Easy Vinaigrette

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This post is for Lynne, the woman who cuts my hair.  I was in her chair yesterday, on my way to fabulous, and we were talking about how nasty bottled salad dressing is.  Indeed, it's gross.  I started making my own dressing a couple of years ago in a really basic way.  I bought a bottle of balsamic vinegar and I would just dress my salads with a little dash of that and a little dash of olive oil.  That's good, but sometimes I want something a little different.  I consulted my trusty Better Homes and Gardens cookbook compendium, and I found this recipe.  It's easy, fast, and really cheap.  Best of all, it's delicious!  You can toy with this basic at will - different herbs and vinegars will change the taste to match what you are serving.


Basic Vinaigrette
1/2 cup olive oil
1/3 cup vinegar (balsamic, red wine vinegar, rice wine vinegar, or you can substitute lemon or lime juice)
1 T. sugar
2 t. fresh thyme, oregano, or basil OR 1/2 t. dried crushed thyme, oregano, or basil
1/2 t. paprika
1/4 t. dry mustard OR 1 t. dijon mustard
1/8 t. black pepper

Things to add: parmesan cheese, red pepper, garlic, celery seed, ginger...