Something I really enjoy about cooking is that fact that it opens me up to all kinds of new things. Whether it’s trying a new ingredient or learning a new method of cooking, I find that there is always something new to discover. And something I continually learn is that some foods you can make at home and they don’t only come from the store.That might sound like an idiotic thing to say, but hear me out. There are some foods like Oreos, Twix, or Cheez-Its that only seem to exist in the grocery store and I never consider that I could actually make them at home until I go on Pinterest and see how awesome and creative some people can be.

And that’s what brings me to ranch dressing. Last week when I made the Siracha roasted cauliflower, I thought about ranch dressing because it’s my favorite dressing to have with wings and other hot foods. And then I thought, “could I make that?” Because in my mind ranch dressing only comes in a Hidden Valley bottle from the store. When I told my friend Abi that I was making ranch dressing she said, “what’s even in ranch dressing?” My thoughts exactly. As far as I knew, ranch dressing is a delicious mystery.

So, I hit the internet and there are tons of recipes out there! It’s not so hard to make, but there is a lot going on in such a simple dressing. There are so many herbs and spices! To be quite honest, making ranch dressing is really personal because there are so many ways you can fiddle with it to make it exactly to your taste. You can make it sweeter, tangier, and if you wanted even a little bit spicy.

As I was making it, I kept trying to make mine like the bottle. This was especially tricky given that I was working from memory and not comparing it to actual bottle dressing. I came to a point where I liked it well enough, but it didn’t seem perfectly like the bottle. I asked Ryan to taste it and he said:

“It tastes like it at the beginning in the end, but in the middle it has more… pop.”

Then I asked him to compare it to the bottle. And he said…better! Well, that was good enough for me. Job done! My version tastes like ranch dressing but is less sweet, has a bit more complexity, and suits the tastes of my household – but most importantly isn’t the point of home cooking to be better than mass market stuff? I think so. So impress your guests the next time you put out a vegetable spread and show them it is possible to make delicious – and better – ranch dressing.

Recipe adapted from Ree Drummond. I’ve adapted it from her, please adapt it from me. Serioiusly. Start with the basics of mayo and sour cream. If you don’t like garlic, use just one clove. If you love chives, add a bunch. Start with a little and then work your way up to reach your desired consistency. If you find you’ve made it too tangy (maybe too much butter milk or sour cream) then add more sweetness with the Worcestershire sauce. If you find you’ve made it too sweet, add more salt, or spice like the paprika or mustard. You can make your perfect ranch dressing. Just trust yourself and you can do it.

Messy level: One spoon. The method for this is mixing all the ingredients, tasting, then adjusting. The only dishes you’ll make will come from when you have to chop the herbs – and a knife and a cutting board are hardly messy burdens.

Ranch Dressing

 

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Ingredients

• 2 cloves garlic
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup mayonnaise
• ½ cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley leaves
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh dill
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh chives
• 1½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ½ teaspoon white vinegar
• pinch paprika
• ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
• ¼ - ⅓ cup buttermilk (add until desired consistency is reached)

Instructions

1. Either, mince the garlic very finely or use a grater to grate the garlic.
2. Put the garlic in a medium bowl and mix in the salt. Mix the garlic and salt together until you have a garlic paste.
3. Add the mayonnaise and sour cream to the garlic paste. Mix thoroughly so the garlic is spread throughout.
4. Now stir in the parsley, dill, chives, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, vinegar, paprika, and mustard.
5. Pour in a little bit of buttermilk. Keep adding until you have your desired consistency. I did just ¼ cup because I wanted it to be thick, and just barely pourable.
6. Taste! Adjust as you see fit. See my notes above about taste. For more info on that you can also go here
7. Now serve either with raw veggies, hot wings, or over your favorite salad.

3.2.2925

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I don’t know how often you make dip, but you should stop everything and make this cheddar ranch dip right now. For real. Right. Now.  Ok, maybe not right now. Maybe this weekend. But definitely make it this weekend. I’m kind of crazy about this recipe. I’ve been in love with it for about twenty years.

Seriously, it’s no joke. Let’s estimate that I was ten-years-old. It all happened in Binghamton, NY where my Uncle Jose and Titi Lisa used to live. And they lived near a Wegman’s. This was before Wegman’s was everywhere – when it was pretty much only in New York. So going to visit a beautiful Wegman’s was a real treat. 

Every time we went to visit them they had cheddar ranch drip from Wegman’s. I think the first time it was luck. Every time after, they bought it because it was my favorite. When we’d arrive at their house I’d give the kiss hello and then be aching to run to the fridge. When would it be time to devour that tub of cheddar ranch dip (along with a box of Wheat Thins)?!

Eventually Wegman’s opened near my childhood home in Baltimore. But they never had my cheddar ranch dip. Oh sure, they had dips. They had chipotle ranch, or cheddar vegetable, but never my cheddar ranch.

Somehow, I managed to grow up and move on and not worry too much about dip. And then one day, Ryan and I were in Connecticut at a Labor Day barbecue, and a friend brought cheddar ranch dip. I took a bite, and was transported back to being ten years old visiting my family. I got the gist of recipe and went home excited.

And now, here it is for you. It’s flipping delicious and so easy to make. It’s the perfect snack for watching football or bringing to a party. Easy, inexpensive, and sure to please. One note: buy ranch seasoning. If you use ranch dressing then cut way back on the beer (or don’t use it) because the dip will be far too runny.

Messy level:  One spoon. It’s all about mixing everything into one bowl. Couldn’t be easier!

Cheddar Ranch Dip

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Total time

10 mins

 

Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 8 oz/ 227 grams cream cheese
• 1- 1.5 cup/ 110-170 grams shredded cheddar cheese
• ¼ -1/2/ 60-120 ml cup beer
• 4 teaspoons ranch seasoning
• 1 scallion, thinly sliced
• pepper (to taste)

Instructions

1. In a large bowl mix together the cream cheese, 1 cup of cheese, ¼ cup of beer, ranch seasoning, scallion, and pepper.
2. Mix thoroughly then taste. Add more cheese if you like. Add more beer if you'd like it thinner.
3. Top with a little more pepper and scallions to taste.

3.5.3226

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I think the website is hilarious. I feel like if my college friends and I had a cooking show, it would be like Thug Kitchen. Probably less cursing, but the same idea that you’re awesome, what you’re making is awesome, and not to take it all too seriously. Anyway, today’s recipe comes from him.

When I found this recipe I was excited because I thought it would be something both Ryan and I would like. I want to have more meatless dinners, but it’s got to be satisfying and delicious for both me and Ryan. This seemed perfect because chickpeas are filling, there’s vegetables in the falafel, and the buffalo sauce is really flavorful and delicious. Also, Ryan and I were recently in Charlottesville, VA and ate at One Meatball Place and I loved their special buffalo chicken meatball. It was so juicy and amazing and I was eager to try something similar again soon.

Suffice it to say, I was inspired and Ryan and I were going to have buffalo falafel for dinner! I really liked it and had the leftovers for lunch for the next two days. It was spicy, flavorful, and I’ll call it “healthy” since there’s cauliflower in it. And as a broad generalization, I think it’s a good balance of foods girls like and foods boys like. I recommend eating it on pita bread or over lettuce and drizzled with ranch dressing.

If you don’t like spicy, you could still make the falafel and pair it with your favorite sauce. This sauce is great though, and I’d use it on chicken wings or any other meal where you’d like to add a kick.

Ingredients: 

Falafel:

1 15oz can of chickpeas, drained

1/3 of pound cauliflower

1/4 cup diced onion

2 gloves garlic, finely chopped

1 tsp olive oil

1/2 tsp all-purpose seasoning

2 tbsp bread crumbs

Buffalo Sauce:

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp flour

1 cup cayenne based hot sauce

1/4 cup water

1 tbsp vinegar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Grease a baking sheet

2. Using a food processor, chop up the cauliflower until it’s in tiny pieces.

3. In a bowl, mash the chickpeas until fairly smooth. You can leave some chunks, but you want it to be smooth enough so you can form chickpea balls.

4. Add the cauliflower, garlic, onion, oil, seasoning, and bread crumbs to the chickpea paste. Mix.

5. Form the mix into balls. It will make a little more than a dozen.

6. Put the balls on a baking sheet. Cook for 12 minutes, flip, then cook for 12 more minutes. They should be lightly brown on the outside.

7. While the balls are baking, start on the sauce. In a saucepan, heat oil

8. Add flour to oil. Stir continuously until it is golden. This takes about 3-4 minutes. Don’t let it boil.

9. Add half the hot sauce and mix. It should thicken up.

10. Add the rest of the hot sauce, water, and vinegar. Mix until smooth. It will smell spicy!!

11. After the falafels are done baking, pour buffalo sauce on top of them and bake for another 5 minutes. It’s less messy if you gather the balls on your baking sheet, then pour the sauce on them.

12. Serve and eat!

Messy level: I give this two spoons. It’s pretty self contained and there’s nothing that really splatters. I think it’s important to really grease the baking sheet well. I had a hard time flipping the balls over and so it made clean up a little more challenging.

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