I took the month of August off from writing which is why you haven’t received a post since July. Thank you to those who have reached out to say you miss my posts! It’s September, I’m back now and getting into the full swing of early Fall. Vacations have ended, kids are back to school, work has picked up again and we are all back to a more regular routine. It’s also a great time to get back on track with your diet if the summer months have taken their toll.
Today I want to talk about salads. We all know the wonderful benefits of eating salads. They are chock full of nutritious vegetables and you can have a true rainbow of colors in one meal with a salad. The base is the all mighty dark leafy green that has so many health benefits. Dark leafy greens are packed with vitamins and minerals, they add healthy fiber to your diet and help eliminate toxins. Then you can add lots of color to the greens with red tomatoes, orange peppers, purple beets, etc. which have complementary nutrients your body needs to thrive. Now we have this truly nutritious salad in front of us, but then we drench it in some store-bought salad dressing which can often include sub-par ingredients and additives. A lot of people don’t even realize that their salad dressing may include ingredients they should be avoiding.
The solution is to make your salad dressing at home, and it’s so easy! I haven’t used a store-bought dressing at home in years. I have a variety of different salad dressing recipes from easy to a bit more time consuming but all delicious. Today I want to share with you a vinaigrette dressing that is a delicious and healthy addition to your salad.
Vinaigrette Dressing
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 3 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 1 clove of garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons of honey
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and whisk until combined. Then store it in the refrigerator in a mason jar or salad dressing jar. Shake vigorously before using.
Yes, sometimes we are in a rush and don’t have time to make a dressing. I have a go-to for that as well! A super simple balsamic vinaigrette. I’ve even used this for get togethers with friends and I am often asked what the dressing is, as they find it so tasty. All it is made of is a high quality extra virgin olive oil and an equally high quality balsamic vinegar. I do believe it is very important to select high quality ingredients to really get the most out of this dressing. Don’t let the simplicity of this fool you. The mere act of vigorously combining the ingredients does wonders. Do try it!
Balsamic Vinaigrette
- 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Combine in a mason jar or salad dressing jar. Put the lid on and shake vigorously to combine. Toss into your salad. Store remaining dressing in the refrigerator.
I hope that you will try to make your own salad dressing at home. As long as you choose good quality, pure ingredients you will be delighted with the end result. Bon appétit!
EATssential 