Delicious Recipes with Ranch Dressing

I was recently thinking about my favorite meal....

Roast beef, cooked with taters, onions, carrots and cabbage - and how I love eating it with ranch dressing poured over everything.  I use ranch dressing in my kitchen often and thought maybe I could inspire you to try it in a new dish or two.

I have purchased a 16-oz. plastic container of dry dressing mix, because I do like using more than the recipes call for....

My friend Sandy has these ready-to-serve in her kitchen all the time.

RANCH PRETZELS

2# mini pretzels

1 (12 oz) bottle Orville Redenbacher butter-flavored oil

1 pkt. (1 oz) ranch dressing mix, dry

Place pretzels in large 2 gal. ziploc bag (or I use a 13 gallon garbage bag - unused of course) and pour oil over. Shake bag to cover pretzels evenly with oil - sprinkle dressing mix over and shake again until mixed well. Let set overnight - keep in a sealed container. These are very tasty. Even folks who don't like pretzels have asked for the recipe. I've given these as gifts many times also.

Tips to Help Manage Your Household

I have always enjoyed sharing tips to make life easier in your home.

Hope these help make an improved difference in your life...

My favorite tip has always been.... place a cup of water - along with about 2 T. lemon juice - in a glass cup and microwave for atleast 5 minutes. Keep the door shut - the steam will moisten the splatters, and you should be able to easily wipe it clean. Your microwave will smell lemony fresh.

When using your hand mixer - place your bowl in the sink to mix. The splatters in the sink are much easier to clean than to have them all over
your cupboard and counter.

Tips to Help Manage Your Household

I have always enjoyed sharing tips to make life easier in your home.

Hope these help make an improved difference in your life...

My favorite tip has always been.... place a cup of water - along with about 2 T. lemon juice - in a glass cup and microwave for atleast 5 minutes.  Keep the door shut - the steam will moisten the splatters, and you should be able to easily wipe  it clean.   Your microwave will smell lemony fresh.

When using your hand mixer - place your bowl in the sink to mix.  The splatters in the sink are much easier to clean than to have them all over
your cupboard and counter.

Ziploc Omelets

We had these omelets for a family brunch not long ago and they were such a hit! They'd be the perfect breakfast for your next camping trip!

Ziploc Omelets

This works great! It's good for when you're alone or all your family is together, and can be enjoyed over an open fire cookout.

Have your guests write their names on a quart size ziploc FREEZER bag with a permanent marker. Crack 2 eggs into the bag (not more than 2). Mash with your hands

.

Put out a variety of ingredients such as: ham, prepared bacon, onions, cheeses, tomatoes, hash browns, salsa, etc.

Each guest adds prepared ingredients of their choice to their bag and mix well with your hand.

Make sure you get all the air out of the bag and zip it up.

Place the bags into rollling, boiling water for exactly 13 minutes. (Pan needs to be deep enough so bags are floating, and not touching bottom of pan) You can cook 6 - 8 omelets at once in a large pot. If you are fixing more omelets - make another pot of boiling water.

Open the bags and the omelet will roll out easily. Be prepared for fun and everyone to be amazed.

As a Bonus - Taste of Home offers this great Summer Camping Guide for your next camping trip!

I'm Just a Flag Waving American

What a glorious 4th of July! Trust your celebration of our nation's birthday was as filled with patriotism as mine was.

We attended the parade in the little town close to where I grew up. It's just a 'podunk' kind of town, but many years ago, one of my mom's friends began a July 4th celebration by having the town kids decorate their bicycles, and it has grown into the largest parade in our county. It was an hour and 15 minutes long! Every town in our county is represented with fire engines, rescue vehicles, tractors, old vehicles, horses, the local school band, and kids on bikes.

Cars were lined up for over half a mile in several directions outside of town...amazing! Folks from all over the county come to be a part of this special celebration!

My favorite part was when the (first) flag was brought through at the front of the parade, everyone stood, put their hands over their hearts, and pledged allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. Hundreds and hundreds of us at once!

It sure did make me proud to be an American...one from a hometown where it's a good thing to show our patriotism!!

Just gotta love these Small Towns of the good ole USA!

May God bless you and may God bless America!

photo credit: Dru Brumfield