Among many things, this website has become a great tool for me when I’m searching for an oft-made recipe. It has totally saved me on many occasions when I am hunting through stacks of tried-and-true recipes, looking for a particular one. As I have put the recipes here, I actually throw away the paper copy. Imagine my surprise when I couldn’t find my favorite homemade salad dressing recipe here this afternoon! It turns out I never added it here, because I wrote about it for Cooking Light, on one of their blogs, awhile back. Oops! This one is too good not to share with you (and put here so I can find it in a less crazy fashion than occurred frenetically this afternoon. Thank God, Sarah came to the rescue and found it for me! Of course, I had to write “Sarah, you are the best ever” ten times on the blackboard, but it was a small price to pay.).
You can read the back story in the old Cooking Light piece here, but the short version is that I fell in love with a Cinnamon Vinaigrette salad dressing years ago during one of our annual holiday trips to Bethlehem, PA. The restaurant refused to part with the recipe, nor the list of ingredients, but fate intervened not too long ago, and the heaven parts and angels took chorus and I found a look-alike version from Southern Living.
Cinnamon. It’s something you would never think to put in a salad dressing. But this is where you have to trust me. It works. It’s not overly sweet. Just overly right. You likely have all the ingredients on hand to whip up a batch any time you want, and it’s heaps better for you than most bottled dressings you can buy at the store.
This is a perfect recipe to celebrate Fall flavors. Mix it up with your favorite Mesclun greens, a few slices of ripe pears and Gorgonzola. Definitely the Gorgonzola. Tonight, I went with a perfectly ripe tomato that we scored at the farmers’ market, trying to eek out a few last bites of summer. This dressing recipe is one not to miss.
Project 365
September 28, 2010, Photo #169
I do believe that with the addition of the hat … and the promise of candy … she will actually keep the wig on. Although I’ve heard that “hope is not a strategy.”
Honey-Cinnamon Vinaigrette
Recipe courtesy of Southern Living, September 2008
- 1/3 cup cider vinegar
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup canola oil
Whisk together first 5 ingredients in a small bowl. Add oil in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly until smooth. Serve immediately, or cover and chill until ready to serve. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator up to 2 weeks. (If you happen to not pay attention to the directions and mix all the ingredients together and skip the streaming of the oil, like I did, all will be fine, since that’s what I accidentally did tonight.)
This dressing sounds just perfect!!!! Love all the flavors in it.
That sounds incredibly interesting. I’ll definitely have to give it a whirl.
I love cinnamon and truly could eat it in EVERYTHING! I’ve never tried it in salad dressing but I have no doubt that I would love it.
Having things on the blog definitely makes my life easier when I’m trying to figure out what I want to cook for my parents when I go home to visit. Otherwise I’d be scouring the internet for ages…
You’re right, I would only think to mix this w/ something like a fruit garnished salad or something like that, but I’m gonna trust you on this one!
I luv cinnamon, but have had a hard time finding ways to use it in savory foods. Thanks for the recipe.
Maybe she’ll keep it on after everyone oohs and ah’s over her!
I think I’ll give this a try tomorrow. Sounds so interesting.