For the most part, I’m pretty good at actually DOING the things on Pinterest that I pin. I say pretty good… What I really mean is that I’ve actually done/replicated/tried about 14% of my pins, but I think that’s a lot more than some people. There are days win I get in pin, pin, pin, pin mode and don’t actually do, but that’s more of a rarity. High-fives for me!
One thing that bothers me with Pinterest is the amount of pins I see suggesting healthy food substitutions. Listen, I understand you want to eat healthy. Great. High-fives to you too. But seriously. Stop posting recipes of things like ‘healthy chocolate chip cookie dough balls’. You see, when I find a pin like this, my heart skips a beat because I love anything sweet that has the word ‘dough’ in it. AND it’s healthy?! Yes, please! So what do I do? I click on your pin and find that these ‘delicious’ treats don’t actually contain any sugar, flour, OR butter. In fact, the only resemblance this impostor has to REAL chocolate chip cookie dough is that it has like 4 chocolate chips. In the entire recipe! Okay, that last part might have been an exaggeration, but you get my drift. My point is this: You can’t create a recipe consisting of cashews, agave, oats, maple syrup, and a few chocolate chips and call it a ‘chocolate chip cookie dough ball’! It just simply is not. D0n’t believe me? Sign up to bring dessert to a party, make some ‘healthy chocolate chip cookie dough balls’, and see what your friends think of you after you’ve pulled your little stunt.
Obviously, I have some issues and should probably have added ‘be less dramatic’ to my resolution list. Raincheck for 2014?
After all my ranting above, it’s kind of embarrassing to admit that I tried one of these healthy substitutions, and I ACTUALLY LIKED IT. I like it so much that I’ve used it everyday since discovering it, and I decided it would be a crime against the internet if I didn’t share with ya’ll. Now, my fat kid side is about to come out, so don’t judge. I’m one of those people that could put ranch on pretty much anything. Pizza? YES. Tacos? YES. French Fries? YES. And I guess I’ll take a side of vegetables with my ranch. If ya’ll read my 2013 Resolutions post, you would have read that I’m trying to be healthier this year. Trying so very hard. So when I stumbled up a pin for healthy ranch dressing, I decided I would have to give it a try, even though these things usually bother me beyond belief.
Before I share the recipe, I just have to say, YA’LL. This stuff is AMAZING. And that is coming from someone who usually hates all things healthy. I would consider myself a ‘ranch snob’ because I only like Hidden Valley & whatever ranch they serve at Chick-Fil-A, and I actually think I like this substitution the most! Undoubtedly, the best part of it is that the ENTIRE JAR of ranch is only 255 calories. If that’s not guilt-free, I don’t know what is. My friends, you will not be disappointed with this recipe:
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Yes… It’s probably time for me to change my chalkboard.
Guilt-Free Ranch Dressing
1 cup Dannon Oikos nonfat greek yogurt
1 pack of Hidden Valley’s ranch mix (NOT the dip)
1/2 cup of 1% milk
Whisk all ingredients together and transfer to a resealable container. (I used a mason jar.)
Note: Add the milk a little at a time until you have the consistency that you want. It used barely under 1/2 cup.
source: The Caffeinated Chronicles of Super Mom
That’s it! Super simple and even more delicious! So next time you want to have a little salad with your ranch, you totally can without feeling bad!
Happy Wednesday!
Cheryl Crawford - How funny that I made and tried that exact recipe on Sunday and I love it too ! I am particular about ranch dressing and am glad to have found one homemade that I like :) Enjoy yours ! Cheryl