Hometown Dressing
homemade salad dressing recipe~a secret recipe

Secret Recipe homemade salad dressing was- believe it or not- the way restaurants in my hometown competed for repeat customers. Craving that you-can-only-get-it-here flavor brought us back again and again.

The hands down winner was an old fashioned downtown restaurant with business-like waiters in white jackets, chic leather-like black booths, and subtle lighting. Soon after we placed our order the pice d’reisitance came: the bottle of thick, bright orange salad dressing, accompanied by plates of plain iceberg lettuce, ready for drenching.

Times have certainly changed, but when a local magazine revealed the now defunct restaurant's “secret recipe” it immediately became our family favorite, no white gloves needed. I’m sure you’ll have repeat customers of your own.

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup white vinegar

1/2 cup ketchup

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup onion, minced

juice of 1 lemon

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup vegetable oil