Easy as Dressing Yourself. Or a Salad. Whichever. (a post by Josh): Salad Dressing

There are a few things that I think people need to make at home. Salad dressing is one of many. No more buying them at some store for too much money. It just seems like a waste to have the ingredients in your kitchen, and also a big jar of Ranch dressing (made of who knows what).

This banter is mainly from my countless dinner parties where someone would ask “is there dressing on the salad yet?” “yeah” “oh, what kind?” “I don’t know, I just made it” “OH! How! I don’t think I could do that.”

Yes, yes you can. And yes, those exclamation points are in there for a reason. It’s real simple, though, to make a salad dressing. I’m going off of a vinegrette (and not anything heavy), but here are the basic ingredients:

Olive Oil (the best quality you have. No veggie oil here)
Mustard (brown spicy, if you’ve got it)
Vinegar (balsamic or red wine are the two I’ve played around with)
Crushed Garlic

There, that’s all the absolute basics. To get fancier:
Salt
Cayenne
Lemon Juice (or another citrus)
Lemon Zest (or another citrus)
Brown Sugar

All things you have in your kitchen at one point or another, waiting to be used in stir fry, pastas, or sandwiches.

Salad Dressing
Here’s a rough draft for making your own salad dressing.

1 clove garlic
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup vinegar
1 tbsp. mustard
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/2 tsp. brown sugar
Salt
Black pepper
Cayenne pepper (opt.)

Smash garlic with the side of the knife blade; chop finely. Add oil and vinegar, then whisk in mustard, lemon juice, and sugar (note: if using balsamic vinegar, omit the lemon and sugar). Season with salt, pepper and cayenne to taste. Thin with oil or water if consistency is too thick.

Easy. Awesome. No more store-bought now, right?