Spicy Ranch Dressing

Continuing with my Sriracha obsession...

I literally put it on everything. One of my favorite snacks lately is a piece of Wasa with cottage cheese topped with a little honey and Sriracha. Maybe even throw some cucumber slices on there. Whatever tickles your fancy. It's the perfect snack. Maybe I'll email Wasa and let them in on my creation.

I also put it on sandwiches, chicken, fish, soups, nuts, pizza, rice, french fries, burgers...you name it, and I'll put it on there!

Since I make a lot of salads at home for myself, I have, of course, found a way to incorporate it which does not involve just squirting some all over the lettuce. I added it to my favorite ranch dressing. The easiest dressing in the world. The tastiest ranch dressing (not made from mayo). It's amazing. Have I said enough? I think I've told you about my ranch obsession before. No? Maybe briefly here? Anyway, ranch is my favorite condiment. I love it dearly and could never part with it.

Spicy Ranch Dressing

1 packet of Original Ranch Dips Mix
Instead of the suggested amount of Sour Cream, use Greek Yogurt (2% Fage works best)
As much Sriracha sauce as you want. Be careful, it IS spicy.

Mix it all together, throw it on top of any salad you want, and voilà...you have deliciously addicting, yet healthy, spicy ranch dressing!

Turkey Salad

Miss me??

Summer is in full effect and if there is one thing I hate about DC, it's the summers. I know...I know, I'm such a debbie downer. Everyone should love summer and the sun and the long days and eating outside and picnics. Well, I do love all of that, but in DC that all comes packaged with lots and lots of humidity. And lets just say humidity and I just do not get along. The idea of sweating profusely while casually taking a stroll outside is not very appealing to me. Unless, mind you, this is all taking place at the beach...then I'm happy as a clam. However, DC is not on the beach and of course, like the extreme winter we had, it appears we may have an extreme summer (the temperatures are already 15 degrees higher than they were this time last year!). My point: I in no way want to turn on my oven in my non-air-conditioned kitchen. It's already like a sauna as it is. Not to say I won't eventually turn it on, but I'd much rather make non-oven related meals.

Here's a classic favorite...my way! Remove most of the mayo and add Greek Yogurt. Delicious...and refreshing for those really hot summer days.


Turkey Salad

1/2 lb. ground turkey
1/4 cup white onion, diced
1/4 cup celery, diced
1/4 cup apple, diced
1/4 cup red grapes, sliced in half
2 tablespoons craisins
handful chopped cilantro
1 tablespoon mayo
1/4 cup Greek yogurt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
salt and pepper
lettuces leaves (Bibb lettuce works best even though they are not used in the picture)


1. Brown the turkey and let cool in the fridge. Feel free to season it as you wish. Possibly some garlic, salt and pepper.

2. Combine all ingredients. If you want, put it all in a bowl and shake... for as long as you want.

3. Refrigerate. Or don't.

4. Eat.

Relax. That meal was no sweat.

Healthy-ish Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are a great comfort food...and usually something that health conscious folk steer clear from. Because, one, they are a white starch, which the media has scared a lot of people away from. And two, because they are usually mashed with tons of salt and butter making them a silky, soft, creamy delicious side dish.

So why not get your mashed potato fix with a healthier version? White potatoes are not a sin. Yes, they have a lot of carbohydrates. But they DO grow in the ground making them a raw, natural food. Obviously, don't eat like seven potatoes minus the salt and butter and feel good about yourself. It's called portion control...something most of our restaurants have yet to figure out.

Sarah, from Life with B's, told me the other night, at her bachelorette party, that one of my favorite phrases is, well not actually a phrase, but a word ending..."ish." Apparently, I use it way more often than I thought.

Therefore, you get...Healthy-ish Mashed Potatoes.

Healthy-ish Mashed Potatoes

3 small potatoes
1/4 cup chopped red pepper
1/4 cup chopped scallions
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup low fat Greek yogurt
1/4 cup low fat cottage cheese
handful of chopped parsley (or any other fresh herbs you have available)
salt, pepper, cayenne and paprika to taste

1. Clean potatoes. Cut each in half. Do not peel. The potato skin is the healthiest part.

2. Boil potatoes until soft.

3. While the potatoes boil, chop red pepper, scallions, and Parsley.

4. Drain potatoes and mash together with all ingredients.

5. Season to your liking.



Throw some cheddar cheese on top if the Greek Yogurt and cottage cheese aren't completely satisfying you.



And try not to eat them all in one sitting. Share.

Greek Yogurt, Sour Cream and Mayo

I know...its been a while. Turns out, making your blog look cool is tough. I am not computer savvy, so when directions start talking about "configuring the coding" I panic a little. And then, I mess things up. Which is what I have been doing for the last week...messing it all up. Hence my new design...random colors...simplicity. Please note, my colors may change often as I may be the worst person ever at making decisions. One day, hopefully, I will be able to figure out how to have a pretty template. Or maybe someone will do it for me. Until then...bare with me.

Moving on....

I love Greek Yogurt.

Today for lunch I had carrots with ranch dressing. I love ranch....good ranch. And I am picky about it. I do not like Kraft or Wishbone; they have a strange tang to them. Personally, I think they are gross. I think you get the idea. Anyway, my favorite kinds are always homemade and mayonnaise based...go figure. I worked at a Michigan Koney Island for few years in high school, and they have the best ranch EVER. But I will tell you, I've had to make it and when you have to lug out a 3 or 4 gallon tub of mayo, it will make you cringe.

So I try to avoid mayo when cooking, unless its essential (or I just really want it, because lets be serious, its good). Solution: Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt.
The ranch I made for lunch was made with 0% Fage Greek Yogurt (which I love, but will admit that the 2% is better but the difference is small) and part of a Hidden Valley Ranch Packet (Dips, not dressing). You can also use Sour Cream, which is what the directions suggest, but Yogurt is ultimately the healthier choice. More times than not, Greek yogurt can be used in place of sour cream or mayo. There are times I would avoid it, though. For example, mixing canned tuna with Greek Yogurt is not really my cup of tea. The health benefits will not outweigh the taste. It's really not even a pleasant thought.

I would say that 9 times out of 10, Greek yogurt will work.

Try these options:

* Replace the sour cream on your tacos for a dollop of Greek Yogurt. You won't even notice the difference.

* Use a generous amount as a spread in a wrap and don't feel guilty.

* Add it to your soups to make them creamy.

* Use it in all sorts of dips such as Spinach and Artichoke dips.

* Instead of a heavy cream Alfredo sauce on your pasta, try replacing the cream with Greek yogurt.

* Make healthy, protein rich smoothies with Greek Yogurt, Tofu, ice and your choice of fruit.

* Replace your cottage cheese chip dip ;) with a spiced-up Greek Yogurt.

* Use it in place of oils when backing banana bread or brownies.

* Add granola, cranberries and almonds or honey and walnuts to enjoy a great mid-morning snack.

* Make Tzatziki sauce by adding cucumbers, lemon juice, dill, garlic and salt and pepper. One of my personal favorites.

* Add a spoonful to your favorite chili.

* Mix it with applesauce.

Or...just enjoy it all on its own!