Wednesday, May 20, 2009

making ranch dressing


On the weekend we had the Honest Pretzels book out and decided to try the ranch dressing recipe. It's very simple, just a little mayo, buttermilk, onion and garlic powders, a little salt, and maybe one other thing. Rainer really liked it on carrot sticks so it was a big success in that way. It was just okay on salad.


Anyone have a homemade ranch dressing that they love?

8 comments:

ames said...

Hm, we've always used the packet you get at the store. If you find one, do share!

Anita Ann said...

Very cool. Wondering about the other thing???

Laura said...

This is the recipe we use~

Ranch Salad Dressing
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup buttermilk
2 Tbsp finely chopped greeen onion
1/4 tsp onion powder
2 tsp minced parsley
1/4 tsp garlic powder or 1/2 to 1 garlic clove, finely minced
1/4 tsp paprika
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Combine all ingredients and refigerate.

My husband loves ranch dressing and this one is a hit with him. There is a tiny bit of a kick with the cayenne pepper :)

(This recipe is from The Tightwad Gazette book.)

Have a great day!
Laura :)

catie said...

funny...i just "decoded" ranch dressing
a few weeks ago.
i had tried and given up many times,
but i've got it now!
your recipe is VERY close to mine:

the best buttermilk ranch dressing
1/2 c buttermilk
1/2 c sour cream
1/2 c mayonnaise
1/2 t garlic powder
1/2 t onion powder
1/2 t thyme
1/2 t salt
1/2 t pepper

{salads!} {dipping!} {yum!}
and don't you like the look of it?
so very orderly.
and btw, i always use "light" mayo & sour cream

i also make a killer tamari-balsamic vinaigrette.
want that one, too?

~catie~

Anita Ann said...

Those recipes both sound great. I am a big fan of salad dressings.

Mary Beth said...

Thank you Laura and Catie for the recipes! I'm going to try both of them, thank you so much.

Catie--yes, I'd love the other one too.

catie said...

okay, here's the vinaigrette from my dear friend dean, who is an organic farmer and knows how to dress a salad:

2 cups canola oil
1 cup balsamic vinegar
1 cup tamari
a few garlic cloves, pressed or minced
a Tablespoon (more or less) mustard powder
salt & pepper

shake it,
but please don't blend it in a blender
(as it will emulsify and turn to goo).
store in the fridge.

good quality ingredients make a huge difference here(spectrum oil, good italian bals. vinegar, san-j low-sodium tamari).

don't think of it as a recipe, but a formula:
two parts oil
one part tamari
one part bals. vinegar
that way, you can make it with any amount you have on hand.
if i make a full batch, i use a quart size glass juice bottle (like knudsen) as the mixing & storing vessel. the shape & size of those bottles are perfect for shaking to mix.

i've been using this dressing for more than 10 years - it's a staple around here. it makes a wonderful marinade for chicken or veggies before you grill, and is also what i use to dress pasta salad. my friends & neighbors get a "subscription" of this dressing, returning their jars for me to refill.

enjoy!
~catie~

Emily said...

Oooo, yum! This looks so good. Great blog by the way!