A Tale of Two Ranches

A battle with the bottle.

The Platter, a photo by anotherfaceinthecrowd

Today, my daughter Molly talked me into buying a bottle of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing at the grocery store.

It was only recently that I learned about my kids' knowledge and love of RanchTM. When Cece requested it one day with her carrot sticks, I asked her, "Where did you have it?" "At school."

Of course! What daycare-going, preschool-aged child in America has not had ranch salad dressing with those faux baby carrots? They could probably become their own food group.

It was one of those moments when I realized my 3-year old's experiences are expanding beyond my reach. I resolved then and there to make those girls some homemade ranch. After all, I had all the ingredients I needed: mayonnaise, yogurt and the granulated garlic in long-term storage in the spice cabinet.

One night, when I was searching for a side to go with a baked potato supper, I mixed up some yogurt ranch for my little epicures to try--and as a way to get them to eat cauliflower and broccoli. They liked my ranch better than those crucifers.

At lunch today, after I shuddered reading the ingredient list on the Hidden Valley bottle, I conducted an informal poll. As they were speed-eating baby carrots dipped in RanchTM,I asked as casually as I could, "Which ranch do you like better? This one or the one I made the other day?"

Public school first grader Molly was unequivocal. She looked me straight in the eye and said, "This one." Her younger sister answered with her mouthful. "I liked yours better, Mommy."

My vote broke the tie.

Recipe: Yogurt Ranch Dressing and Dip