ISO: Your Great Recipe for Blue Cheese and/or Ranch Dressing

[Deanna]

I've been on a quest lately to find the BEST blue cheese and ranch dressings.

Please post your favorite (tried and true only!) recipes here. I've searced the internet and have downloaded a bejillion recipes to try, so only post those you KNOW are great and I'll start from there!

Thanks in advance for your help!

[NydiaC]

My favorite ranch dressing is called Discovered Valley Ranch Mix. It came from a cookbook with "Texas" in the title. Unfortunately I can't remember the title of the cookbook or the author (my mother-in-law copied the recipe for me). Here is the original recipe; however, I really recommend cutting the salt and msg in half, otherwise it's VERY salty tasting.

1 tsp salt
2 tsp monosodium glutamate
2 tsp parsley
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp onion powder
1 cup real mayonaise
1 cup buttermilk

To lighten it, I use reduced fat buttermilk and lite mayo. It's GREAT!

[Deanna]

Thanks Nydia, I'll give this one a try.

Guess I'm an odd bird...looking for blue cheese or ranch dressing. Looks like nobody else makes their own!

[Vanessa]

Hi Deanna. Have you tried Naturally Fresh LIGHT Ranch dressing? My husband does not like ranch but will eat this one. I also use Hidden Valley envelopes and use 1% milk and low fat mayo.

[Deanna]

Thanks for the suggestion, Vanessa, I'll give both of those a try, too. In the past I've tried HVR Light (Reduced Fat) which was a tad better than the NON FAT which was AWFUL.

Just thought I could make something with a fresher taste if I made it myself. I'll give your suggestions a try. Thanks!

[Grace]

Hi Deanna,

I have a "best - tried and true" buttermilk and chive dressing that's wonderful - I got it out of I think Shape Magazine several years ago. I just checked my computer software though (where I thought I had the recipe) and it wasn't there, so if you're interested, I'll look around for it and post it. But in the meantime, I did find one for Blue Cheese Dressing that CL had in a 1993 issue - I'll go ahead and post it now, but it's not one I've tried before (although I think I will!!). Hope it helps you out...


CookWare(tm) from Cooking Light(r)

Blue Cheese Dressing

SOURCE: Cooking Light YEAR: Mar/Apr PAGE: 90

INGREDIENTS FOR 24 SERVINGS:
1 (8-ounce) carton plain low-fat yogurt
3/4 cup nonfat buttermilk
1/2 cup (2-ounces) crumbled blue cheese
1 teaspoon cider vinegar
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 small clove garlic, crushed

INSTRUCTIONS:
Spoon yogurt onto several layers of heavy-duty paper towels. Spread to
1/2-inch thickness. Cover with additional paper towels; let stand 5 minutes.
Scrape into a small bowl, using a rubber spatula. Add buttermilk and
remaining ingredients; stir well. Cover and chill. Serve over mixed salad
greens. yield: 1-1/2 cups (serving size: 1 tablespoon).

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:
CALORIES 17 (42% from fat) / PROTEIN 1.3g / FAT 0.8g (SAT 0.6g, MONO 0.2g,
POLY 0g) / CARB 1.2g / FIBER 0g / CHOL 3mg / IRON 0mg / SODIUM 60mg / CALCIUM
39mg

[This message has been edited by Grace (edited 06-20-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Grace (edited 06-20-2000).]

[Annette]

Hands down, the best ranch dressing that I've ever had is the "Uncle Dans" that you buy at the supermarket in a packet. You add the sour cream and mayo so you could use FF or reduced fat for those things. As for the bleu cheese, I can't help you there. I'm not a bleu fan, though "Lighthouse" makes an excellent Roquefort.

[Grace]