Grab a shot glass. We're going to make a single serving of fresh vinagrette salad dressing.
Start by adding around an eight of an inch of good balsamic vinegar. This will contribute a lot of the flavor, so do yourself a favour and get a good wood-aged balsamic. Or something.
Fill the rest of the glass with extra-virgin olive oil. You don't need to go to the top; leave room to stir.
Finally, add some mixed Italian seasonings. Pretty much any type will do, and it can be fun to mix it up. I generally like something with at least a little saltiness.
Mix it up, stiring vigorously up and down, and set aside.
Next: go get yourself a big bowl and fill it up with the lettuce of your choice. I like spring greens for their pungent flavors, but anything will do. Just don't do iceburg. Really, it's not worth it.
You can add just about anything else you want. I like raisins for their sweetness and almond slices for their...almond-iness. Crutons are tasty, too, as is just about any fresh fruit. Be creative.
Finish by stirring up that dressing again (it settles quickly) and poring it over the salad. Done!
There you go: a good basic recipe that can be thrown together one-handed in less than five minutes. It's extremely healthy and there are plenty of opportunities for variety. It's the type of recipe you can make a couple of times every week and never get bored. Or fat.
If you try this, leave a comment and let me know how it goes.
