Friday, February 4, 2011

Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette



Check that baby out! My sweet husband got if for me for Christmas after I told him to after a few weeks of flirtatious hinting and winking. Anyway, it's a fun dressing mixer, specifically for vinaigrettes, squeezing the handle on the side emulsifies the oil and vinegar. It even has recipes on the side with the measurements included, making it so easy to throw a delicious dressing together. Is is essential to make your own vinaigrettes? no. Does it provide hours of super fun entertainment, especially during these cold winter days? you know it!

The first time I used my fun new contraption, I made was balsamic vinaigrette. I've had plenty of balsamic vinaigrettes in my day, and while I like them, I've never LURVED them or anything. Well, I do now!

I don't know what it was about this dressing, maybe it was the fresh ingredients, or the fact that I got to sit and mix it myself while giggling like a nerd, but it was so delicious. Tangy, fruity, sharp. Once again, I looked forward to eating my salad because of this vinaigrette. I'm telling you, homemade is the way to go!

Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette

Ingredients

1/2 olive oil (I actually probably did about 1/3 cup to lighten it up a bit)
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 crushed cloves garlic
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Combine all ingredients and mix until well combined. Toss in salad. My favorite salad for this dressing has diced apples, cranberries, toasted almonds and diced sharp cheddar cheese. Totally delicious.

24 comments:

MegSmith @ Cooking.In.College said...

That is so neat! I could play with that and make all sorts of dressing for hours I am sure :-)

♥peachkins♥ said...

That is one cool gadget!

Chris said...

Quit playing with your food! ;)

Deborah said...

How fun! And that salad looks delish as well!

Cassie said...

We sell those at the Whole Foods I work at! I keep meaning to pick one up. I hate spending $4 for a bottle of salad dressing when I know the ingredients are much less expensive!

Mary Bergfeld said...

That is some gadget. Is it hard to clean?
I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

Julie said...

Looks very scientific...perfect for giggling nerds :)

Heather S-G said...

I agree...homemade all the way! That salad looks killer, too. I love your new toy :)

Amanda said...

oh that sounds really good! i'm totally going to try that. i got some salad dressing jars for christmas but i'm yet to really try making some things myself. i still have a pretty big stock in the fridge i'm trying to work my way through!

chow and chatter said...

great gadget now my parents get me neat foodie gadgets he he

great dressing

Kim said...

Can I come over and have some of this salad and your homemade dressing? No one at my house likes balsamic and I LOVE IT! Your salad looks killer and I love that gadget.

Barbara said...

Call me nerd! I want one!

Cathy said...

Once you get used to homemade dressing store bought varieties just don't cut it. It's fun to have a new gadget to play with.

Anonymous said...

I'll have to find that - I do think fresh salad dressing is the best! :D

Joanne said...

That bottle is so cool! I love that you don't have to shake it and worry about dressing flying everywhere!

Shelby said...

how silly are we when we get all giddy over a new kitchen gadget? ;o)

Brownieville Girl said...

Oh I want one of them too!!!

I love a nice sharp dressing on my salads - this sounds great.

Velva said...

You loved it because it was fresh and made by you! Very cool kitchen tool.

MaryMoh said...

I love balsamic vinegar...so good as dip for Chinese dumplings. I'm sure your vinaigrette tastes awesome, too. Hope you have a wonderful day. MaryMoh at http://www.keeplearningkeepsmiling.com

Val said...

What a cool mixer. Homemade salad dressings are the only way to go. YUM

Natalie said...

I've never seen one of those before. Where can they be found??

Shaheen said...

My husband pays money to buy this stuff, I appreciate your recipe because now I am going to tell him to make his own.

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

I always make a homemade vinaigrette and would never, ever use a purchased one.

Your recipe sounds very similar to mine. However, you win hands down in the gadget category. I love your little jar! It's so cool.
Sam

Merut said...

Haha, that is hilarious. I tell my fiance, I mean hint and flirt, to get me things occasionally too. I love balsamic vinaigrette, it is my favorite dressing! Looks like a fun contraption.