Simple Ranch Dressing

I thought I should post my simple recipe for a vegan, msg-free Ranch Dressing. It is popular at potlucks. I don't think most people know that their not eating something homemade, without Vegenaise or something like that.

Simple Ranch Dressing
by Barbara Frohne
www.wildflowermorningrecipes.blogspot.com

1 cup raw, unsalted cashews
1 cup water
juice from one fresh lime or 1/2 of a fresh lemon
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder

Blend until very smooth.

Once smooth add and mix quickly
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried dill weed

Place in a little dish and serve with a yummy green salad or on potatoes or on beans.

Sensational Salads and Ranch Dressing

For the salad, never settle for a just lettuce and a few token tomatoes. Salad can be so pretty! Make it one of the most beautiful things on the table.

I almost always use romaine lettus, sliced or torn thinly. This salad contains:
tomato
yellow and red pepper
cucumber,
sweet salad onions (use green onions)
slivered red cabage
grated carrot

The salad dressing is out of Tami Benton's cookbook, Pure and Simple. Her recipe is a good place to start. I make about the same thing most days, but I find I vary the amount of seasons to my taste and desires that day. I've had many people get so excited about how yummy this kind of dressing is. And I have to say it is easy to make, you just have to have a good blender.

Ranch Dressing
by Tami A. Benton

1 cup raw cashews
1 t salt
1 T onion powder
1 T garlic powder
1/4 t thyme
1/4 t rosemary
1/4 t basil
1 T fresh lemon or lime juice
1 cup water
1 T dill (after blending)

Put all the ingredients except dill in the blender and blend until very smooth. At the end add the 1 T dill and stir in or pulse blender just once or twice on a slow speed.

My notes: Experiment with the amount of seasonings. You are competing with the flavor enhancer MSG when you serve homemade ranch dressing, so it helps to put in a lot of herbal flavor. I usually put in only about 1 t garlic powder and 2 t onion powder and I usually add more basil, maybe 1 t. I also like to add 1 t of ground mustard powder. And because my kids aren't crazy about that much dill, I add only about half of what is in the recipe. But I have to say that any variation is good. Fresh herbs are also wonderful, if you have some out in your garden, put some in. Add more water if you want it more pourable. Figure out what works well for your family.

Wowy Zowy Almond Ginger Dressing

Wowy Zowy Almond Ginger Dressing
Barbara Frohne
www.wildflowermorningrecipes.blogspot.com

3/4 cup raw almonds
1 cup water
the juice of one fresh lemon (the bottled stuff isn't near as good, really)
1/2 to 1 t. salt
2 t honey or other sweetener (optional)
1 large clove raw garlic
1/4 cup raw onion or about 1 T onion powder
1 TBSP fresh ginger (powdered won't work)

Put this into your Vita Mix or food processor and blend until smooth.

Note: About the ginger. Buy a piece at the supermarket. Wash it carefully. Cut off any bad spots. Then cut it into little chunks. Yes, leave the skin on. There is nothing wrong with it and you won't know it is there when it is blended up. Put the ginger in a little bag and throw them in the freezer. Then when you are ready for dressing, pull out what looks to be about 1 TBSP and blend it up. Exact amounts aren't that important. You will always have ginger ready, and won't have any rotting in the back of the fridge.

Cashew Ranch Dressing

Mama Bee's Famous Cashew Ranch Dressing
www.wildflowermorningrecipes.blogspot.com

1 cup raw cashews
1 cup water
the juice from one lime
1 Tablespoon onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dill weed

Blend the first 6 ingredients until very smooth. At the end add the basil and dill and pulse quickly just to mix. Serve with salad.