Dressing, for one

Dressing, for one

Here's a perfect homemade salad dressing in an instant. Try your favorite herbs in place of the pepper. I love to sprinkle fresh basil, thyme, cilantro or even dried herbs on my salads.  Using a capful of oil and vinegar makes measuring easy, no matter where you are. 

1 capful Extra Virgin Olive Oil (about 2 teaspoons)

1 capful Unpasteurized Apple Cider Vinegar (about 1 teaspoon)

1 small garlic clove, minced (optional)

Sea Salt

Black pepper

Sprinkle all ingredients over the top of any fresh vegetable salad. Season to taste. I find that less is usually more when it comes to salad dressings; keep it simple and allow the flavor of one or two herbs or seasonings to shine through. You could also use balsamic vinegar with delicious results, but I prefer the raw apple cider vinegar for its digestive benefits. This dressing is delicious on a bed of crisp greens, a chopped vegetable salad of broccoli, red peppers and olives, or a fresh tomato and mozzarella dish.

Why it's Better:

Store bought salad dressings are expensive and are loaded with unhealthy ingredients like soybean oil, MSG and preservatives. Extra virgin olive oil provides healthy fats, including Omega 3 and Omega 6. It is also rich in antioxidants. Always look for the “extra virgin” variety which is not as highly processed and retains much more of the oil's natural nutrients.

Unpasteurized apple cider vinegar contains small strands of naturally occurring “mother of vinegar” which promote healthy digestion and provide beneficial nutrients. Vinegar also helps flush toxins from your body and can even aid in weight loss.

Garlic has more health benefits than almost any other seasoning. Entire books have been written on the positive effects of including fresh garlic in our diets. It can prevent and relieve symptoms of the common cold and flu, relieve diarrhea, prevent heart attacks, reduce stress and even relieve pain, to name just a few. If you enjoy the taste of garlic, eat it to your hearts content (quite literally!) and if you are not as fond of its sharpness, use only very small quantities, which will still be good for your family's health.