Citrus Dressing

I've had a cold for the last few days, and one of the things that I do to help fight a cold is to up my vitamin C intake. So, I've been having citrus salads with a fresh tasting citrus dressing. This dressing tastes best when made with fresh lemons, but I've also made it with bottled lemon juice when I can't rummage up a lemon in the fridge.

Ingredients:

1/2 tsp lemon zest
2 Tbs fresh lemon juice
1 Tbs seasoned rice vinegar
1 Tbs water
1 tsp spice blend
1 tsp sugar
4 Tbs extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl or jar. Whisk or shake to combine. I like adding lemon zest to lemon dressings, as they look nice and add an extra flavor boost. In addition, I like adding a splash of vinegar to brighten the citrus taste. If you don't have a seasoned rice vinegar (like Nakano), use a sherry or champagne vinegar or a simple white wine vinegar. As for the spice blend, I frequently use Mrs. Dash, as this is a blend that my family likes. You might like to use tarragon or experiment with any blend that you find tastes good to you!

Stealthy Cooking Tip: Try different salad dressings, until you find the ones you enjoy. This dressing really works well with any salad that includes citrus. Once you find a dressing you really like, consider using a small amount over quickly cooked vegetables to enhance their flavor, too! This works wonders if you're trying to add vegetables to your plate, but haven't figured out how to flavor them. I especially like this dressing with asparagus!