted a low calorie dressing with lots of flavor. Read on to find out how it worked out!

comparing shakers

You can see how my salad dressing shaker on the left is small and although the mouth is wide, it’s hard to stuff bulky ingredients like sour cream and yogurt into the container. The lid doesn’t stay very tight so shaking has to be done very gingerly. The OXO shaker on the right has a huge opening and a nice pouring spout.

bulky ingredients

I didn’t attempt to spoon the yogurt and the sour cream in my old shaker. Look how much the OXO shaker holds! I had no problem getting both ingredients in the OXO shaker.

all ingredients in shaker

Adding the rest of my ingredients was a cinch. I scraped the herbs right off my big chopping knife into the shaker and squeezed the mustard right in. Getting those herbs in my old container would have made a huge mess.

Salad Dressing Shaker

Now for the fun part! Shake! Shake! Shake! The top screws on tight and the nozzle on the top forms a nice seal. No worries about splashing dressing around the kitchen here.

Shaker and Salad

Flip the nozzle and you’re ready to pour. My only complaint about the OXO shaker is that with thick dressings like this one, it comes out all around the nozzle. You can see in the picture where it’s coming out where it’s supposed to under the spout, but also coming out the top. I think with thinner dressings, this wouldn’t be a problem since you wouldn’t have to turn up the shaker so much. I will say, the way OXO has designed the nozzle, it makes for easy cleaning. I closed the nozzle and ran it under the sink really quick to wash off the dressing that had gotten out and ta da! It was clean and ready to go back in the fridge. Now on to the dressing!

So, how’s it taste?

Great flavor for such a low calorie dressing! The apple gives it a nice freshness and the tarragon is wonderful. I really fell in love with fresh tarragon back when I used it in a pasta dish. It’s got a slight licorice flavor and between the apple and spicy mustard, this is a winner. You’d never guess the yogurt and sour cream weren’t the full fat versions. It does make quite a thick dressing, so if you’d like it thinner, try adding a little milk or water.

Now it’s giveaway time! The nice folks over at OXO want you to have a Salad Dressing Shaker, too! I’m giving away one OXO Salad Dressing Shaker like you see in the pictures above to one lucky reader.

Mandatory to enter: All you need to do is comment on this post and tell me what you’re doing (or what you’d like to start doing) to eat more healthy!

Optional entries: For up to two additional entries, do one or both of the following and leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

1. Follow @sohowsittaste and @OXO on Twitter and tweet the following: “I just entered to win an @OXO Salad Dressing Shaker from @sohowsittaste! You can too! Enter here: http://bit.ly/appletarragon

2. Like So, How’s It Taste? and OXO on Facebook.

I’ll randomly select the winner on Wednesday, May 9th at noon Central. Please make sure you enter a valid email address as an alternate winner will be chosen if I don’t hear from you within 48 hours. Good luck!

Congratulations to comment #37 from Kelly!
I hope you enjoy your new OXO Salad Dressing Shaker!

Winner chosen using Random.org

Disclosure: OXO sent me a free Salad Dressing Shaker, but I was not compensated for this post.
All opinions expressed here are solely my own.

Creamy Apple Tarragon Dressing

by TLC Cooking
makes about 1 cup
per 2 tbsp: 25 calories, 0.8g fat, 2.9g carbs, 0g fiber, 1.4g protein

Ingredients:

1/2 cup plain, fat-free yogurt
1/4 cup low-fat sour cream
1/4 cup frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed
1 tbsp. spicy brown mustard
1 tbsp. fresh tarragon, minced
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients in a salad dressing shaker. Shake to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

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  • Heather May 4, 2012 at 11:04 am

    oooh I so want to win this! I only recently made my own salad dressing & I’ve been storing it in a ghetto jar with saran wrap as the lid hahaha.

    I have been tracking my food on my fitness pal to stay accountable & within a healthy calorie range each day.

  • Kelli @ The Corner Kitchen May 4, 2012 at 11:17 am

    What an awesome giveaway (and really awesome dressing!!). I’ve been making my own dressing for a while…it’s always better than anything you’d buy in a bottle.

    To be more healthy, I wish I could curb giving in to my sweet tooth, just a little bit.

  • Jenna Z May 4, 2012 at 12:09 pm

    In April, I went vegan for the month and I am sticking it with indefinitely! I am loving it!!

  • Jenna Z May 4, 2012 at 12:09 pm

    I follow both and tweeted:
    https://twitter.com/#!/corgipants/status/198459014525358080

  • amy marantino May 4, 2012 at 1:15 pm

    i am trying to eat more veggies

  • amy marantino May 4, 2012 at 1:15 pm

    i Follow @sohowsittaste and @OXO on Twitter and tweeted (@onitnaram)

  • Christine May 4, 2012 at 3:17 pm

    I make my own lunches and bring them to work instead of eating out everyday.. it helps a lot!

  • Kim May 4, 2012 at 5:07 pm

    I’m cutting out junk and having one cheat day

  • Kathy S May 4, 2012 at 7:22 pm

    I’d like to eat more fruits and vegetables to get healthy.

  • Lannae May 5, 2012 at 9:24 am

    I like So How’s It Taste and OXO on FB!
    Yum!

  • Corisa May 5, 2012 at 1:38 pm

    I’ve been looking all over for healthier options when it comes to salad dressings ! This will be my next pick for dressing when i make spinach salad!

  • Susan in the Boonies May 6, 2012 at 9:36 am

    I just got a diet book from Cynthia Sass that I’m thinking about trying.

  • Amy Seiger May 6, 2012 at 12:52 pm

    The dressing recipe above sounds delish!!!! I would love to try it in the dressing shaker from OXO!!

  • Julie May 7, 2012 at 6:56 am

    I am more fresh vegetables and cut back on my salt intake thanks

  • Julie May 7, 2012 at 6:57 am

    like u both on fb Julie A scott Laws

  • abby May 7, 2012 at 10:27 am

    i kicked my diet coke habit!

  • Lesley Eats May 7, 2012 at 11:57 am

    I’m eating more salads, too! OXO makes salads a lot easier to make and enjoy!

  • Lesley Eats May 7, 2012 at 11:57 am

    I like both of you on FB!

  • Amanda May 7, 2012 at 8:59 pm

    I’m (trying) to eat less fast food and to cook more 🙂

  • Michelle May 7, 2012 at 9:41 pm

    I am starting to use fresh ingredients.

  • Michelle May 7, 2012 at 9:43 pm

    I like both of you on facebook.

  • Michelle May 7, 2012 at 9:43 pm

    I follow both of you on twitter and tweeted about the contest.

  • Jessy Y. May 8, 2012 at 1:18 pm

    Instead of snacking on chips and crackers, I’ve been bringing a salad to go with my frozen lunches at work. And growing my own salad greens too!

  • Jessy Y. May 8, 2012 at 1:19 pm

    PS: I tweeted and already like you both on the Facebook.

  • Marnely Rodriguez May 8, 2012 at 3:35 pm

    We’re making our own condiments, like mayo, at home!

  • Kay May 8, 2012 at 3:36 pm

    One way I’m eating healthier is by making salads for lunch, so this would be perfect!

  • Mer May 8, 2012 at 3:36 pm

    Portion Control 🙂

  • Sarah May 8, 2012 at 3:38 pm

    My husband and I are eating more clean. Out with the processed foods high in sodium and in with natural produce!

  • Sue (KyddSR) May 8, 2012 at 3:39 pm

    To eat healthy I’ve really been trying to be mindful of my portion sizes. I’ve also been trying to eat a simple salad with dinner & this dressing shaker would be a great addition to that routine.

  • Sue (KyddSR) May 8, 2012 at 3:40 pm

    Tweet Tweet!

  • Sarah May 8, 2012 at 3:41 pm

    I tweeted, followed, and like you and OXO on facebook! Crossing my fingers 🙂

  • Sue (KyddSR) May 8, 2012 at 3:41 pm

    And I already like you & OXO on FB!

  • Lesley May 8, 2012 at 3:46 pm

    I tweeted!

  • Linda A May 8, 2012 at 4:03 pm

    i want to start cooking more & getting less takeout42

  • Jill J May 8, 2012 at 4:08 pm

    I have been buying healthier snacks, if packaged snacks, making sure they are “normal” portion sizes and if not pre-packaged, I package them up as soon as I am done shopping. This way everyone in my house is eating normal portions.

  • Jill J May 8, 2012 at 4:10 pm

    I follow @sohowsittaste and @OXO on Twitter and tweeted

  • Kelly May 8, 2012 at 4:10 pm

    I make my lunch the night before and try to go with as many fresh ingredients as possible, with plenty of food and snacks so I’m not tempted to get something else (not as healthy) and let all that good food go to waste.

  • Jill J May 8, 2012 at 4:11 pm

    I follow So How’s It Taste and OXO on FB

  • Leslie S. May 8, 2012 at 4:26 pm

    My folks have always made their own dressings. When we had our own restaurant we even made our own dressings and tartar sauce instead of using the more institutional sizes. It simply tasted better, fresher…I remember doing to the store once as a child and being incredulous that dressing came in a bottle. I still make my own dressing and this would be great, quicker and easier to contine that…

  • Barbara May 8, 2012 at 4:50 pm

    I try to cook as much as possible so that I know what is going into my food.

  • Barbara May 8, 2012 at 4:50 pm

    I followed you and OXO on twitter and tweeted

  • Barbara May 8, 2012 at 4:50 pm

    I liked you and oxo on facebook

  • Janice May 8, 2012 at 6:44 pm

    I have cut out processed foods and have lost 70 lbs so far.

  • Linda S. May 8, 2012 at 9:35 pm

    I’m eating much less meat and more grains (e.g., farro) and vegetables, but I’ve gotten lazy about making salads, so need to step that up.

  • Abbey May 9, 2012 at 8:41 am

    To eat more healthy I would like to finish building my hoop frames on the raised bed so I can have fresh greens all winter again this year! 🙂

  • Denise May 9, 2012 at 9:45 am

    I am trying to eat less fast food and more salads and fruits :).

  • Denise May 9, 2012 at 9:48 am

    I already like you on FB & just liked OXO.

  • Denise May 9, 2012 at 9:48 am

    I already follow you on twitter & just followed OXO AND tweeted about your contest 🙂