Ranch Dip

I am kind of funny about what I feed my kids.  Without being overly obsessive about it, I like to be able to pronounce everything we eat.  I have a love hate relationship with labels. Things like preservatives, artificial flavoring/coloring and any additive made from corn is not what I want to show up on our plates on a regular basis.  

While the convenience of grabbing a bottle of ranch from the fridge is an easy do, making your own is not that much more work.  The ingredients are simple and the homemade version is a little more wholesome than the store bought version. The board of ingredients is pretty simple.  You need three things.  That's it!

I am using Sunny Paris seasoning from Penzeys.  And since I love you so much I am going to tell you how to get your own jar for free if you act by July 11, 2011 just pay shipping and handling. You can get any half cup jar of Penzeys spices for free if you use the coupon code at the link above when ordering.  I got my jar for free and I am so delighted.  We LOVE this seasoning.

So, back to the ranch.  Add a heaping table spoon of low fat mayonnaise to a small bowl.   

Add the Sunny Paris Seasoning.

Add the buttermilk.  Buttermilk is thick, low in fat and tangy.  The buttermilk is so good in this dressing.  This recipe makes a thick ranch dip that is prefect for dipping veggies into.  I also us it as a dressing for salads, but I add extra buttermilk to thin it down so it is pourable and coats the lettuce nicely.   

Whisk it all together until it is well mixed. 

The ranch keeps for about a week in the fridge.  It is creamy, full of flavor and oh so guilt free with all those yummy veggies. 

Hubby is going to be home any minute and he always comes home hungry.  Since I do not want hungry to equal crabby, I try to make sure I have a snack ready to go or dinner almost ready to eat.  Nothing says love to that man like food.  He works hard for his company and his family and I appreciate that so much.  Having a HEALTHY snack waiting for him brightens his day and it's my way of saying thank you for all the work he does on our behalf.  The hardest part is keeping the kids from Dad's snack.  :-)      

Willow Cottage Ranch Dip

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon Low Fat Mayo
1/2 teaspoon Sunny Paris Seasoning
1 Tablespoon Buttermilk

Directions:

1. Mix ingredients in a small bowl. Enjoy.
2. Keeps in fridge for one week. Makes 2 servings of dip. 

***Note: If you are making this into a salade dressing, add extra buttermilk to make the mixture the consistency of dressing. This recipe is easily adjusted to make the consistency you like best.

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I am linking this recipe to Designs by Gollum: Foodie Friday.