high desert homemaking

A quick recipe you’ll love

An easy solution for a quick snack

Just the other day our family decided to dip out for a day hike. We do this often and we are rarely prepared with ready to pack snacks to take with us. It’s either we don’t have bread for sandwiches or we ran out of cheese or there isn’t any fruit. So, I’ve come up with a few easy go-to’s for a day trip lunch.

Our pantry usually has peanut butter, jam or jelly, and some type of bread product. The PB&J vehicle along with some cheese, apples, and veggies with ranch dip will make a perfectly good snack for our family.

The “Out of Sight Gully”

In the interest of “health” I try to avoid seasoning packages. You know the ones, chili seasoning or pot roast mix and of course THE ranch mix. It’s a staple in some homes. It was a treat when I was a kid. Sometimes I get the hankerin’ for a wavy potato chip smothered in ranch dip. You live and learn. The more you look into the ingredients, you will notice something. The good ol’ stuff really is not that good for you. Sometimes we all just need a copycat recipe of a long time pantry staple.

A word on Sour Cream

Yum. I love sour cream. In the same vein as the “living and learning” with the ranch packets, reading the label on sour cream might surprise you too. Sour cream is cultured cream, just like yogurt using different cultures. So one might expect the ingredients to be cream, enzymes, cultures- normal, readable things. However, because of consistency some brands are adding in less than desirable ingredients. Dextrose, carrageenan, gums, modified corn starch- you do not need these things in sour cream. Long story short, read the label, get the good stuff.

Recipe

• 1 C Sour Cream
• 1 tsp granulated garlic
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• pepper to taste

Method

Combine all ingredients serve with your favorite veggies or chips.

Consider adding a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkle of dill to make a tangy and fresh dip!

Enjoy!