Healthy and Inexpensive DIY Salad Dressing

When I was growing up in the '70s, no one bought salad dressing at the store. It was made at home at mealtime after the lettuce had been chopped, put into a large bowl, and placed on the dinner table. The recipe? It was super simple...always some kind of oil and another kind of vinegar - - just enough mixed up for that meal or enough mixed up for the entire week.

My aunt was the master of this simple yet delightful addition to the meal. She would combine vinegar and oil and toss it in the bowl where she had the chopped salad waiting for us. She is no longer with us for me to ask for her exact concoction; however through trial and error, I found it.

She must have used apple cider vinegar and cooking oil back in the day. I believe that most of us have gone on to olive oil in place of basic cooking oil.

After mixing just these two ingredients, I see that purchasing a bottle of ACV (apple cider vinegar) and a bottle of EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) will last several weeks, if only used for a daily salad. Perhaps months. And all for the cost of just ONE BOTTLE of generic salad dressing that has been known to last just one week in my household.

RECIPE - OLD SCHOOL SALAD DRESSING

3 ounces of apple cider vinegar

1 ounce of extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp sugar (do not combine it with the above ingredients)

(The above measurement will yield enough dressing for a few days, so please don't ruin your salad by pouring all of it into your bowl of salad.)

Since I am taking a trip down Memory Lane, I have a vintage glass bottle with white plastic lid that was specifically made for just this purpose. I measure and pour the vinegar and oil into this pretty bottle and shake it really hard. It is too bitter for my taste without adding the pinch of sugar that I always saw my aunt add to the salad once everything was mixed. I would say perhaps 1 tsp.

I used the 4 ounces of salad dressing (kept it in the fridge) for five salads. Not small bowls, either.

HEALTHY BONUS:

There are many positive aspects when it comes to adding apple cider vinegar to your regular diet. It keeps the urinary tract health and resistant to infection.

It regulates blood sugar. Lower blood sugar means weight loss. Some health nuts swear by a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar before each meal because they are losing weight this way.

Olive oil contains large amounts of antioxidants.

Olive oil has anti-inflammatory properties.

Olive oil has been shown to be protective against heart disease and prevent strokes.

What is not to like about this very simple, healthy, and inexpensive salad dressing?