Delicious Homemade Ranch Dressing Dry Mix

Here is a quick and easy substitute for Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing dry mix you can make at home in about 5 minutes. This is handy to always have on hand for a quick dressing or dip.

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup powdered milk
1/3 cup of dried parsley
1 tablespoon dried dill weed
2 tablespoons garlic powder
3 tablespoons onion powder
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon salt

DIRECTIONS:
Mix all ingredients together with a fork until blended.

You can store the dry ingredients in an airtight container in the freezer for up to a year, or in refrigerator for up to 3 months.

TO MAKE RANCH DRESSING:
Combine 1 tablespoon of seasoning mix with 1/3 cup mayonnaise and 1/3 cup of buttermilk, and whisk to combine. You can also substitute plain yogurt for the mayo.

If you don’t have buttermilk, you can use regular milk with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice or white vinegar. Mix well and let stand 5 minutes before using.

Note: 2 tablespoons of this dry mix is the equivalent of one package of store bought mix.

Salad Dressing

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Taco Mac & Cheese

When my boys were small, and money was tight, we ate our fair share of "Hamburger Helper" as it got closer to payday. These comfort foods are still a treat now and then, but instead of buying a mix of who knows what chemicals, I make my own from scratch.

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1 onion
1 clove garlic
1 tbs taco seasoning --- Click on link for recipe.
3/4 cup picante sauce (mild, medium, or hot, according to your preference)

1½ cups milk
¾ cup cream cheese
½ cup sour cream
2 cups grated Mexican 4-cheese blend

1 lb. dry pasta shells (you can use elbow macaroni, penne pasta, or whatever you have on hand)

1 tablespoon of chopped cilantro

Directions:
Cook pasta until al dente and drain.

Cook meat and onions together and drain grease. Stir in taco seasoning and simmer for another minute. Add minced garlic and picante sauce, and cook another minute or two. Set aside.

In a saucepan, melt cream cheese and sour cream with milk, then add the grated cheese and stir over low heat until everything is melted.

Add meat and melted cheeses to pasta, mix well, top with cilantro and serve.

Yield: 6 generous servings

Pasta

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