Make your own Salad Dressings

Since we got back to the U.S. I have been reading a lot of books about food and nutrition, such as:

Natural Cures "They" Don't Want You to Know About by Kevin Trudeau
More Natural Cures Revealed by Kevin Trudeau
Let's Try Real Food by Ethel H. Renwick
Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld (a cookbook)
Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
The Non Toxic Home by Debra Lynn Dadd
Prescription for Nutritional Healing

The common theme that runs through these books is that it is better to make it yourself than buy it pre-made from the store. Any convenience food from the grocery store is likely to be filled with additives, food dyes, chemicals, hydrogenated oils or fats, extra sugar and salt and generally have very little nutritional value. We pay the food industry to remove good nutrients, then we pay them to return a fraction of the vitamins and minerals they removed, and then we pay them for the chemicals they put in to fool us in one way or another. There are some products I stopped buying completely after I realized just how imitation they were (like Cool Whip and non-dairy creamer for coffee.) I began to read the list of ingredients and if it contained artificial colors, hyrdrogenated oils, or high fructose corn syrup, I put it back on the shelf. These three ingredients are a tell-tale sign that the product is mostly junk. The nutrition that might have been there before processing was stripped away, then they added their numerous chemical concoctions to make it smell good, look good, and taste good and then they targeted children with their advertising to convince Mom it was worth buying. It is no wonder America is unhealthy. We feed our bodies a constant diet of junk food (either from fast food restaurants or the junk in the grocery store) and we hardly think twice about it.

One of the easiest things to make in your kitchen is your own salad dressing. I started doing this after realizing how many complex chemicals and artificial ingredients were in store bought salad dressing. You can find salad dressings now that are more natural and made without additives, but I am really enjoying the flavors and ease of making my own dressing. Here are a few of our family's favorites....


Balsamic Vinaigrette

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tsp. brown sugar (may not be necessary depending on the quality of the vinegar)
1 tbsp. chopped garlic
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup olive oil

Place all ingredients in a screw top jar and shake to combine. Taste and adjust the seasonings. (I actually cut this recipe in half for our family of 5.)


Honey Mustard Dressing

In small bowl, whisk all ingredients together:
1 cup plain yogurt
3 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
honey to taste
salt and pepper to taste


Greek Salad Dressing

Place 3 tbsp. olive oil, 1 1/2 tsp. lemon juice, 1 clove minced garlic, 1/4 tsp. sea salt, 1/2 tsp. dried oregano, 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper in a small jar with screw-top lid and shake to combine.


Easy Dressing

Whisk 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil with the juice of 1 lemon. Pour over salad greens and toss till coated. Sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt.