Italian Dressing Mix

I wanted to make my Italian Chicken in the Crockpot for dinner yesterday. I didn't have any Italian dressing mix and didn't want to make a trip out to the store for it.

With a little internet search I came across this recipe for the mix using ingredients I already had. Our dinner turned out delicious!

Ingredients:
 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 Tbs onion powder
2 Tbs oregano
1 Tbs dried parsley
1 Tbs Sugar
2 Tbs salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp basil
1/4 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp dried celery leaves or flakes (I substituted 1/4 tsp celery seed)

Instructions:
Mix all ingredients together and store. I used 2 Tbs for a packet of dressing mix.

For Italian Salad Dressing: Mix 2 Tbs of mix with 1/4 C vinegar, 2 Tbs water, and 1/2 to 2/3 cup of oil. Shake well.

1½ teaspoons garlic powder

1 tablespoon onion powder

2 tablespoons oregano, ground or leaves

1 tablespoon dried parsley

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

2 tablespoons salt or substitute

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon ground basil or leaves

¼ teaspoon ground thyme or leaves

½ teaspoon dried celery leaves or flakes

- See more at: http://afewshortcuts.com/2012/01/tide-you-over-tuesday-homemade-italian-dressing-mix/#sthash.MNZdGmhN.dpuf

Ranch Dressing

 

       Just a warning before you make this: YOU WILL NEVER GO BACK. This is amazing homemade ranch dressing. Don't make it unless you want to never be satisfied with the Hidden Valley stuff again. So yummy! Credit goes to my sister Katie for the recipe.

Ingredients:

2 C. Mayo
1 1/4 C. Buttermilk
1/2 TBS onion powder
1/2 TBS Accent (you can omit if you don't have)
1/2 TBS garlic salt
1/2 TBS pepper
1/2 TBS parsley flakes
1/2 tsp onion salt (note that's 1/2 teaspoon!! Don't put too much in or it will be gross)

Directions:

Mix together and enjoy. You can half the recipe if you don't go through ranch dressing very fast.

Quick Alfredo Sauce

Fettuccine Alfredo for dinner tonight. Yum! And with this recipe, ready super quick too! Sometimes I add chicken.

Ingredients:
1 1/4 C chicken broth
4 tsp flour
4 oz cream cheese, cubed
2 Tbs parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp pepper

Directions:
Mix broth and flour in large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in cream cheese, Parmesan, garlic powder, and pepper. Cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly until mixture boils and thickens. Stir in cooked chicken if desired.

Serve with pasta. Makes about 3-4 servings of sauce.

Steak Marinade

I don't make steak very often so I didn't really know what to do with the one I bought. I used this marinade and the steak turned out delicious! It was juicy, tender, and flavorful. It sort of caramelized on the outside too.

This is supposedly a Teriyaki Steak Marinade but it wasn't overwhelmingly teriyaki flavored to me.

Ingredients:
1/3 C soy sauce (I used half soy sauce and half Bragg's Amino sauce)
3 Tbs honey
3 Tbs white wine vinegar
3/4 C vegetable oil
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp garlic powder

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together in a plastic bag. Place steak in bag. Ziploc and let marinate in refrigerator for several hours, preferably overnight. Be sure to flip the meat regularly so each side gets a good soaking. Grill the steaks. Enjoy!

Sweet and Sour Sauce

Sorry, no picture this time. This is a quick sweet and sour sauce I made to pour over some leftover rice and chicken. Made a good Chinese meal. I have also heard sweet and sour sauce is good over meatballs.

Ingredients:
Juice from a medium can of pineapples (15.25 oz)
1/4 C ketchup
1/4 C brown sugar
1/4 C rice wine vinegar
1 1/2 Tbs cornstarch
1/2 tsp garlic
1/4 tsp mustard powder
1 Tbs Worcestershire Sauce
1/2 tsp ground ginger

Directions:
Mix all ingredients. Heat in a saucepan, stirring until thickened. Make sure to cook until thick or the sauce will taste like cornstarch. Serve over chicken and rice.