Make Your Own Salad Dressing

Making your own salad dressing isn't very hard, as long as you are willing to experiment a little and have a good imagination. All you really need to do is try a few different ingredients, and see which ones work the best for your particular tastes. Keep in mind though that as you experiment you should always write down the ingredients that you are using. This way you will be able to tell which combinations are the best, and which ones don't work as well. To help get you started on making your own salad dressing, here is an easy and fun recipe that you can use. Feel free to experiment with the recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of vinegar. Any vinegar will do, but wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar are usually the best.
• 1/2 cup of vegetable oil. Use whatever type of oil is your favorite, though "lighter and thinner" oil is usually best.
• 1 tablespoon of sugar, or a couple of small packets of diabetic safe artificial sweetener. For a more natural mix, use 1 tablespoon of plain old liquid honey. It also tastes much better, and is better for you.
• 1 heaping tablespoon of ordinary red catsup or ketchup depending on your preference.
• Garlic to taste. I buy the finely granulated stuff at the discount bin store. But you can also use real garlic, if you mince it. Avoid using the garlic flavored salts or powders, since they are merely junk. You will need about 2 cloves worth, but I am a strong garlic fan, so I use 4 cloves worth. It is VERY spicy!
• 1 pinch of salt. Do not go overboard here, since a little goes a long way and there is already some in some of the other ingredients.
• Pepper to taste. Now, I love pepper. I use almost a tablespoon's worth! Most people find that too much. Start with just a big pinch (or 1/2 teaspoon). Add more, if you need it later on. Note that freshly ground pepper is usually best for taste, and therefore less is needed.
• 1 heaping tablespoon of dried parsley. I use dried, but if you have fresh, use that. A level spoonful of the fresh will do, since it has more flavor than the dried stuff.
• 1/2 shot glass full of water.
• OPTIONAL: Sometimes, adding a level tablespoon of ordinary green hot dog relish can really perk up a homemade dressing. While it is not needed, it does make an interesting dressing if it is used. Any brand will do, so if you use it, add it just before you add the oil.

Recipe:

1. Mix all the wet ingredients (except the oil) together: vinegar, water, catsup, (honey, if used).
2. Add all the powdered and other ingredients, (except the oil) to the liquid, and mix together: garlic, salt, pepper, parsley (sugar or sweetener, if used).
3. Shake well, for at least 1minute.
4. Now add the oil to the shaken mixture. You will really have to shake this, to break up the oil and get it to mix. Shake at least 2 minutes. Shake Very Hard.

Usage:

The dressing is now ready to put on any vegetable salad. It will have to be re-mixed every so often, as this chemical free dressing tends to separate. Keep it in the fridge when not in use.