Raw Ranch Dressing

I love ranch dressing! I have not found an organic ranch dressing in the store that I actually liked. So a couple months ago I started making my own and I love it! It reminds me of my favorite ranch from a restaurant in California I used to work at. I compare all ranch dressings to that one!
Organic ingredients are always recommended.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup buttermilk (I always make ranch immediately after making butter. A friend gave me a recipe for using kefir instead too, which is pretty yummy, if you can get raw organic kefir, or make it yourself)
1 ts garlic chives (regular chives would work great too), chopped
1/2 ts dried parsley
1/2 ts dried dill
1/2 ts garlic powder
1/2 ts onion flakes or onion powder
Pinch of thyme
Pinch of good salt (celtic or real salt) or more to taste
1/8 ts ground pepper

Whisk all ingredients together and let it sit in the fridge for atleast a half hour before using. Use within a week.
Enjoy!

Italian Dressing Mix

 

I love making my own salad dressing! When I make it I always know what's in it. No hidden ingredients! Plus it's so much cheaper. Organic salad dressing can be ridiculously expensive. Not to mention, half the time when I try a new one, everyone HATES it!!! When usually for less than a dollar I can make a cup or two of salad dressing myself. If no one likes, no biggie. I like this Italian dressing mix because I can make up a batch, keep it in a jar, and I always have it ready when I need it. You could also use it for a dry rub on chicken, Mmm! Or fish...or sprinkle over veggies and roast....

Italian Dressing Mix:

2 ts organic garlic powder

2 tb organic dried oregano

1 tb organic dried parsley

1 ts organic dried basil

1/4 ts organic thyme

1/2 ts organic celery seed

1 tb organic onion flakes

1 tb sucanat or organic sugar

1 tb real salt

1/2 ts organic pepper

Mix together and store in an airtight jar.

To make salad dressing:

Combine 2 tb of dry mix with 1/3 cup vinegar (white wine or apple cider) and 2/3 cup olive oil.

Enjoy!

Balsamic Vinaigrette with a touch of sweetness

According to my husband this balsamic vinaigrette is perfect! The kids love it too. It has that great vinaigrette taste with a slight hint of sweetness! Bet this will make you eat more salads!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup organic extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup organic balsamic vinegar
1 ts organic ground mustard
2 cloves organic garlic, pressed, crushed, or diced
Pinch of sea salt
1/4 ts organic ground pepper
1/2 ts raw honey

Whisk or blend all ingredients together and store in a bottle or jar in the fridge.

Greek Salad Dressing

Ingredients:
1 cup red wine vinegar
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
Juice of one lemon
1 TB dried oregano
1 ts sea salt
4 cloves of organic garlic, chopped
Optional: 4 ounces feta, chopped (Separate directions below)

Place all ingredients in a bowl or large measuring cup and whisk. Slowly add the oil while whisking. Let sit for atleast 30 minutes before serving for flavors to mingle. Taste-too tangy for your taste, add some more olive oil, a little at a time. Store in fridge. Fresh garlic in olive oil at room temperature will grow botulism, not good.

Directions with feta. Place all ingredients except oil and feta in a blender. Add oil in a thin stream while mixing at a low speed. Add feta, blend for about 30 seconds. Again, let sit for flavors to mingle, and then store in fridge to avoid the whole botulism thing.

For a quick greek salad while flavors are mingling:
4 handfuls of mixed greens
2 tomatoes, chopped -  or one package of grape tomatoes
1-2 cucumbers,sliced
Half a jar of kalamata olives
1 onion, sliced

Toss all ingredients together with dressing and enjoy!