Рецепт What’s hidden…
…in Hidden Valley Ranch!
I didn’t discuss this on the blog, but I gave up ranch dressing for Lent. I’m not sure why I kept it a secret….maybe I didn’t think I could do it. But I did! It was hard at first, then I forgot about it, and then in that final week I almost caved SO MANY TIMES.
But there were two things I noticed in my 40 days without Hidden Valley.
1) Salads no longer made my tummy hurt.
I eat HUGE veggie filled, fiber rich salads. And sometimes afterwards my tummy would hurt a little. I chocked it up to the roughage.
2) The small rash on my shin went away.
Ever since the tortilla chip incident, I had developed a tiny DH rash on my left shin. It had stuck around for a bit, but during my 40 days without ranch it went away. Granted, I also visited the doctor and got a cream, but it still went away and didn’t come back.
Now let me say that I did not notice these things right away. In fact, I started eating Hidden Valley again after Lent. And that’s when I really noticed what was happening. Tummy trouble was back and the rash on my shin reappeared.
I had always walked a fine line with Hidden Valley. I had read so many things online:
Sometimes the modified starch is wheat based, sometimes it’ corn; they use shared equipment; some folks have had no issues; others have
but I loved this particular brand so much that I just continued to turn a blind eye. I deemed it inconclusive.
Not anymore.
Conclusion found.
Hidden Valley Ranch is not gluten free.
They admit so themselves. It is not safe to eat. I will not eat it ever again. I promise. ALSO it contains MSG (monosodium glutamate) which is probably why I loved it so much in the first place! Never again!
Phew! That was hard. But it had to be said.
And so yesterday I researched some recipes to make my own ranch. Most contain mayo, which I don’t love. And buttermilk which I hate to buy because I never use it all and it pretty much goes to waste. So I’m working on a few things with greek yogurt. In the meantime:
Wishbone Ranch IS gluten free!
BUT also contains MSG! Which may be why they claim it has a :
Side note: I hate it when companies put this on packaging. It’s like saying we know it was gross before but it’s not as gross now; promise.
So I won’t be buying this dressing often, as it contains MSG. And hopefully I’ll find a homemade ranch dressing I like just as much. But in the mean time, I’m mixing 2 tbsp. of Wishbone with greek yogurt.
So what about you? Do you eat Hidden Valley? Do you even like ranch?
Winner announced!