Have you ever had a craving for SALAD? No? I mean, I don't blame you. They're vegetables! (But, also, it's not like we have really awesome ways of chewing our lettuce such that it shows how dangerous we are to our predators... caterpillars take the cake on that one).

But, maybe, just in this past week, you have been thirsting for something sumptuous and crunchy, and you just can't put your finger on it... and it's drawing you to salad these days but you just don't know why! And you're bewildered by this seemingly out-of-nowhere lust for an unlikely food choice in the ominous dining hall, and you are taken to salad, and you eat it, but you're left unsatisfied.

Are you bugged by how accurately I am following your thoughts right now, especially in this past week?

I think I know your what's bugging you. Remember this from last weekend?

That's it! (I still know your thoughts).

Now, I present to you the recipe of the vinaigrette you ate last weekend at the Great Mountain Forest Camp that left you hungry for more. It's not a very scientific recipe, as I'm not too into the whole precise measurement thing, but, maybe you're into that as well.

You have to put aside your distaste for the French when you make this vinaigrette, because it was their idea. The key ingredient is mustard. Mustard comes in many forms - yellow, dijon, deli, etc. The best kind to use is whatever you have, but your vinaigrette will most benefit from a texture and/or spice. Dump about 1 tablespoon in a bowl.

Then, add the following:

3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
~1/2 teaspoon some kind of dried leaf - maybe you have oregano or basil
~1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper (to taste)
squeezed lemon (to taste)

Put all of these things in the same bowl. The winning oil:vinegar ratio is always about 3:1. Whisk all together, and you get something pretty as a pink catydid,and tasty.
Now you can go and deal with your mysterious food cravings as of the past week. Happy?

More serious posts to come later, I promise.