Monday, March 15, 2010

Dress That Cress For Less!

About to serve salad with dinner and you've discovered you're out of dressing? No need to run to the store! You probably have everything you need in your kitchen to make your own dressing. Not only is your own homemade dressing healthier, because it's free of additives and preservatives, but it's a lot cheaper. You also avoid using all those bottles, and it helps to use up the odds and ends languishing in your fridge.

The first thing you'll need is a glass cruet, or a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Next you'll need an oil. Vegetable oil, canola oil, olive oil, any oil will work. After that you'll need something acidic. Any type of vinegar, pickle juice, the juice from a can of olives, lemon juice, orange juice, or grapefruit juice will work. The fruit juices are particularly nice when making dressing for a fruit salad. As long as you have three parts oil to one part acid, any combination will do. Add salt, pepper, and some spices if desired, and shake. Keep the ingredients of your salad in mind when deciding what combination will taste good. It's best to make small quantities. Since your dressing is not full of preservatives, it won't keep as long as store-bought.

Dress that Cress, bathe that Boston Bibb, splash that Black-Seeded Simpson. Experiment and have fun with it! Be sure you write down your most successful combinations so you can recreate them again. I'd love to hear about some of your tasty triumphs!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

If you're ever at a picnic and no one remembered to bring the dressing you can make a faux 1000 Island with ketchup, mayo, and a squirt of pickle relish!

Betsy Bargain said...

Thanks for the picnic tip, Anon! I will remember it.

Unknown said...

Betsy,

I have been making home made dressing now for some time, I think you are so right. Now I have to craving for salad with home made dressing. :-)

I got new website, check it out and let me know your input.

Zengirl said...

Zen is Zengirl, opps how did that happen?

Betsy Bargain said...

Great minds think alike, Zengirl ;). I can't wait to check out your new website.

Anonymous said...

I thought the 1000 island recipe was invented by my gramma a frugal sort..Imagine my surprise to see the recipe on your blog...psst. don't tell gramma

Betsy Bargain said...

Anon,

I think everyone's grandma thinks she invented this recipe herself ;)! Thanks for reading!