Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

Ranch dressing is popular type of salad dressing here in America.  It boggles my mind that, on occasion, there are restaurants that don't serve it.   Every time I ask for it and they don't have it, the server tells me that they get asked that a lot.  You'd think the owner would get the hint and get the dressing!! 

Those who love ranch dressing also put it on sandwiches, wings, fries, any fried food you can name. I like mine on my Homemade Chicken Strips with Whiskey BBQ Sauce.  Some Midwesterners are even into dipping their pizza in it!  I, myself, never tried it and never will but to each their own.  

This homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing doesn't use a pre-measured packet and is so simple to make.  Your greatest patience will be practiced waiting as the dressing chills and the flavors mesh in the fridge.  I've given you spice and herb measurements as a guide.  Change it up to suit your taste, it's your dressing!

Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing                       Printable Recipe

5 Tablespoons mayonnaise (I prefer Hellman's Canola)
3 Tablespoons sour cream (can use lite)
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 teaspoon dried dill
1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
2 dashes onion powder
2 dashes salt

Top 10 Recipes of 2015

2015 has drawn to its end and it's always fun to look back and see some of the fan favorites.  Most of them are from this year but a few from last year snuck in. 

I hope you enjoy the look back with me. Click on the title to see the recipe or click on the "pin it" link to go right to Pinterest to re-pin for later!

Lime Cottage Cheese Salad

That's the more technical name I suppose but our family always called it "Cottage cheese Jell-O" and everyone knew what it was.  My great grandma Pearl made this recipe and most times when it was made it was for a holiday meal.  I still enjoy this dish when my mom makes it for Easter or Thanksgiving.

There are many other lime cottage cheese salad recipes floating around that have pineapple, whipped topping, and/or mayonnaise as added ingredients.  In fact I came upon a wild spin off of it on a vintage ad site.  It called for vinegar and grated onion as added ingredients and was set into a round mold.  After the gelatin set, the center was filled with seafood salad. Thanks great grandma for not making it that way!  If you'd like to see the ad with the recipe, scroll on down to the bottom!

Lime Cottage Cheese Salad

3/4 cup boiling water
3 ounce packet of Jell-O gelatin
1 cup ice cubes
24 ounce container of cottage cheese, 2% or whole

Dissolve gelatin with boiling water.

Add one cup of ice cubes and stir just until cool.

There will be some big chunks of ice left.  Fish those out and toss them.

Stir in one container of cottage cheese.

Dump into 9 x 9" baking dish.  Put in fridge to set up.

Lime cheese salad, 1954. Photo by: Via nesbitsvintage.com

Corn Salad

I had this at a potluck and had to hunt down the one who brought this in and get the recipe.  It's fresh and crunchy and you'll find yourself grabbing a second helping.  If you are headed to a party, make this dish.  It's a unique dish so there's a good chance there won't be 2 to 3 other dishes just like it. There is only so much macaroni and potato salads one can eat at a meal. 

It tastes just as good the second day although it loses its corn chip crunch.  Sprinkle on a couple more crushed pieces and you'll be back in corn salad heaven!

Corn Salad                                                                                               Printable Recipe

2 cans yellow kernel corn, drained (or four cups frozen corn, thawed and drained)
1 green bell pepper, diced (approximately 1 cup)
1/2 cup red onion, diced
1 cup mayonnaise
8 ounce block of cheddar cheese, shredded (approximately 2 cups)
Chili cheese flavored Frito-Lay corn chips

Spring Pasta Salad

A local grocery store makes this colorful pasta salad.  My mom found the recipe online but it didn't taste quite like what you can buy from her store so she changed it up to make the flavor right and served it this past weekend.  It's sweet, tangy and gets some crunch from the veggies.  Try this for your next potluck! 

Spring Pasta Salad                                                                         Printable Recipe

10 ounces dry shell shaped pasta*  (GF works too)

1-1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/4 plus 1/3 cup sugar

3-1/2 Tablespoons white vinegar (may need more to taste)

2 cups peeled and thinly sliced cucumber**

1 cup chopped green bell pepper

1/4 cup diced sweet yellow onion

1 cup peeled and thinly sliced carrots
1 cup chopped celery***