Ozganics Taste Test: Jams, salad dressings and simmer sauces

http://www.ozganics.com.au

Certified organic products

Thanks to Neil Sallaway (Sales Manager) and Anni Brownjohn (Director) from Ozganics for providing me a few product samples to taste from the Organic Expo & Green Show 2011. I first came across their stand at the Good Food & Wine Show 2011. I received some jams (pictured above), salad dressings and simmer sauces to try and will work my way through them and provide tasting notes below for each once finalised.

Ozganics jams - 13 Aug 2011

Orange marmalade, Strawberry spread, Fig spread

Orange marmalade

Tasting notes: Nice citrus taste and visible peel. Texture and consistency likable although noticed the fruit content is only 17.5% in total and wondered if it could be higher. Some extra peel for more texture would be welcomed. Probably my favourite out of the three jams sampled.

Strawberry spread

Tasting notes: Distinctive strawberry taste although consistency of jam is not as runny as others and seems more firm which I'm not a huge fan of. It could have more visible strawberry fruit texture for my liking and it tastes rather high in sugar and less fruity than other strawberry jams I've had. Has 33% fruit which is reasonable but there are jams with much higher fruit content, although not necessarily organic.

Fig spread

Tasting notes: Distinctive fig taste and good consistency in texture that's easy to spread. Only has 25% fruit so perhaps could be higher compared to other jams on the market.

Ozganics salad dressings

Salad dressings

STILL TO BE TASTE TESTED

Italian Dressing

Creamy Avocado Dressing

Creamy Caesar Dressing

Ozganics simmer sauces

Simmer Sauces

STILL TO BE TASTE TESTED

Lemon Chicken Simmer Sauce

Thai Red Curry Simmer Sauce

Spicy Lamb Tagine Simmer Sauce

Salad Dressing: My favourite combination in a bottle (27 June 2010)

Dressed to impress

I take my hat off to anyone that makes their own tasty salad dressing but for a lazy kitchen cook like myself I look for the tastiest salad dressing that comes in a bottle. My favourite dressing at the moment is combining about 2 parts Paul Newman's Own Creamy Caesar (58.9% total fats) with 1 part Kraft Balsamic Italian (100% fat free). The Balsamic Italian cuts through some of the heaviness of the very tasty Creamy Caesar while providing a bit of balsamic kick on the taste buds. Awesome with fresh and crunchy baby cos lettuce and anything else you care to dip in it.

Do you have any favourite recommendations to try from the shops or recipes to make my own?

Salad dressing: Paul Newman's Own Creamy Caesar combined with Kraft Balsamic Italian

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Salmon Salad

I love salads!

Right now we are receiving so much lettuce in our food share. I am loving it but know I will miss it all once the season for lettuce slows down. Yesterday we got a huge bag of spring mix and 2 heads of lettuce.

I am loving coming up with new salad combos and making my own salad dressings. I am new to the whole make your own dressing and now obsessed with trying new combos!

Tonight I made a wonderful Alaska Wild Salmon Salad. DE-licious!!!

Since it is a salad I am not quite sure on the measurements... it is a guessing game! :)

The Salad -

The Ingredients:

Spring Salad Mix

1/4 cup Corn

1/4 cup Black Beans - homemade in vegetable broth

Salmon Filets

Olive Oil

Sea Salt and Pepper

The Directions:

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Season your Salmon with Olive Oil and Sea Salt and Pepper. Put your salmon in a small pan and cook for approximately 10-20 minutes, depending on how thick is your fish. Once cooked I took the Salmon and brown both sides on the stove over High heat in Olive Oil.

Start by placing the lettuce in a bowl. Add corn and black beans. Top Salad with Salmon, either hot or cold. Drizzle homemade dressing on top.

The Dressing -

I must be honest I am not sure of the measurements but I do remember what I put in it!

Olive Oil

Orange Juice

Cooking Sherry

Balsamic Vinegar

Dijon Mustard

Salt and Pepper

Fresh Dill

Honey

The Directions:

In a bottle, jar or whatever you use mix all ingredients in and SHAKE!!!!

Refrigerate and use cold.

Honey-Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

• Tonight we picked up our food share!! I love making salads on the day of delivery!!!! :)
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Lettuce is FRESH!!! Today's salad had spring salad mix, strawberries, snap peas, cucumber and sprouts. I also grilled tofu in soy sauce, sea salt and pepper.

The dressing I made tonight was AWESOME!!!! :)

• 
  
• The Ingredients:
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 Tbsp honey
• 1 Tbsp RAW Agave Necter
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce

The Directions:

Whisk together the vinegar, honey, olive oil, and soy sauce until the honey has dissolved, and the dressing is smooth.

Creamy-Avocado Dressing

This dressing was amazing!!!! Very quick and easy!

The Ingredients:

green onions, trimmed
1/2 avocado, peeled and pitted
1/2 cup orange juice
Salt and ground black pepper to taste

The Directions:

Add all ingredients into a blender and puree until smooth.

Serve with a delicious Spring Mix Salad, Strawberries, Almonds and Asparagus.