Deep In The Salad Bowl

Good Morning from someone who did NOT wake up at 2 am today!  I slept really well last night.  I think that’s because I didn’t take a nap yesterday.  Just plugged through and fell asleep about 10pm.  Woke up at 5:30 today and I feel good!  (Insert James Brown singing…here…)

I got several questions yesterday regarding my home-made salad dressing that I’ve been doing lately.  It’s really just something I made up and it is almost always in flux, changing with my mood.  I never liked the very thick feel that comes from most bottled dressing.  I like my salad to be dressed down to the bottom of the bowl!  Thought I’d share with you how I do it.

Since most of you have seen my salad bowl…the Big Purple Bowl, you know that I like a Lot of salad.  When I make these dressings I’m making one serving, but keep in mind it has to cover a LOT of salad.  Smaller salad eaters…or eaters of smaller salads as the case may be, could probably use this for two servings.

I start with this…

It’s a six-ounce Ball jar…probably had home-made jam or jelly in it at some point.  I like it because it would work if I decided to double the recipe.  Also its wide mouth makes for easy pouring in and out.  If I decide to add spices, it’s easy to shake into also.  And I didn’t go out and buy something to use, I had it!

I generally start with extra virgin olive oil and honey.  I’m not an olive oil snob, I buy what’s on sale.  In fact when this bottle is finished, which will probably be today, my next bottle is Wal-Mart’s store brand.  Much less expensive than others and I figured I’d give it a try.  I’ve been using honey again because I have it.  I might try agave next.  Have to check on the Weight Watchers points value.  So 1 Tbsp of olive oil for 3 WWPoints and 1 Tbsp of honey for 2 WWPoints.  Measure the OO first, it makes it easier to get the honey out of the Tbsp! 😉

Then depending on my mood (or which one my hand lands on first!) I use either apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar or balsamic.  I love this balsamic bottle and may keep it when it’s empty just cause it’s so cool!  I usually use 1 or 2 Tbsps of one of these, again depending on how I feel.

After that it’s up to you or Me!  Many times I’ll add a tablespoon of Dijon mustard (store brand of course or what’s on sale.)  That doesn’t cost me anything on WW. 

I have also tried adding a tablespoon of plain Greek yogurt to make a creamy dressing.  When doing that, I was trying to re-create the Southwest sauce at Subway.  I added some Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime once and one time Penzeys Arizona seasoning.  I’ve also tried sriracha sauce (yummy!)  I haven’t got that quite right yet it’s a work in progress.

If it looks a little thick to me and I don’t think it will be enough for my Huge salad, I just add a little water until it looks right.  You can do a lot of things with it to make it the way you like it.  I have several ideas that I’ll be working on.

I used it on this wonderful salad that included this…

A home-made black bean burger that my sister Ele made and shared with me.  I’m going to make these over the weekend and I’ll share the recipe with you next week.  It is So good and I’m certain it will be less expensive than the Morningstar Farms ones that I love so much.

Well that’s WAY more than I thought I had to say today!  Guess getting a good night’s sleep can make a difference.  Looks like it will be a beautiful day.  It is supposed to get Hot over the weekend so I guess I really do need to call the air conditioner man today. 😦   At least yesterday we got our dates for our vacations straightened out, made our car reservations and I made contact with my cousin in California who we’ll be meeting up with when we get out there…but that’s all more for another post.

Happy Thursday!! Time to put out the Trash!!