Homemade Ranch Dressing

 

Another way to save money in the kitchen is by making your own salad dressings. Our favorite salad dressing is ranch, and we use it to dress salads, as a dip for fresh vegetables, and as a dip for chicken tenders. 

Ranch dressing was invented at the Hidden Valley Ranch near Santa Barbara, California by Steve & Gayle Henson. Our favorite kind is a cloned version from Top Secret Recipes, and is one I have used in my home for many years. I love making something from simple, basic ingredients like mayonnaise and buttermilk with a few spices in my own kitchen, and I always double or triple the recipe.

 Here is a link to the recipe:

Top Secret Recipes Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing

Ingredients:

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon MSG (Accent brand is good)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon onion powder
Pinch dried thyme

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk until smooth.

Cover and chill for several hours before using. 

Some people, including my daughter, are allergic to the MSG that is found in Accent. I have made this recipe without the Accent, but the taste is not the same, so use your own judgment on that ingredient.

Updated to Add: It was not the MSG that my daughter is allergic to...it was the carrots. She has a fruit & vegetable allergy. 

Now it is time for an afternoon snack of carrots with homemade ranch dressing.

Belinda

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without”