ITALIAN SALAD DRESSING DRY MIX

I like Good Seasons salad dressing mix but it is expensive and has lots of  MSG in it (not good for us) so I did some research on making my own and like this mix very much.  I try to make a salad for most every meal and we usually use the Balsamic Vinaigrette version.   This one is also good as a bread dip. 

Italian Herb Salad Dressing Mix

1 teaspoon oregano leaves (crushed a bit if large)
1 T. onion powder
1 teaspoons basil leaves
1 teaspoons paprika  (makes it a beautiful color)
1 1/2 teaspoons pepper
2 Tablespoons garlic powder
4 Tablespoons salt
1 tsp. Celery seed
¼ tsp tyme leaves
1 T. sugar
Mix and store in an airtight container.

To make dressing use 2 tablespoon mix with 1 1/2 cups olive or vegetable oil and 1/2 cup wine vinegar and ¼ C. water.  If you like a sweeter dressing add another 1 T. of sugar.  This recipe is easily halved.  The flavor improves as it sits.

Balsamic Vinaigrette:  4 tsps. dry mix with 1 C. olive oil and 1 C. balsamic vinegar.

THE WATERFALL

Sometimes I get ideas that at the time seem great but mostly they involve my husbands brawn and willingness.  The forested area in our back yard has had a dirt hill that the landscapers dug out for topsoil for our grass.  From the beginning I thought it would be a great place for a waterfall.  We live in rock heaven.  The empty lot next to us yeilded enough rocks to cover a 20 ft. recessed area leading down to the flagstone patio that we built the summer after we moved in.  This spring while I was on my morning walk I spied a very large pile of rocks next to a new house that was doing landscaping.  I asked the owner if he cared if we took some he said, "They are yours."  We took the seats out of our van and loaded 9 loads of rocks into the back of the van and dropped them in a pile next to the dirt hill.  Mike was a reluctant participant and I did have regrets when I saw what the process entailed.  It rained a lot this month but we built a waterfall, working harder than old people should work.  I was so tired some nights that I couldn't sleep.  But it is spectacular!--A 10 foot fall with about a 20 ft. stream.  Someday Mike will put his foot down when I get these ideas but maybe not.