Green Goddess Ranch Dressing

The greatest thing about making your own salad dressings (aside from knowing you won't end up with preservative-laden glop) is the fact that you can mix and match and tweak all your favorite elements from your favorite dressings.  Like many people, I love ranch dressing.  I also love green goddess dressing, which was also my beloved Mammo's favorite, and basil.  So, I took the components of both and mixed them together to make my new favorite dressing--green goddess ranch.

It's got the creamy taste and texture of ranch with an extra kick of garlic and the distinct brightness of summer's freshest herbs.  It's a great way to use all those herbs from your summer garden and it's ultra flexible.  Don't have/don't like tarragon?  Leave it out.  Love basil or have tons of it to use up?  Go heavy on the basil and you'll end up with a delicious pesto ranch flavor.  To take it up even one more notch, try blending the dressing and a tiny pinch extra salt with some avocado just before serving.  Either way, it's perfection.

Green Goddess Ranch Dressing

an "Apple a Day" original

Ingredients:

3/4 c. low-fat mayonnaise

3/4 c. low-fat sour cream or Greek yogurt

1 c. low-fat buttermilk

1/4 c. fresh chives, coarsely chopped

1/4 c. fresh parsley

2 TBSP fresh tarragon

2 TBSP fresh basil

1 TBSP olive oil

1 TBSP fresh lemon juice

2 cloves garlic

1/2 tsp. black pepper

1/2 tsp. sea salt

avocado, if desired

Directions:

1.  Place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until thoroughly combined.  Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.