"I Can't Believe It's Not 'Hidden Valley' Ranch Dressing Mix"

After much tweaking, tinkering and fiddling around with recipes for homemade Ranch Dressing Mix, I am delighted to share my best with you:

Pure Cajun Sunshine's "I Can't Believe It's Not 'Hidden Valley' Ranch Dressing Mix"


DRY MIX - To use, mix one tablespoon dry mix to 1 cup mayonnaise and 1 cup buttermilk. No buttermilk? See below for buttermilk substitutes.

7 saltine crackers
1 cup dry parsley flakes, measured first, then finely crumbled
1/4 cup dry minced onion
1 tablespoon dry dill weed
1 1/2 tablespoons salt
3 1/2 tablespoons onion powder
3 1/2 tablespoons garlic powder

Whiz crackers in a blender on high speed until finely pulverized. Add remaining ingredients, and pulverize everything almost to a powder. This can be stored in a covered container for up to a year without losing flavor. The dry powdered mix does not need refrigeration (but the prepared dressing does).

TO MAKE RANCH DRESSING
Mix well one tablespoon dry mix to 1 cup mayonnaise and 1 cup buttermilk. Refrigerate. For best flavor, prepare the dressing at least two hours before using.

LOW FAT, LOW CALORIE VERSION
For a rich tasting and delicious low calorie and low fat dressing, use 1 cup Kraft Mayo (Fat Free Mayonnaise Dressing), and 1 cup Lowfat Buttermilk. This translates to only 8 1/2 calories each tablespoon serving.

BUTTERMILK SUBSTITUTES -Try any one of the following:

--> 1 cup milk + 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar (let stand 5 -10 minutes before using)
--> 1/2 plain yogurt + 1/2 milk
--> 1 cup plain yogurt (thicker)
--> 1 cup milk + 1 1/2 teaspoon cream of tarter
--> 1 cup sour cream


This may be reprinted by you for noncommercial use, if the following credit is given:


This recipe is an excerpt from Mrs. Tightwad's Handbook #5 : QUICK SUBSTITUTES & EASY FORMULAS FOR OVER 100 CANT'-DO-WITHOUT ITEMS. For more information, see the left sidebar on this site: http://purecajunsunshine.blogspot.com/