Fresh Basil and Balsamic Low Fat Salad Dressing

This recipe makes enough dressing for a week's worth of salads for a family of 4. You will need a 1 quart jar with a tight-fitting lid. Adapted from a recipe by Lynne Rossetto Kasper .

• Ready In: 10 mins
• Yields: 1 quart

Ingredients

• 1  medium onion
• 3 -4  large garlic cloves
• 1⁄4 cup fresh basil leaf (tightly packed)
• 2  teaspoons dry basil
• 2⁄3 cup rice vinegar
• 1⁄2 cup  balsamic vinegar
• 2  teaspoons honey
• 1⁄2 cup water
• 1⁄4 cup prepared mustard (coarse)
• 1⁄2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Directions

1. Peel the onion and garlic cloves then mince together with the fresh basil leaves. Put in a jar and add remaining ingredients. Shake up and season as needed with salt and pepper. Store in a cool place. Each night simply shake it up and pour over a salad.
2. Variations:
3. For Thai-style dressing that is good over rice noodles, grains or vegetable salads, blend 1/2 cup dressing with 1 tbls. minced fresh chile, 1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro, 1 tbls. brown sugar, 1/2 cup crushed peanuts.
4. For ranch dressing: blend 1/3 cup of dressing with 1/3 to 1/2 cup buttermilk.