Whole 30 Ranch Seasoning Mix

You guys! This ranks up there as one of my greatest food discoveries so far. One of the big things I’ve missed since having to give up dairy is ranch dressing. The good stuff…Hidden Valley deliciousness. Of course, it is really super delicious because it is loaded with MSG. In any event, I stumbled across this recipe on Pinterest for a Whole 30 Ranch Seasoning Mix that could be mixed with mayo.

Here’s the recipe, courtesy of The Pinning Mama. Click here for her post about this.

• 2 tsp salt
• 4 tbsp parsley
• 3 tsp dill weed
• 2 tsp dried chives
• 4 tsp garlic powder
• 4 tsp onion powder
• 4 tsp dried onion flakes
• 2 tsp black pepper

To be honest, I didn’t follow it exactly. I didn’t realize it would need so much parsley, so I ended up using just 1 TB. I also forgot it called for onion granules AND onion flakes. I just used a little more onion flakes and it was still delicious. I mixed 1 TB of this mix with about 1/2 cup of regular mayonnaise.

It is delicious and very authentic tasting, perfect for dipping veggies or chips. I would probably thin it with a little lemon juice or almond milk if I wanted to make dressing.

3 Ways to Stay Sane as a SAHM

For those not familiar with the lingo, “SAHM” stands for Stay at Home Mom. And that’s me. Lately it’s been feeling like an incredible amount of work and I’ve been rather overwhelmed. We were sick with various viruses for nearly 2 months, which put me farther and farther behind on cleaning and various household tasks. I’ve really had to sift through my task list and prioritize to keep myself but going crazy and becoming too exhausted. Here are 3 things I’m doing to stay sane.

1. Napping or resting during naptime. It’s so tempting to run around getting stuff done while the kids are out of my hair. However, that means that when they wake up I’m exhausted from all the things I was doing. Even if I don’t nap, I force myself to lie down on the couch. I either read, watch a show, or surf the internet.

2. Writing things down the second I think of them. There are so many little things I have to do, some more important than others. Long ago, I abandoned the idea that I might actually remember things on my own, and the second the thought occurs to me, I write it down. I have a grocery app on my phone where keep a list of food I need to buy. I have several task lists on my phone and one on the fridge.

3. Clocking off when the kids go to bed. Generally, I stop all work when my kids go to bed. I think of it as clocking off. I stop running laundry. I stop trying to do dishes. I stop making phone calls. I wash my face, brush my teeth, and enjoy some tea or a treat while reading or watching a show.

What keeps you sane during the week?