Master Mixes (revisited) Ranch Dressing (More Important than ever! Food Allergies)

As mentioned in a previous post our family is being impacted with more and more allergies or food intolerance issues.  I used to faithfully make my own mixes because I knew exactly what was in them and there were no extra additives etc.  As my family grew and life became hectic I used prepackaged mixes more and more.  I have once again come full circle and am making and using my own mixes.  Some of the ingredients have to be altered a little bit here and there but all in all I will be making my own mixes once again to meet the needs of a much larger extended family. 

 

Because we now have tree nut allergies, dairy allergies, tomato and avocado allergies, gluten intolerance, diabetes, and high blood pressure to contend with it makes life a little challenging. Some of these have been with us for a few years but others have come to the front in the last two especially.  I certainly have become a label reader more than I have ever before in my life.  For pot luck meals with extended family we are having to have families make sure that particular details are taken care of in order to meet specific needs.  With mixes I can alter salt content or gluten by using a different product than in the past.  But there is nothing that sneaks in that might be harmful to one of my loved ones.  In addition I know exactly when they were made and how long the shelf life is. 

 

Making mixes in bulk saves on time and clean up.  With the mixes that might need adjustment for gluten some of the ingredients have to be added at the time of preparation, I include that step on the instructions. For example the bouillon used to be dry and could be added all at one time, now the beef replacement has to be refrigerated so it is added to the rest of the dry ingredients at the time of use.

Obviously the Ranch Dressing does not meet the dairy free requirement but it fits into all of the other dietary needs in the family.  I love this recipe and am not sure why I stopped making it in the first place.  Our little dippers love it as much as the bottled kind and some of my girls like it even more. 
This is a copy cat of Mo's Ranch Dressing.

Ranch Dressing                                                            

1/4 t. garlic powder                                                     

1 t. onion powder                                                         
1 t. dried minced onion                                          
1 t. salt                                                                 
1T. dried parsley

1/4 t. ground pepper

1/2 c. buttermilk powder

2 c. mayonnaise

1 c. water

Mix all of the dry ingredients, except the buttermilk powder, and place in a plastic bag and seal tightly.  Place mixes in a plastic container with a good seal to store.  To make a mix up add the dry ingredients to the buttermilk powder, the mayonnaise and water and mix well, chill before serving.

One of my favorite uses of the Ranch Dressing is in the bottom right picture above.  An avocado with mini shrimp and the dressing similar to a salad at Mo's in Newport Oregon which the Gourmet Guy and I love. (Obviously this particular use is not an option to those who can't eat avocado and who won't eat shrimp!)