Homemade Dressings-Thousand Island and Vinaigrette-Quick and Easy

by Catherine Ipcizade | More from this Blogger

21 Jun 2006 05:57 PM

Did you ever eat at Bob's Big Boy growing up? I don't know if they were everywhere, but in Arizona, where I grew up, there was a Bob's Big Boy restaurant near my home. Let me tell you, they made the BEST Thousand Island Dressing I've ever had. It was delicious on top of an iceberg lettuce salad, and even better atop a juicy burger.

Here's my recipe for homemade Thousand Island Dressing. Let me know what you think. Do you make your own salad dressing?

Thousand Island Dressing

For this recipe you'll need:

1-cup mayonnaise

About ¼ cup ketchup

4 TB (or more) Sweet Relish

1 tsp. sugar

To Make:

Simply mix mayonnaise, ketchup, sweet relish, and sugar in a bowl. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Tips:

Play around with the ingredient amounts until the dressing suits your own taste.

Omit the sugar if you'd like a dressing that's not so sweet.

If you have Miracle Whip instead of mayo, it works just as well. Simply omit the sugar and make as directed.

This dressing is delicious on salad or on your favorite hamburger.

Simple Vinaigrette:

Salad dressings in America are often creamy and rich. If you're looking for something a little fresher and a little lighter, look no further. Give this simple vinaigrette a try. It's delicious on any salad.

For this recipe you'll need:

¼ red onion, grated

1 TB Dijon mustard

¼ Cup Rice Wine Vinegar

½ Cup Olive Oil

Salt and pepper to taste

To Make This Dressing:

In a bowl, whisk the grated onion, mustard, vinegar, salt, and pepper until creamy. Drizzle in olive oil, whisking constantly.

Chill until ready to use.

Tips:

You can also make this dressing in an old pickle jar. Just add all ingredients and shake away!

You can substitute the Rice Wine Vinegar with any other vinegar of your choice (Balsamic, Champagne) or with lemon juice.

Garlic is another great addition to this dressing. Mince it finely and add it with the onion.

Shallots make a lovely substitution for red onion

WHEN IN DOUBT, TRY SPLASHING OLIVE OIL, BALSAMIC VINEGAR, AND LEMON JUICE ON YOUR SALAD. IT'S SIMPLE, IT'S DELICIOUS, AND IT'S HEALTHY. ENJOY!

Learn more about Catherine Ipcizade

Cathy Ipcizade is 30 years old and currently resides in Southern California. Prior to coming to California she grew up in Arizona.

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