homemade salad dressings

Greetings salad-eating friends,

As the sun shines and warms up the earth to get the veggies growing, I am tempted to write today all about eating from Mother Earth, and not from a box or jar or can. I'll save you from my preachings, but in all honesty, when you look at all of the visible growth at this time of year springing up from the ground, are you not tempted to just make a big salad?

When I was in University I had a roommate who found my eating and snacking habits quite entertaining. She always laughed at my bizarre concoctions (ie, toast with garlic and honey), but often enjoyed them too when offered a bite. And now, at work, my friends always ask what is in my salad dressing because it smells so good. So today, I publish to the world my very first exercise in Recipe Writing:

Salad Girl's Devilishly Delicious but Healthy Dressing
1.Start with a glass jar (reused Salad dressing bottles (ie. Renee's) are best, but a mason or jam jar will do), and scoop two big tablespoons of orange juice concentrate-- in the frozen state.
2. Add two big tablespoons of Dijon Mustard. (the grainy kind is fun, but regular works well too)
3. Add two tablespoons of cumin. Great for digestion!
4. Add equal parts of Sesame Oil (always makes me think of Big Bird) and Olive Oil-- two amazing oils for your skin (maybe a quarter cup of each?)
5. Add Balsamic Vinegar to total your oil total (so maybe a half cup?)
6. Pepper it liberally and then shake it up.

YUM!-- on salads or on brown rice with chick peas and chopped coriander and sunflower seeds (weird but trust me....) I am certainly no expert in food, but I love this blend and people I serve it to seem to also..........

Fun add-ons-- try one or a couple until you love the tastes:

• Oregano (said to be good for vitality and longevity),
• Turmeric (powerful cancer-fighter)
• Apple Cider Vinegar (great for detoxing your digestive organs)
• Grated Ginger root (excellent immune booster).
• Blended Raspberries (frozen or fresh)-- very cheerful-- and it's yummy to add a bit of agave nectar or maple syrup to complement the tartness.
• Blended figs or dates.

Salad Girl's tip of the post: Stop buying ready-made dressings. They are full of sugar and salt and other crappy additives, and you can save yourself oodles or grocery dollars and digestive efforts by making them yourself! I have had so much fun experimenting and think you will too! Post your discoveries here or share them with your colleagues.... get the conversations started!