Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette

Salads are a staple in our house for week day meals.  We have salad at least twice a week as they are healthy and quick to prepare after a day... plus when it is super-hot like it has been for the past week then you don't heat up the house!  All that salad adds up to lots of salad dressing purchases.  We have found that our favorite salad dressings are the Greek Vinaigrette and the Balsamic Vinaigrette.

The other night we set out to make our salad but realized that were out of dressing... time to improvise!  I have always heard that salad dressings and vinaigrette are quite simple but we just hadn't gotten around to experimenting with them yet.  But with dinner waiting there was no time like the present to whip up a homemade balsamic vinaigrette.

And wow is it worth it!  A few dashes of this and that and a little flick of the whisk and you suddenly have the perfect compliment to a light summer meal.  I am planning to reuse a jar (thinking green!) to keep this vinaigrette on hand during the week.  We used it the following night as a marinade for chicken and it added a wonderful flavor.  Definitely a keeper.

Balsamic Vinaigrette

Adapted from Epicurious

3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey
1 garlic clove, minced
1/3 cup olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Mix the vinegar, mustard, honey, and garlic in a small bowl.  Whisk in the oil.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Enjoy!

- Tara