Ginny Juice: A Family Favorite That Elevates Everything
As part of our 2026 Synod Assembly under the theme Rooted in God’s Story, we are creating a community recipe book — Rooted at the Table. Submit your recipe by Friday, May 1, 2026, and learn more here.
Submitted by Brian Flatgard (Grace, Phoenix; Office of the Bishop)
“Ginny Juice” is more than a dressing—it’s a family legend.
Created by Brian’s Aunt Virginia, an accomplished cook, this recipe became her signature. Over time, it has been shared widely, often given as gifts and used in countless ways.
More than anything, it carries forward her creativity and generosity.
Ginny Juice salad dressing
Ingredients
1/2 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 Tablespoonds lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
Just put it all together!
Story
My aunt Virginia was an amazing cook, and had recipes in Southern Living and other magazines in the 70s and 80s. This is was her go-to salad dressing, and my entire family uses it. This mix also works great on almost any food as a final finishing element, delivering a salt/fat/acid hit that brightens anything and complements so many flavors.
For a few Christmases, I made enormous batches of Ginny Juice to give as gifts in ball jars. I made it the way I like it, which is to quadruple the garlic so half the jar was floating in garlic. I've never had such a great response from a Christmas gift. People used it to kick their cold, to spice up their daal, drizzle in bean burritos, dip bread in, or heat up and add fresh herbs for a drizzle sauce. I'm so grateful my aunt's spirit lives on and her name is remembered.
