Forty years ago this summer, my friend Monte and I packed up a home-made tent/trailer and drove 7,000 miles (or was it 10,000?) on a massive cross-country trip. We were roommates as well as art teachers, so we left when school recessed for the summer and returned Labor Day weekend. It was a great trip, resulting in lots of adventures which I remember via the first journal I ever kept.
All of this came back to me during my recent visit to Atomic Interiors where I purchased the Dansk BLT plates. Among the wonderful mid-century treasures the store offers was a set of four Bennington Pottery plates and bowls. Potter's Yard in Bennington was one of our stops in July, 1971, and we fell in love with their delightful dishes. I fell prey to temptation and memory at Atomic again and bought the eight pieces of Morning Glory Blue spatterware. Again, at $9 for the dinner plates and $7 for the bowls, Atomic's prices can't be beat. The current prices on-line at Bennington are $24 for the plate and $26 for the rimmed soup/pasta bowl. The pieces I bought at Atomic were made in 1961/62 when I was a freshman in high school; the company's been making stoneware dishes since 1948.
Along with notes and bits and pieces glued into that first journal was the this recipe for salad dressing (below) that we enjoyed at Potter's Yard.
BENNINGTON DRESSING
- 1 tsp. Kosher salt
- 1 tsp. freshly cracker white pepper
- 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepepr
- 1/4 tsp. granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp. dry mustard
- 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp. lemon juice
- 2 tsp. finely chopped fresh garlic cloves
- 5 Tblspn. good tarragon vinegar
- 2 Tblspn. olive oil
- 10 Tblspn. vegetable oil
- 1 raw egg
- 1/2 cup light cream
Put all the ingredients in a jar and shake well to combine. Chill before serving.
Alas, I did not make any notes as to what kind of salad this might have dressed.