Honey Cider Vinaigrette

I was tired of buying salad dressings that I got home and didn’t like, so I started making my own—and it is so easy!  You don’t need to buy any fancy equipment, (I just shake mine up in an old jelly jar), but do be sure to invest in a good quality olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Good oils run about $12-19 dollars a bottle, and a mid-range balsamic is about $8-12.

Here is a dressing I’ve made for many of my green salads that feature a fruit. You could use blueberries or chopped green apple in this salad easily. I’ve included the recipe for the one we made below. We had some crusty ciabatta and herbed brie with it. Yum!

Honey Cider Vinaigrette

1 Tbsp. honey

2 Tbsp. of your favorite olive oil

2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar

1 tsp. balsamic vinegar

Dash of black pepper

Measure the honey and olive oil into a glass jar with a tight lid. Stir until well mixed. Add the vinegars, fix the lid and shake it up. Crack a bit of pepper in and shake again. (Taste it and make sure you like it!) Toss with your salad and eat!

*If you are bringing the salad to a potluck, you can measure all of the ingredients in a jar and tote it with you. The honey will settle to the bottom, so you will need a spoon to soften it up again, but it should shake up just fine at room temperature.

Blackberry Salad

5oz bag mixed baby greens or greens with spinach

1 pint container of blackberries, rinsed

¼ raw pecan halves

1 full recipe of the Honey Vinaigrette Dressing

Toss the salad greens with the dressing until well coated. Add the pecans and blackberries and toss gently. 

Thanks for reading!

-Nikki