Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix

We've already found a good substitute for the guacamole seasoning packet.  Are you ready to ditch another packet?  Let's replace that packet of dry Ranch dressing!  I even did all the hard work for you and tried lots of different spice mixes.  This one is it.  I promise.  It's the best one I've found.  It tastes very similar to what you get out of a Hidden Valley packet (or a Meijer brand one, for that matter).  

Perfect Guacamole

(This recipe is posted in conjunction with April's theme, Spring Clean Your Eating Habits.  It's also posted in conjunction with the 4/14/13 Meijer ad, where you can find avocados on sale!)

My family eats a LOT of guacamole.  Everyone loves it, even the 3-year-old.  Case in point:  tonight, she didn't want to eat her rice, but when I suggested that she mix some "guac" into her rice, she was all over that...and the rice was gone in two minutes.  I used to make guacamole by smashing up two avocados with a packet of guacamole spice mix.  (And admittedly, sometimes I still do.)  And we loved it.  But since we're trying to consume less processed foods, I figured I could do better.  Because that spice packet doesn't just have spices in it...it also has "corn maltodextrin" and "corn syrup solids".  Sigh.

Light(er) Apple Dip

(This recipe is posted as part of Cooking Up a Sale's April series, Spring Clean Your Eating Habits.  If you'd like to read more on this topic, you can click over to the Monthly Themes page to find the rest of the articles in this series.)

I have never been a big fan of apples and peanut butter, but I really enjoy this apple dip...and so do the kids!  It's super tasty and creamy, and can be stirred up in less than a minute.  Greek yogurt is the base of this dip, so it's lighter than other fruit dips I've made before that use cream cheese and/or Cool Whip.  It's so yummy, you might want to just forget the apples and grab a spoon!  But then again, that would kind of defeat the purpose of a healthy snack, wouldn't it?

Pesto-Stuffed Tomato Bites

(This recipe was originally posted in conjunction with the Meijer Ad week of 1/6/13 - 1/12/13)

These appetizers pack a lot of flavor into a single bite!  I'm not gonna lie, they take awhile to put together...but the recipe makes a lot of tomato bites, and their amazing taste makes them worth the effort.

Garbage Bag Snack Mix

 

(This recipe was first posted in conjunction with the Meijer ad week of 12/16/12 - 12/24/12)

This recipe makes such a huge batch of snack mix that you literally have to mix it up in a garbage bag!  It comes together pretty fast, because unlike traditional Chex Mix, it doesn't have to be baked.  I like to make it around Christmas time because I can give it as gifts, as well as have some left to bring to holiday gatherings.  The total cost to make this mix might give you sticker shock, but it makes such a large quantity that it ends up being a fairly economical Christmas treat...or a great summer pool-time snack.  Worried about such a large batch staying fresh?  This mix can be frozen!

Cheese and Bacon Potato Rounds

[This recipe was originally posted in conjunction with the Meijer ad week of 10/28/12 - 11/3/12]

These bite-sized appetizers have the chewy texture and all the flavor of potato skins...without all the work!  The classic toppings of bacon, green onion, and cheese combine to create an easy and delicious treat. 

Oyster Snacks

(This recipe was originally posted in conjunction with August's theme, Snacks from Scratch.)

These little bites of deliciousness take only a few minutes to prepare, and are a healthy(ier) substitute for potato chips.  You can also use them as salad croutons, or in soup.  (I'm thinking they would really amp up the flavor of a bowl of tomato soup!)  Oh, and they give you really great breath!

Appetizer Pizza

(This recipe was first posted in conjunction with the Meijer Ad 6/17/12 - 6/23/12)

This pizza is a nice change of pace from traditional pepperoni or supreme.  It can be served as an entree, but the flavor is extremely rich, so I cut it into strips and serve it as an appetizer.

Bacon Ranch Dip

(This recipe was first posted in conjunctino with the Meijer Ad Week of 5/13/12 - 5/19/12)

This super easy dip comes together in less than 5 minutes!  It's delicious served with crackers or pretzels (or Flipsides "pretzel-crackers").

Bacon-Wrapped Sausage Appetizers

(This recipe was first posted in conjunction with Meijer Ad Week 3/11/12 - 3/17/12)

Three ingredients are all you'll need to create these mouth-watering appetizers! 

Basic Cracker Dip

(This recipe was first posted in conjunction with the Meijer Ad Week of 1/28/12-2/4/12)

This recipe uses only basic ingredients, but it's full of flavor.