Ranch dressing/ dip

I love ranch dressing. Never had it until I moved to the states. We don't have it in the UK. Or at least I never saw or heard of it in the almost 25 years that I lived over there. So when I first tried it I fell in love with it and aways try to find recipes that I can use ranch dressing or dip in.

But being me and trying to make as much of my food from scratch when I have time for numerous reason such as I think it's healthier as you know exactly what is in you food and also it tends to be cheaper the more you make from scratch. So when I finally found a ranch dressing /dip recipe I had to give it a try. It quickly become my families favorite ranch dressing in the world. And use it all the time for so many things from sandwiches to main meals. 

So how to make ranch dressing/dip from scratch. I make a ton up and store the dry version in a jar so I can just make up dressing as and when I need it. 

5 Tablespoons dried minced onions

7 Teaspoons parsley flakes

4 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon Garlic powder 

Mix everything in a jar and store. Shake jar before each use to ensure that all ingredients are mixed. 

To make dressing just add 2 tablespoons of mix to 1 cup of mayo and 1 cup of sour cream. 

To make dip add 2 tablespoons of mix to 2 cups of sour cream. 

Always make the dressing and or dip up a few hours before needed so the flavors can blend.   

Group 42 week 3

Group 42 is on hold right now. Not that I'm not wanting to lose weight I am and will always be trying to lead a healthier life, but I've recently been sick again. And so is my family, like on antibiotics sick.

Also and I'm not making excuses right now although I know it does look like that I am, but my depression is getting the best of me. I'm working as hard as I can to deal with current episode and so my diet isn't it's best and I'm just eating what sounds good to me. Which just eating some days can be a battle. So I'm doing what I can to fight my depression. That is enough for me right now without having to count points.

Depression.

I suffer from depression I have done for years, since my teens in fact. There are many ways of dealing with it and there is no one cure.

I just wanted to let people out there know that if you to are suffering with depression you are not alone. And having depression is nothing to be ashamed of. People are always there willing to help you if you need it, just let them know that you need the help and what they can do. Unfortunately we are not mind readers.

I do my best to not let depression win the daily battle but sometimes it happens and it does take over.

Cranberry chicken.

This is one of the easiest recipes ever and I just happened to make it up. And its actually really good.

I tend to go grocery shopping once every two weeks. I make a meal plan and I try to get the most meals I can out one ingredient or try to stretch one meal and freeze leftovers for days when time gets away from me.

So every two weeks I when I shop at Costco I buy a rotisserie chicken. That's $5 and I can get three meals out of it. The day we shop I use one breast and we have chicken and lettuce and have chicken salad.

The next day I throw half the chicken that I've saved  into slow cooker along with some other ingredients and I have this really nice simple dinner.  I tend to serve what I call cranberry chicken with mashed potatoes and a vegetable of some kind but it works well with rice too. 

Cranberry chicken. 

About a 1/3 of a whole chicken. 

One can jelled cranberry sauce

4 Tablespoon of dry onion soup mix. ( I make my own soup mix, but it equals about one packet of the store brought)

So all I do it throw everything into the slow cooker and cook on low for about 4 hours. Just want the cranberry to melt into a sauce and everything to be hot. 

That's it. It really is simple. Even my kid who really doesn't eat meat at all will eat a few bites of this.

Jazzed up tomato soup

My go to meal when I run out of food in my house or when I really don't want to do a big production is grilled cheese and tomato soup. One day I tried jazzing up the soup and it went over well. So the next time you make tomato soup from a can or carton try jazzing it up a bit for a new twist on plain tomato soup and grilled cheese.


Take 2 cups of tomato soup and add

1/4 cup half and half
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
And then add in
2 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese.

Cook thoroughly.

French chicken sandwich

I love to make simple food that tastes great. I love to cook and bake but now I'm a mom I love to spend quality time with my kid more, so fast simple food is always a hit for me. And this French chicken sandwich fits those categories perfectly.

What you need.

1 French bread
Strips of grilled chicken. (I use about 1 chicken breasts worth but also grill up two as it makes a great snack in my house)
Shredded mozzarella,
Ranch dressing ( I use my homemade ranch which is perfect for this.)

Slice the French bread lengthwise and open it up .

Spread ranch dressing all over the bread.

Pace grilled chicken strips over the bread.

Sprinkle on the cheese, wrap in foil and place in oven for about 15 minutes at 350 degrees.


Can serve with a salad if out want.

What's with all the recipes,

I didn't mean for it to happen but I use my blog has sort of in a way filled up with recipes.  Cooking and baking for me is a way of coping a little with my depression. So when I come across recipes that I love I want to share them so that everyone can eat great simple food. Which makes me happy thinking that someone will have a nice dinner tonight because they found a recipe on my blog.

 I have found most of these recipes over the years or they have been given to me by friends or family. I can not remember where most them come from. I have a book of hand written recipes from years of trying things out. I will say that if the recipe is your please tell me so I can credit it to you.

Also I will only post recipes that I have personally tried and liked. That way you will always know that it is a good recipe. I will also tell you any adjustments I make any recipes so that you can make them as well if so desired.  

Life got in the way.

I'm sorry to all my regular readers in the fact that I haven't been updating the blog. Life got the best of me and I've been dealing with a lot of things recently. I am deeply sorry for that.  

Work had been crazy and it's about to get really crazy again, so if I go quite again for a bit I'm sorry. Also if you don't know I suffer from depression. I try very hard every day not to let it get the better of me but sometimes no matter what it just happens. I don't take meds for my depression, as I try to deal with it other ways. But still I lose the fight sometimes. 

I have also been sick. I got a really bad cold which may have been bronchitis again, but didn't go to the doctor so will never know for sure. I hope you guys are still out there and haven't let me.