...for a different kind of girl

silent surburban girl releasing her voice, not yet knowing what all she wants to say about her life and the things that make it spin. do you have to be 18 to be here? you'll know when i know.

Friday, June 06, 2008

god, grant me the strength...

Addict much?

I didn't realize I had a problem with the Thousand Island. Sure, I suppose there were signs. I get a little spacey and am all "I love you, baby," when the salad greens come out. I'll take the Romain, but I'm always looking to score the spinach. And when I'm at the grocery store I might rub up on the dressing bottles and promise them things I may or may not be able to deliver.

But perhaps I'm hovering on the fringes of an intervention, for I had no idea there were this many bottles of Thousand Island in my pantry, and that clearly, I'll buy my fix off of anyone. I'm not loyal at all.

"Um...I think I'll go to the store and get some milk. Yeah...that's right. Milk..."

Sure.

My family is worried. Rightfully so. We've been ranch dressing people for a very long time, and I'm sure my Mom doesn't want me to know this, but I can tell when she's been crying and praying I'll get help.

First step is admitting you have a problem, and apparently I have one.

But God, it is so good...

(this lame blog post brought to you by Summer Vacation. Summer Vacation. We'll fill your days with swimming, whining, snacks, games of catch, and the occasional crying jag. Summer Vacation. It's not for the weak!)

Labels:

45 Comments:

Blogger FTN said...

Two words: Bleu Cheese.

I like bleu cheese dressing because I get to say "bleu" with that French accent. I'm totally sexy when I'm European.

Friday, June 06, 2008 9:54:00 AM  
Blogger cat said...

I like Thousand Island dressing and hadn't thought of it until now. Yum!

I also love summer vacation... have I mentioned by envy of those who get it?

Friday, June 06, 2008 9:57:00 AM  
Blogger Choppzs said...

I've never been anything but a Ranch girl. Occasionally I like Itallian dressing, but not very often. My kids have an addiction to Ranch though, they eat it with EVERYTHING! lol

Friday, June 06, 2008 10:03:00 AM  
Blogger Sailor said...

Not for me the TI, nope. But I'm a sucker for a good Ceaser! MMMmmmm

Friday, June 06, 2008 10:34:00 AM  
Blogger Melissa said...

I have a weakness for any dressing that includes the words with bacon, so I'm all over the second-in-line there. Just happened to be making up a shopping list ...

Good luck with the addiction, but it's one of the safer vices to have!

Friday, June 06, 2008 10:40:00 AM  
Blogger Desmond Jones said...

See, the truly insidious thing about Thousand Island is that it's an entry-level dressing on the way to the harder stuff.

I was all ThI, all the time when I was a kid, and in high school, I started dabbling in the ranch, too, altho I never lost my craving for a good ThI. Heck, I even learned how to make it for myself in my home lab (ketchup, mayo and relish, baby; it's all good)

By the time I got married, I had graduated to the Bleu Cheese, and before long I was doing Caesar, too. I was out of control, I tell you.

I got myself dried out, and lost a bunch of weight, and these days, I'm doin' much better. Olive oil, lemon and garlic do me quite nicely. With a little basil and oregano when I'm feelin' really crazy.

(*sigh*) A man's just gotta do what a man's gotta do. . .

Friday, June 06, 2008 11:29:00 AM  
Blogger Eternal Sunshine said...

I'm a ranch snob. I prefer to make my own with buttermilk.

I also have to make bleu cheese dressing often for Budman.

I bought bleu cheese the other day, so that I could make the dressing, and they totally spelled it Blue cheese. Neanderthals.

I don't really like TI, but I do like to switch it up a bit and try new dressings. After reading Desmond's comment, I'm wondering if I should be worried...

We were supposed to comment with our random salad dressing thoughts, right???

Friday, June 06, 2008 11:34:00 AM  
Blogger Wonderful World of Weiners said...

Admitting you have a problem is the first step...

Hallie :)

Friday, June 06, 2008 11:40:00 AM  
Blogger Michael said...

Oh please... thousand island is lightweight. Until you wake up in a gutter, strung out after a five day binge on Balsamic Vinegrate you don't REALLY have a problem.

Friday, June 06, 2008 11:42:00 AM  
Blogger David said...

God grant me the serenity,
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change salad dressings once in a while,
and the wisdom to appreciate just good old olive oil and balsamic.

Friday, June 06, 2008 11:54:00 AM  
Blogger Backpacking Dad said...

I had to toss the six bottles of Italian dressing we had in our fridge. I don't remember ever buying Italian dressing, and I certainly don't remember buying it six times.

Friday, June 06, 2008 12:34:00 PM  
Blogger April said...

I feel you girl. But with me it's balsamic. If it contains the word balsamic I am all over it like Tatum O'Neil and crack. It could say balsamic toxic waste and I'd go "Mmmmm. That looks tasty."

Friday, June 06, 2008 12:39:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Going cold turkey could be really difficult. Just the words "cold turkey" make me want to pour on the dressing. Start slowly. Maybe try 999 Island.

Love your blog.

Friday, June 06, 2008 12:54:00 PM  
Blogger Nature Girl said...

i feel this way about Balsamic Vinegarette. and Italian. And Honey Mustard Vinegarette, I have no less than 8 OPEN bottles of dressing in my fridge and you don't even want to know what's in my pantry.

You say the sweetest things to me DKOG. Thanks for the sweet comment on my blog :) You rock!
Stacie

Friday, June 06, 2008 1:45:00 PM  
Blogger for a different kind of girl said...

Y'all are some balsamic vinegrette whores out there!

And I love how I only have one "light" version of the dressing, but all the regular, full fat killers appear to be ganging up on it, all "F you, zero transfat, crapness..."

ftn - I'd have figured you for a bleu cheese man. I also just said that outloud because I am very sexy when I talk to myself. Or I am a crazy woman.

Crazy for the psuedo-European talkin', that is!

Cat - I dream of Thousand Island dressing. In my dreams, it is naked and running toward me through a field of raddichio and butter lettuce, and we share our love while nestled upon a crouton.

Choppzs - I dabble in the Ranch from time to time. Sometimes I even like to fancy pants up my Ranch with a little Cucumber Ranch or Ranch W/Cheese. Delish!

Sailor - There's some of that tucked within the other dressings in my fridge. Thousand Island seems to be strong arming most of them outta the way, though!

Melissa - Anything is better with bacon. Anything within reason, that is. You know what rocks?

Bacon WITH bacon. Mmmmm...

Des - Thousand Island really is a gateway dressing. I went through a kick where I was cooking up my own fancy dressings in my kitchen, but then the neighbors began to get suspicious, and I didn't want to put my kids at risk. I thought I could get off the hard, fancy stuff. Alas...

If it's worth anything, I at least measure out my hits! But, um, I've been known to sneak into the fridge and sniff at the bottles from time to time.

Melody - I have only had the Bleu Cheese once and I found it to be more than I could bear. It's probalby because it was actually BLUE cheese.

In reality, I have a hard time eating something that smells like a death fart!

WWoW - I figure if I take it slow, and pull from the grace and strength of others, I'll be down to some olive oil and lemon juice before I know it!

Michael - I did that once when I was strung out on the Seven Seas Creamy Italian. God, I miss that dressing...

David - Before long, I hope to have my shiny one-year fork in my pocket to remind me of the struggles I've overcome!

BP Dad - So you understand! I don't remember buying these! It's like they just woke up out of a haze upon returning from the grocery store, and there these were. It's truly scary what one hit can do. I'm like an ABC Aftershool Special.

April - Good god, woman, I think I'm in love with you already! Additionally, look for them to be talking about me on TMZ, looking like Amy Winehouse and trying to score a bottle of the Triple 0 (that's what us addicts call the Thousand Island. Or just me. Mostly just me.)

Pam - Oh, and I love you, too. This suggestion to ease into things is just what I need to not have a relapse. There's no posh "rehab" spa for folks like me!

Stacie - I have 12 onopened bottles of dressing in my pantry, 9 opened bottles and three spray on dressings in my fridge now. I suppose I make myself feel better about this problem by convincing myslf it at least goes on lettuce (and as a dunker for the carrots, broccoli and cauliflower...always measured out!) and it's not ice cream. I could go crack whore on the ice cream real easy.

You're very much welcome, too...

Friday, June 06, 2008 2:08:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

My god, that's a lot of thousand island dressing! At least you know you have a problem.

Personally, I only like the stuff on my reubens. Lots and lots of it. But give me a good homemade ranch (the kind with the buttermilk and a smidge of mayo and the Hidden Valley packet) and I'll offer up sexual favors in a heartbeat. :)

Friday, June 06, 2008 3:21:00 PM  
Blogger DeeDee said...

Oh how I love the Island!! It's wonderful. It's like having a party in my mouth - and hell no the husband isn't invited!!

Funny you posted about an addiction today 'cause I did the same thing!

Ahh, summer - ain't it a bitch!

Friday, June 06, 2008 5:48:00 PM  
Blogger Nanette said...

This cracks me up!!! I am the same way with toothpaste and laundry detergent--hmmmm, except I'm pretty sure I've never tried to eat them. Now I am craving a salad......oh ya, and steak. So, I guess I'll settle for some carrots dipped in ranch and grilled chicken since I have no desire to go to the store. <3 MWAH!

Friday, June 06, 2008 6:27:00 PM  
Blogger kimmyk said...

i'm a raspberry vinegarette sort of girl. never much for 1000 island except on reubens. next time i eat a salad i'll try it and think of you.

Friday, June 06, 2008 8:01:00 PM  
Blogger Bee said...

I do the same thing. THE SAME THING! With Zesty Italian! And I never have vegetables in my house. I don't know what the heck I'm planning to do with it all. Marinade 5,000 lbs of chicken?

Friday, June 06, 2008 8:09:00 PM  
Blogger Bunny said...

I justify my array of Italian dressing by the fact that each brand's recipe is slightly different, requiring different brands (or varieties within brands) for different uses. This one is good for marinating/basting grilled chicken, this other one is better for baking chicken, this one is good with tomato, basil, and fresh mozzeralla, and that one tastes best on iceberg lettuce, where this one is better on spinach and/or baby greens, and that one in the back of the fridge is good for dipping fresh baked crusty bread. So really, I don't have a bunch of the same kind of dressing at all. This is the argument I make to Mr. Peppercorn Ranch, Bacon Ranch, Lite Ranch, and on and on. But what gets used the most? Some lime basil organic thing. Go figure.

Friday, June 06, 2008 8:15:00 PM  
Blogger Me said...

Come back from the dark side Luke......this is Ranch the Jedi speaking.....

Friday, June 06, 2008 8:40:00 PM  
Blogger kimmyk said...

michael's comment made me laugh.

and i agree...they are a lot of balsamic vinegarette whores arent they?

raspberry's my thing...i'm goin against the grain.

oh but i love me some whats that called? where you mix the packet in the little glass bottle and shake it up? whatever that was...i loved it!

Saturday, June 07, 2008 1:59:00 PM  
Blogger That girl from Shallotte said...

(That Girl From Shallotte was in the process of reading this entry with all intentions to reply, but she was overcome with the urge to drive to the Sweet Tomatoes in the suburbs for a hit of their garlic dressing. Addiction is a terrible, terrible thing, friends.)

Saturday, June 07, 2008 3:41:00 PM  
Blogger Mandy said...

Creamy Cucumber (light).

Yummy.

Saturday, June 07, 2008 5:33:00 PM  
Blogger Bee said...

I just got back from the grocery store and have a new obsession...
Cucumber RANCH!! :op

Saturday, June 07, 2008 8:48:00 PM  
Blogger Recovering Soul said...

how did thousand island get its name?
Most creative answer wins!

Saturday, June 07, 2008 11:24:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm a Newman's Own Light Honey Mustard kind of gal. I get so paranoid I'm going to run out I buy two every time I go to the grocery store. Our pantry is bursting with dressing bottles.

Sunday, June 08, 2008 8:49:00 AM  
Blogger for a different kind of girl said...

Meg - I have done things I'm not exactly proud of for the Hidden Valley.

deedee - My husband makes a face when I pull out the Thousand Island, meaning more good stuff just for me! Perhaps that's why I am buying so much (subconciously, of course...)

Nan - There was a moment when I thought "Heh. This is a shark post. This totally qualifies as a shark post." Then I reread it and realized I didn't ask anyone to show me their boobs, so I was in the clear! W00T! Also, I flashbacked on your laundy detergent love!

kimmy - I've got a bottle of the raspberry v. chilling for you, girlie!

Bee - You could marinade salmon, too, but I read somewhere you don't like the seafood!

Bunny - No Italian ever seems the same, you're right, but you've intrigued me on this lime concoction.

Wethyb - First I must defeat the evil sweet and sour French empire!

kimmy - I shake up some most delicious Good Seasons. I even make a great balsamic vinegrette with the Good Seasons for all those out there looking to score some!

That Girl - OMG. Garlic dressing. Sweet lord, I love me some garlic dressing. And parmesan. I'm afraid of myself when I get around parmesan dressing.

Mandy - Word.

Bee - Oh, yes, 'tis the tits!

RS - Wins what? Are you ponying up for a prize? What if I know the actual answer? What if I can also tell you the origins of a Cesear salad? What if I know entirely too much about salads and dresings?

Manager Mom - If you and I ever wanted to hook the kids on the dressing, we have the means to!

Sunday, June 08, 2008 8:21:00 PM  
Blogger Melissa said...

I had bacon with bacon just the other day! Somehow a full pound got fried up, and just after testing a piece I thought, "You know what would make this even better? More bacon!"

And that, my friend, is Sunday.

Sunday, June 08, 2008 11:30:00 PM  
Blogger for a different kind of girl said...

Melissa - Expect a knock on your door next Sunday. I intend to spend this week sniffing out where exactly you live. I suspect the hint of delicious bacon in the breeze will be the guiding beacon (make that "guiding bacon")!

Monday, June 09, 2008 12:08:00 AM  
Blogger Bogart said...

Mmmmmmm, ranch.

I last ate Thousand Island when I was 12. It was my favorite then. But I discovered the creamyness that is Ranch...Oh yea.

Monday, June 09, 2008 10:28:00 AM  
Blogger Recovering Soul said...

Answer all those questions and I'll call and serenade you with a song of your choice!

Monday, June 09, 2008 1:00:00 PM  
Blogger Desmond Jones said...

All I'll say is, I've been to Tijuana, baby. And I know where the St. Lawrence River is. . .

Monday, June 09, 2008 4:38:00 PM  
Blogger for a different kind of girl said...

Bogart - Ranch has its charms. I am not immune to the goodness of a Ranch. Thousand Island, however, has my heart now and forever.

RS - First, a lesson in Thousand Island

-- Thousand Island was named in for the Thousand Islands area of upstate New York, where, in the late 1800s, people began building summer homes an hotels.

Now, the Caesar salad:

-- a restaurant owner named Caesar invented the salad in the early 1920s during a busy weekend at his Tijuana establishment that depleted much of his supplies. Armed with a head of romaine, and egg and some achovies, he prepared the salad tableside, which became a tradition of the dish.

As to how I know this much about salads and dressings:

-- I read a lot.

You want my number now?

Des - You want RS should call you up and seranade you with a song of your choice, too?

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:12:00 PM  
Blogger Lipstick Jungle said...

I have this same obsession with Green Goddess. And because I live in a town that has nothing that "fancy", I tend to buy it every time I go to the "big city".

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 9:31:00 PM  
Blogger for a different kind of girl said...

Lori - I have no officially added Green Goddess to my shopping list. I miss such fancy things!

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 12:18:00 AM  
Blogger Recovering Soul said...

you didn't pick a song yet!

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 4:02:00 PM  
Blogger for a different kind of girl said...

RS - I think maybe something long and bombastic by Meatloaf, performed in full-blown rock opera style. I go back and forth on this.

Thursday, June 12, 2008 8:47:00 AM  
Blogger Desmond Jones said...

I get to be the 40th comment!

Green Goddess. . . I forgot about that. . . Mmmmmmmm. . . I love me some Green Goddess. . .

And, I think the first time I ever got 20 comments was about Molly singing 'Wake Up Little Suzie' in reference to. . . uh, well, um, yeah. . .

Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:23:00 AM  
Blogger for a different kind of girl said...

Des - Woo HOO! on being the 40th comment. This has, I believe, surpassed any and all previous posts, and here I thought this was a toss off post!

A couple of things:

Green Goddess...good, good, good.

Also, you refer to it as "Suzie"? You are a very comfortable man!

Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:39:00 PM  
Blogger Desmond Jones said...

Ummmmm. . . Well, you'd have to read the post. (Which has, conveniently enough, just been restored to my reconstituted blog. . .)

Friday, June 13, 2008 9:37:00 AM  
Blogger for a different kind of girl said...

Des - Ha! Reconstituted. Very well done. I've only had chances to zip in and out of the reconstituted, but I'm totally there again soon!

Sunday, June 15, 2008 11:51:00 PM  
Blogger The Maid said...

This is a little late...but I am a 1000 Island addict too...and darn those restaurants that don't think it is hip enough to offer anymore!

UGH!

We actually call it thousand animals because it does give you quite the interesting breath.

:) The Maid

Wednesday, June 18, 2008 3:43:00 PM  
Blogger for a different kind of girl said...

Becky - Finally, a girl after my own obsession! I hadn't realized the whole animal breath thing, but now I'm going to be paranoid as I drink the dressing in! Deliciously paranoid!

Thursday, June 19, 2008 2:27:00 PM  

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