Habitual Hostess

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Sunday Salad with Creamy Italian Dressing

I love a big salad, and this one is a favorite. So much of what makes a good salad is its texture. This has two different lettuces, two cheeses—one grated and one cube, lots of veggies, and the perfect creamy Italian dressing. This make-ahead Italian dressing will stay perfectly emulsified and creamy in the fridge all week.

For the dressing:
1 Tablespoon mayonnaise
1 Tablespoon Dijon
2 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 cup red or white wine vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup avocado oil
Salt and fresh ground black pepper

For the salad:
1/3 c. chopped red onion
1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 Tablespoon water
Kosher salt
A head of iceberg lettuce, cut into quarters and thinly sliced
2 cups of mixed salad greens
1/4 cup thinly sliced pepperoncini
1/2 cup sliced black olives
1 red bell pepper, diced
4 oz Provolone cheese, diced into small cubes
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

To make the dressing:

In a jar with a tight fitting lid add the mayonnaise, Dijon and honey and whisk together with a fork (these already emulsified ingredients will help keep the dressing together and emulsified all week). Add the garlic salt, Italian seasoning, a teaspoon of kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon of fresh ground pepper and stir to combine. Add vinegar, tighten top onto jar and shake well to combine. Add 1/4 cup of olive oil, tighten top onto jar and shake really well to combine. Add remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil, tighten top onto jar, and shake vigorously to combine. Add avocado oil, tighten top onto jar one last time, and shake well to combine. Taste and add additional salt and pepper if desired.

To make the salad:
Combine diced onion, 1 Tablespoon of red wine vinegar, 1 Tablespoon of water and 1 teaspoon of kosher salt into a small bowl. Set aside and let onions quickly pickle while you prepare the rest of the salad.
Combine iceberg lettuce and salad greens in a large bowl. Salt greens with a large pinch of kosher salt and toss. Add pepperoncini, black olives, diced peppers, provolone, Parmesan cheese and toss with greens. Add desired amount of dressing and some fresh black pepper and toss.