Poppy Seed Dressing

Everyone loves Poppy Seed Dressing!!  It's delicious over some fresh spring greens with sliced pear, apple, a few grapes and some nuts sprinkled on top.  YUMMY!!  But don't pay for it $3.50 a bottle, when you can make it in a couple of minutes with supplies from your pantry.  Here I'll show you how:

 1 cup granulated white sugar - (I cut back a little on this so it's not so sweet)
2/3 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup chopped red onion
3 tsp. dry mustard
1 tsp. salt
2 cups olive or safflower oil (I have used canola oil)
2 tbsp. poppy seeds

Combine the first 5 ingredients in a blender on medium speed until well blended

At this point it will look very thin, and like a red runny mess - but wait, now the magic will happen!!

With the blender on low speed, drizzle the oil into mixture.  Dressing will become thick and creamy, once the oil is incorporated.

See, nice and creamy.  Now stir in your poppy seeds.

There you have it - 4 cups of poppy seed dressing.  Just store it in the refrigerator in a sealed container, or better yet, save a clean poppy dressing container from the store, and the kids won't know it's homemade.  If you want your dressing to be white, like the store brand - just use white onions, (but be sure to let them soak in ice water for 15 minutes to remove any bitter taste from them before you use them).

Now use this over your lettuce and fruit salads!!  You have saved a ton of money and it's delicious!