THE RANCH DRESSING COLLECTION

Having raised four children I know that when they're young, they don't enjoy olive oil based dressings. So start a child loving salad with RANCH DRESSING. Later, when salad always makes them happy, start with Oil, lemon dressings, (My favorite additions for any and all salads are pine nuts, toasted, anchovy paste out of a tube, a lot of it, like a tsp minimum, with the garlic and small part of the avocado  mashed into it to thin it down, ready it to become part of the emulsion. WORCESTSHIRE SAUCE (which is a rotten fish sauce,) also should go into dressing and sliced onions. The best salad is garnished with pitted black Greek olives. But again, all that's for salad aficionados. THE BEGINNER's CIRCLE entails making rich RANCH DRESSING.

AVOCADO RANCH DRESSING

    * 1/4 cup ripe avocado
    * 1/4 cup mayonnaise
    * 1/4 cup sour cream
    * 1 tablespoon buttermilk
    * 1 1/2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar
    * 1/8 teaspoon salt
    * 1/8 teaspoon dried parsley
    * 1 pinch dried dill weed
    * 1/8 teaspoon onion powder
    * 1 pinch garlic powder

SALLY JANE'S RANCH
1 clove garlic, mashed with
3 pinches salt.
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon chives, snipped
salt and pepper

PARMESAN RANCH
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon minced dried onion
1 clove garlic -- minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
 

LOW FAT RANCH DRESSING (Only for seriously sick folks)
    * 4 teaspoons olive or vegetable oil
    * 2 teaspoons cider vinegar
    * 2 teaspoons sugar replacement, healthfood store has cane sugar juice and stevia.
    * 1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
    * 3/4 cup buttermilk
    * 3 tablespoons nonfat plain yogurt
    * 2 tablespoons fat-free mayonnaise
    * 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
    * 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
    * 1 garlic clove, minced

GREEN GODDESS DRESSING

1/2 c. lowfat plain yogurt
1/4 c. mayonnaise
1/4 c. chopped parsley leaves
1 tbsp. white wine vinegar
1 tbsp. grated onion
1 tbsp. drained chopped capers, optional
1 tbsp. chopped chives
1/2 tsp. crumbled dried leaf tarragon

Whisk together yogurt, mayonnaise, parsley, vinegar, onion, capers if using, chives and tarragon in small bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

GREEN GODDESS TOFU DRESSING

1/2 lb. tofu, mashed
1/4 c. olive oil
1/2 tbsp. dry chives
1/4 c. fresh parsley
2 tbsp. vinegar
1 tsp. onion powder
1/8 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. salt

ASIAN DRESSING
Peanut-Sesame Dressing

    2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
    1/3 cup brown rice vinegar
    1/4 cup maple syrup
    3 tablespoons water
    2 tablespoons tamari
    1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger
    2 cloves garlic
    1 1/2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
    1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
    1 cup lightly packed fresh cilantro leaves
     LIGHT TOFU, can be subbed for peanut butter or half of both
 

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