Measure ingredients into a cruet or a blender container and shake or process. Using a blender allows you to skip the chopping. Herbs such as fresh basil, oregano, shallots and chives, mustard seeds and whole mixed peppercorns are great additions!

Your salad never needs to be the same twice!

When I'm in a hurry, I often make my salad just by pouring vinegar over the greens, mixing it up and letting them sit for a minute or two. This will help neutralize and bacteria remaining on the greens because of the acidic nature of the vinegar.

Then I add the olive oil and herbs and toss well. When I make my sald this way, I use freshly chopped herbs from the garden and I don't add any mustard or honey to keep the taste of the fresh herbs as the stars of the salad.

This is how my mother always made her salad, and it was always the best salad ever!

Submitted by: CM