Sweet & Sour Salad Dressing

Yes, it's been a couple of days. Have you been dying? Did you think you would perish without me? Well, good.

Josh and I were in Chicago at my old roommate Matt's wedding, and evidently I was too busy visiting friends and getting myself good and hungover to blog. Not that I didn't plan to. I did. I even made a recipe the night before I left and brought it with me, pictures loaded onto laptop and all. Ah, the road to hell and all that.

ANYHOW, I'm back now and can fill the gaping void in your life with tails of the Sweet & Sour Salad Dressing from Ellie Baker, she of the amazing cheese knishes. Being from the purveyor of the life changing knish recipe, I had hopes. Unfortunately for my hopes, I am extremely picky about salad dressings (even I can admit I am picking about that), and I wasn't a huge fan.

This is not to say that it wasn't good. I'm sure it actually was. And more importantly, it did not fall prey to the evil 'too much oil' pitfall that so many dressings suffer (woe to he who gives me too much oil in my dressing). It's just that I'm not super into sweet and sour on my salads; I'm more of a vinegar, vinegar and then more vinegar type of girl. And to me, to do anything other with salad is like a bit of apostasy in my mouth. Considering all the things that have been in my mouth, this is saying something. Hah.

Nor can my feelings be counteracted by Josh's reliable pronunciation of 'goodness,' as he refused to even taste the dressing. This is because Josh hates all salad dressing regardless of race, color, creed OR sexual preference. He does not discriminate; he hates equally. In fact, Josh's salad peculiarities do not end there. He also prefers to eat salad with his hands for some reason, instead of with the traditional utensils, which means I have been charged with the task of cutting him larger, more finger-food sized pieces of his salad ingredients.

This generally means Josh gets his own salad while the rest of us (presuming anyone else comes over) all share the general salad bowl normally. I'm pretty sure Josh's mom thought I was insane the time was trying to help make salad and I gasped, 'Nonono! Josh gets a special salad!' I guess this is my karmic comeuppance for my dad having to serve me my salads growing up, as I only liked certain pieces of lettuce (he could tell which ones, my mother couldn't). Then again, he would always bury something I hated at the bottom of the salad in an effort to torment me, so perhaps that's even anyhow. Oh, all those delightful salads, with a horrible pea buried at the bottom. The trauma.

In any event, if you like sweet & sour on your salads, then I'm pretty sure this is terrific. Josh's dad sure thought it was; he was up here generously helping us do some work on the house (Stu is super handy and super sweet), and he evidently does not share Josh's and my salad peculiarities. And he had seconds.

Artistry, wasted on the masses

Ellie Baker's Sweet & Sour Salad Dressing for non-freaky salad eaters

1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 1/2 tsp lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tsps chili sauce
1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/4 tsp curry powder
2-3 dashes tabasco
1 tsp garlic powder

Blend all ingredients and chill for a couple hours before serving. Be amazed it is so easy. Wish you liked sweet & sour salad dressing. The end.