Homemade Zesty Italian Dressing Mix

Directions

1. 1
   Mix all ingredients and store in a jar, spice bottle, or airtight container. When using fresh spices, the mix will keep for at least a year when stored in a cool, dark place.
2. 2
   Tip: the olive oil with separate and firm up slightly when refrigerated; this is normal. Simply let the dressing stand at room temperature for 15 minutes or so and then shake well just before serving.
3. 3
   To make the vinaigrette: 
4. 4
   Mix 2 tablespoons of seasoning with ¼ cup vinegar, ⅓ to ½ cup olive, and 2 tablespoons water. Shake well. For an added flavor component, you can add ½ tablespoon of Dijon mustard to the dressing. For a more pronounced Dijon vinaigrette, I’ve increased the amount to 1 tablespoon.
5. 5
   What kinds of vinegar work best? My favorites are balsamic and apple cider vinegar. Red wine vinegar is also quite good. White wine vinegar provides the mildest flavor, while basic white distilled vinegar tastes good but is less nuanced. When using white wine or basic white vinegar, my taste testers have preferred the addition of the optional Dijon.