Healthy Ranch Dressing Mix

 

We don't really eat a lot of ranch dressing around here, but it's one of those items that you just have to have some times.  I know plenty of parents who swear it is the only way to get their kids to eat veggies and sometimes you just have to have it on a salad or for a recipe to make it extra special.  That's why I wanted to play around with this refrigerator staple and make it processed free.  It took some doing, but I finally have a dressing that meets my two criteria: quick and easy, and all natural!

1/3 cup dry buttermilk

2 Tblsp. dried parsley

1 1/2 tsp. dried dill

2 tsp. garlic powder

2 tsp. onion powder

3 tsp. dried onion flakes

1 tsp. paprika

1 tsp. dried chives

1 tsp. salt

Pour all of these into a small food processor and blend into a powder.  Store in the refrigerator in an air-tight container.  It should be good for a long time - months and months!

 

When you are ready to make it, combine 1 Tbsp. mix to a 1/3 cup of sour cream (find one where the only ingredient is cream.)  This will make a nice dip consistency and you can leave it as such.  If you want to thin it out to make more of a dressing, add a little milk until you have reached the desired thinness.  My sister likes to mix it with Greek yogurt instead, but I prefer the sour cream.  I do have to say, I almost always have Greek yogurt and my family eats it no matter what! 

I also like that this makes a small amount versus other recipes that make 4 cups and you have to use it in two days!  No one should be consuming that much ranch!!  If you need to make more, you just double or triple this and there you have it.  No more mystery ingredients for my family.