Gloria Pitzer's Olive Garden-Style Salad Dressing

Gloria Pitzer is known for copying famous foods, but making them healthy at the same time. "I take the junk out of junk food," says Pitzer. "You know what goes into my recipes." Gloria is careful to point out that she doesn't actually know what the big chains put in their food. "I don't try to dissect the foods and figure out the chemical ingredients," she says. "I never, ever try to steal anyone's secret corporate recipe. I just do my best to duplicate the taste." Enjoy!

• Ready In: 15 mins
• Serves: 6-8
• Yields: 2 cups

Ingredients

• Dressing

• 1 1⁄2 cups  Italian dressing, bottled
• 2  tablespoons parmesan cheese, grated
• 2  tablespoons sugar (or equivalent in artificial sugar)
• 1  large egg, raw (or egg beaters to equal 1 egg)
• 2  tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1⁄4 cup  oil

• Salad Suggestions

•  fresh spinach
•  iceberg lettuce
•  romaine lettuce
•  onion, cut into rings
•  radish, etc

Directions

1. Blend first 5 ingredients (not oil) in blender on high speed 1/2 minute or until smooth. Pour this mixture into the top of a double boiler and add 1/4 cup oil. Stir gently with a whisk over gently boiling water until it begins to thicken and egg is completely cooked. Chill several hours or overnight before using. If the dressing is too thick, add more Italian dressing as needed.
2. Mix together equal amounts of fresh spinach, iceberg and romaine lettuce. Allow 2 cups for each salad. Moisten leaves in dressing, do not saturate; let stand 5 minutes. Add onion rings, radishes, etc.