If your friend is willing to make her own salad dressing, the possibilities are endless. Here is an easy recipe for a basic vinaigrette that whomever is making it can change the ingredients at will to make thousands of different salad dressings. I've been teaching this formula for many years.
Basic Dijon Vinaigrette
makes about 3/4-cup of delicious dressing
one clove garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons whatever acid you like. I most often use lemon juice.
2 tablespoons of any one -- fresh snipped chives, basil, mint; or parsley, finely chopped
A few grinds of fresh black pepper
A pinch of sea salt
6 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
1. Chop the garlic finely. Place it in a small mixing bowl and add the mustard and vinegar. Mix well with a fork. Add the herb of your choice and salt and pepper to taste. Whisking with your fork, dribble in the olive oil in a steady stream until the dressing has emulsified.
2. Put the (well dried) greens in a large glass bowl (or other appropriate serving dish) add vinaigrette and serve.
Teacher’s Tip: If you put all the ingredients for your vinaigrette into a small glass jar with a tight fitting lid, you can just shake the jar to mix. Then, if you have dressing left over, you can refrigerate it in that jar to reuse for a few days!