Recipe: French Dressing and Variations III

Mr. Big Food used this dressing on the Macaroni Salad and Variations rather than mayonnaise-- to veganize it!

“Shake French dressing well and serve it in a bowl which matches your salad plates.”—The Encyclopedia of Cooking Complete in 24 Volumes, Volume 7: 500 Delicious Salad Recipes (1953) 

FRENCH DRESSING AND VARIATIONS III 
Makes 1 ¼ C

1 C olive oil or salad oil
¼ C vinegar
½ tsp salt
Few grains cayenne
¼ tsp white pepper
2 Tbsp chopped parsley

Combine, and beat or shake thoroughly before using. 

VARIATIONS
Using 1 C French Dressing as a foundation:
ANCHOVY—Add 2 Tbsp anchovy paste or mashed anchovies and 1 Tbsp pearl onions
CAPER—Add 1/3 C minced capers
CHIFFONADE—Add 1 Tbsp chopped beets, 1 Tbsp chopped chives, and 1 Tbsp chopped hard-cooked egg

And a Big salad bowl more below the fold!

CHIVE—Add 1 Tbsp chopped chive, minced shallot or onion

CATTAGE CHEESE—Add 3 Tbsp cottage cheese and 1 Tbsp chopped chives

CUCUMBER—Add 3 Tbsp grated cucumber and 1 Tbsp chopped chives

FINES HERBES—Add 1 Tbsp minced parsley, 1 Tbsp minced watercress, 1 Tbsp minced chervil, and 1 Tbsp minced basil

GARLIC—Rub bowl with crushed clove garlic

GINGER ALE—Use 2 Tbsp vinegar and 2 Tbsp ginger ale

HORSERADISH—Add 1 tsp prepared horseradish (preferably homemade—see recipes in Basics section)

INDIA—Add 2 Tbsp chutney (preferably homemade—see recipes in Basics and Canning … sections), 2 chopped hard-cooked eggs, and ½ tsp curry powder

MUSTARD—Add 2 tsp prepared mustard (preferably homemade—see recipes in Basics section) to Garlic French Dressing

PEARL ONION—Add 2 Tbsp pearl onions

ROQUEFORT—Add 1/3 C soft Roquefort cheese, crumbled first and creamed with 2 Tbsp French Dressing

TARRAGON—Use ¼ C tarragon vinegar

TOMATO—Add 1 C tomato juice (or use Spicy V-8 for a spicier dressing), ½ clvoe garlic, minced, and 1 Tbsp confectioners’ sugar

VINAIGRETTE—Add 1 Tbsp chopped chives, 1 Tbsp chopped sweet pickles (preferably homemade—see recipes in Canning … section), and 1 tsp chopped capers

WHITE WINE—Use ¼ C white wine vinegar/