Simple Vinaigrettes

Making vinaigrette from scratch is surprisingly simple, once you know the basic formula.

There's no need to buy salad dressing when all the ingredients for a vinaigrette are in your pantry.  And when you make it yourself, you can adjust the recipe according to taste, or create something new.

Basic vinaigrette is three parts oil and one part vinegar.  That's it!  Olive oil and white vinegar are classic, but it's fun and easy to experiment with variations.  Try using grapeseed or nut oil, with flavored, balsamic or champagne vinegar.  Or, for a flavorful twist, add a teaspoon of mustard, minced garlic and fresh herbs, lemon juice, salt and pepper, chopped shallots or capers.

Then simply shake the oil, vinegar and added flavorings to create a flavorful mixture - a container with a lid that twists on is ideal for this.  Pour over your salad, toss and enjoy.  Refrigerate leftovers in the same container.  But when you make vinaigrette yourself, your family will taste the difference - and leftovers just aren't likely.