D is for DillyBeans.

http://www.bethsfarmkitchen.com/

Since I'm writing on a blog... you already know I'm more clever and more experienced, not to mention happier, thinner, more beautiful, with the smartest mostest beautiful and naturally athletic children anywhere, ever... did I mention that I am a fantaaaaaasstic home chef and there is so much money coming in the front door that we are vacuuming it up, mopping it up and whipping up crafts with the green stuff?! Well, actually, that is all true, but after we give bunches of money to an array of charitable causes, we have just enough (left over) to splurge on Beth's Dilly Beans. They are available at farmer's markets in NYC and they can be ordered and shipped.

I know C loves me because he only eats these WITH me. Not a big fan of strong foods, I do like them once in a while, whereas he LOVES them ALL the time. Then, on the fifth full moon of the year, when I'm in the mood for DILLY BEANS they are GONE! Well, they used to be. Yesternight C declared he'd only eat them with me. Ahhh shucks.

Is it coincidence that I just found Beth's Farm Kitchen catalog today in my pile of papers? I'm trying to go though at least 5 at a time... and also a few random saved blog pictures ...

Ranch Dressing.

N doesn't eat anything unless it has a cartoon character on the plasticcrap that it is sold in. This drives me nuts. The junkier the better. He is pretty thin since I don't buy a lot of that stuff. He is banished from the dinner table to eat alone at the counter (OFTEN) because I can't stand his little sneers about the HOMEMADE, FROM SCRATCH, GOOD & GOOD LOOKING food I make.

He doesn't eat fruit or vegetables... ever. He told me he'd eat carrots in his lunch if I sent Ranch Dressing with them. I really pretty much hate Ranch dressing; like salsa it is Everywhere. I mean it is at restaurants, at home, at every meal, on every plate, left on every counter, smeared on every corner of the sink. Most importantly it makes everything look and taste the same. Unlike the ubquitous salsa it doesn't look like vomit left in the sink! (Ugh.) -- It looks like bird deposits.

Bottled salad dressing is just silly. It is full of chemicals and sugar and salt and goo that is completely unnecessary. On occasion I buy it and am usually disappointed. Salad dressing is the EASIEST thing in the world to make. My folks used to buy Trader Vic's vinaigrette but that isn't on the market these days, and probably never has been in Utah.

I made the following Ranch Dressing and everyone loved it. LOVED it. Everyone, Except for N.
I used buttermilk, lite mayonnaise and lite sour cream. I found it at http://allrecipies.com/
It was submitted by Dawnia. (Thanks!)

INGREDIENTS
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon dried chives
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, chives, parsley, dill, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.