We are a big fan of making your own salad dressings and sauces. There are some that should be purchased from the store. These are usually too unique or too hard to make at home. It can be done, but it is a great deal of effort and probably will not be better than what you can buy.
But salad dressings are usually simple and easy to make. For example, making Italian dressing or any type of vinaigrette is best made at home. But when we think of creamy dressings, we usually reach for a bottle in the refrigerator.
It is time to change that. The easiest to start with is good ol’ fashioned Thousand Island. Chances are, you already have all the ingredients you need right in your fridge.
If you have ketchup, pickle relish and mayonnaise, you have everything you need. Just take a 1/3 cup of each and mix together in a bowl or empty, clean sealable jar.
That is all. It will store in an airtight container for at least a week, maybe more. You can use light mayonnaise to lower the fat content. Using dill or hot dog relish can add a different flavor that is better for you. It can be used on sandwiches and other foods to add a new taste to old foods.
Now, if you are really ambitious, you can start by making your own mayonnaise and ketchup. But we think this is one time when processed foods are the better choice.