I made this recipe using apple cider vinegar, canola oil, ketchup & a combo of fructose & Splenda(TM). I didn't use any of the optional seasonings. It tasted great in my Taco Salad. I used it again on top of a hot coleslaw recipe & it really made the difference!

I added 1 tbsp. of liquid smoke to this recipe and used it to marinate baby back ribs several hours before grilling & to slather on during grilling. They turned out perfect.

I should have mentioned that I found this recipe hand-written on the back page of a cookbook from the 1940's, and added the optional seasonings. It doesn't seem to thicken in the same way if using organic ketchup, so leave out the extra water in that case. I'm allergic to soy, and almost all bottled dressings contain it. ~~

I eat as alkaline as possible and with a tiny tweaking this recipe fits the bill and satisfied my taste for a Catalina style dressing. I used one can tomato paste instead of ketchup. Using the can I added 1/2 can braggs organic raw apple cider, 2 cans filtered water, 3 frozen strawberries and 2 spoons 100% pure Stevia powder (the spoon comes in the bottle). Excellent! If it needs thickener tomorrow I will add a 1/4 tsp of xanthum or guar gum powder. Thank you for the recipe

I added 1 tbsp of lemon juice and diced sweet onion and it was wonderful!!!

About how long does it last in the fridge? I'm about to start making all of our dressings from scratch, but just wondered how often I'll be having to do that.

Crystal - I leave it in the fridge for as long as I would an opened bottle of ketchup, roughly - some weeks - seems to be fine. My husband likes it mixed 1/2 & 1/2 with mayonnaise, which I do for each serving. I use only dry seasonings though - so if using fresh you'd want to use it more quickly. I like it with dried dill, gives the salad a very "fresh" taste.

fantastic and quick dressing. My spouse loves it too.

I wanted to make my mom's taco salad with beans and fritos and I didn't have any catalina, so I gave this one a try. I loved it! I used some fresh dill from garden too.It brought back great memories of mom when I ate that salad.

I made this using 1/4 cup splenda, since I'm diabetic. It was just as good.

Too much sugar!!! I only put in 1/4 of a cup, and that was PLENTY!

Just made it, thought there was too much sugar so I added a bit more ketchup, turned out great after that.

For those who think the recipe is too sweet: it says "scant" 1/2 cup sugar - this means "less than" a half-cup (to your taste). Though I suspect the bottled kind probably has more sugar in it. Add dried vegetable flakes (parsley, onion, red & green bell peppers) for even more flavor.

Love this! I make it with just 1 tbsp of sugar.

Use Balsamic Vinegar in place of the regular vinegar - you'll be able to leave out the sugar altogether if you wish.