My Favorite Homemade Salad Dressing (and a Salad Party!)

My Mother-in-law makes the most delicious salad dressing!

Over the years, I have loved visiting my in-laws in Georgia because I knew that I would get to eat my mother-in-law’s delicious salads.

She makes a very tasty Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing for her salads, and it has become one of my favorite dressings to make in my own home.

For many years, my husband’s Great Uncle Ward liked to make a balsamic vinaigrette for his salads that he ate every night.  He was a very special and important person in the lives of my mother and father-in-law.  He was an amazing man who lived 103 incredible years on this earth!  It was always such a privilege to be in his presence.  I am so glad my sons were able to meet him before he passed away last year.

My MIL began making Uncle Ward’s favorite balsamic vinaigrette for him whenever she fixed him dinner.  My FIL suggested to add a little honey to it to make it sweeter.  I am so glad he did!  The sweetness is just perfect!

This dressing  is super easy to make and super good to eat.

Here are the ingredients:

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Balsamic vinegar

Honey

Fresh Basil (not pictured)

The recipe is very simple: 2 parts olive oil to 1 part honey and balsamic vinegar.

For example, if you are making a salad for two you would use:

2 T. of extra virgin olive oil

1 T. of Honey

1 T. of balsamic vinegar

Chopped fresh basil to taste

Sometimes I make a larger salad for my family and my recipe looks like this:

1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil

1/8 cup honey

1/8 cup balsamic vinegar

chopped basil to taste

*I will admit that I have been known to add a few extra drops of honey.  :)

This dressing tastes good on every salad.  My MIL will drizzle it over mixed greens and tomatoes, and that’s it!  It’s scrumptious!

Sometimes she will add feta or gorgonzala cheese, pecans, or apples.  Whatever she adds….it’s always delicious!

I mixed up a salad the other day with ingredients I had in my refrigerator…

spinach salad, honey balsamic vinaigrette

I used spinach, tomatoes, grapes, apples, feta cheese, and my favorite…toasted almonds!

Is there anything more delicious than toasted almonds?  Seriously?

I toasted them in a skillet with a little butter and salt…Oh My Goodness!  They are like candy to me!

I drizzled some of my MIL’s delicious Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing on top, and ladies, it was to die for!

I gobbled up every bite!

Do you have a favorite salad or salad dressing?

I would love to hear about it!

I will give you a couple of days to get your post together, but let’s meet back here on Friday and have a Salad Party!  Wanna come?

You can link up to my post and we will share all of our favorite salad recipes.

I have another salad that I love to make that I will share with you.  Yum!

Have a blessed day!

Traci

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19 Comments

  1. Traci,

    I love that this salad dressing doesn’t have a lick of salt in it. I’ve stopped buying bottled dressings because there’s so much crapque in them. I’ll be putting this baby together for my next salad. Thanks for the recipe!

    :) Laura

  2. Gonna have to try this scrumptious salad dressing!
    I’m working at eating more greens and salads.
    Getting better at this after alot of attempts.
    I’ll keep Friday in mind and maybe participate. Shall see.
    God bless,
    d from homehaven

  3. These salad photos look incredibly yummy! I want a fresh, new style salad now. :) Thank you for the recipe and ideas! It is perfect for summertime. I always so enjoy your peaceful and beautiful blog. <3

  4. I’ll have to add this recipe to the repertoire! I’ve tried one since moving here called “GreenJacket Salad”. It’s very tasty! I’ll send you the recipe.

  5. That sounds amazing, I’m going to have to make it! My favorite salad dressing is anything with Onion in it! I like Paula Deen’s Honey Mustard Vidilia Onion Dressing right now. Or I like a simple spinach salad with poppyseed dressing and candied pecans with strawberries… yum… I’m making myself hungry!~

    1. Oooh, Laura, I love honey mustard dressing and poppy seed too. Two of my favorites! Your spinach salad sounds delicious! Hope you can join my Salad Party on Friday. :0)
      Blessings!

  6. Yum!! Wrote this one down. I love salads and especially at this time of the year. Friday sounds like it is going to be a lot of fun!

  7. Funny that I posted a pasta salad today! I usually don’t do recipes, although I love to cook.

    Your MIL’s salad looks delicious. I was the assistant chef in a restaurant who was the only one that knew the chef used honey in his dressing. Everyone wanted the recipe. I guess I just gave it away!

    xoxo
    Jane

    1. I would love for you to post your pasta salad at my Salad Party on Friday!
      Too funny about the chef. :) That makes me love my honey dressing even more!
      Blessings!

  8. Traci we love fresh salads as well! Since losing 48 pounds recently we do eat them quite often. I never tire of them. We love fresh spinach topped with walnuts and grilled chipolte shrimp on the GF grill. Add a slice of avacado and squeeze of lemon. Yummy! Your dressing sounds delicious! I will try to join you on Friday.

    Blessings, ~Melissa :)

  9. Hi Traci. This sounds so simple and good, I can’t wait to try it. I love spinach salad and your looks fabulous. I’m really getting hungry now. ha-ha.

    Hugs…Tracy :)

    P.S. I have a giveaway ending tonight. I hope you get a chance to come by and enter.

  10. Yes, I am proud. You just can’t go wrong with this combination, can you? Delicious!

    Hope you’re having a wonderful summer, friend!

  11. I use this recipe now for all my salads; so happy i found it. It’s quick and easy and i’m enjoying it now with my salad for lunch :)

    Thanks!

  12. My son will enjoy this, he recently had a major heart attack & sodium is limited. He’s wanted balsamic dressing. Going to make this for his daughters wedding Sat. Aug 19. We are doing the food because of a dozen restricted diets.

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