Eating dinner at home does not have to be boring. Meals that taste great and are fun to eat need not become a long and complicated project. You also don’t have to spend a lot of money to prepare foods for your family that rival restaurant quality fare.
You’re probably thinking that to make food like what you would get served in a restaurant requires that you run out for all kinds of complicated ingredients. This is not the case! In fact, if you get into the habit of stocking some basic ingredients, you can whip up all kinds of tasty and exciting sauces and dressings to liven up any meal.
Pantry Essentials
Here are some staples to keep on hand when you want to turn an ordinary meal into something creative and fun:
- Plain yogurt, Greek is best but not necessary
- Mayonnaise
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Pickle relish
- Hot sauce
- Prepared horseradish
- Pickled jalapenos or other peppers
- Capers
- Olive oil
- Vinegar
Spices to Have on Hand
- Garlic powder
- Dill
- Dried onion
- Paprika
- Thyme
- Coriander
Recipes for Dressings & Sauces
Here are some recipes that will – for sure – please the taste buds and impress friends and family members:
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Homemade Vinaigrette
Ingredients
Three parts salad oil
One part vinegar
Two parts water
Tablespoon prepared mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
One smashed garlic clove
To Make
Mix all ingredients in a glass jar. Cover tightly with lid and shake. Shake again before pouring over salad or prepared vegetables.
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Homemade Ranch Dip
Ingredients
1 cup Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon dill
To Make
Stir all ingredients and use a rubber spatula to transfer to a serving bowl. Serve with fresh sliced veggies or healthy crackers for dipping.
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Russian Dressing
Ingredients
1 tablespoon pickle relish
2 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon vinegar
To Make
Mix all ingredients and transfer to a serving bowl to spoon over salad or serve with sandwiches.
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Healthy Coleslaw Dressing
Ingredients
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1 tablespoon mustard
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 pinches sugar
To Make
Mix all ingredients and combine with a mixture of shredded cabbage, carrot and onion. Season with salt and pepper.
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Honey Mustard Dip
Ingredients
Half a cup of mayonnaise
2 tablespoons mustard
1 tablespoon honey
To Make
Mix all ingredients. You may need to warm the honey slightly by popping it in the microwave for a few seconds. Use a rubber spatula to transfer to ramekins for dipping chicken fingers or other fun foods.
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Spicy Mayo
Spicy mayo is a fun way to kick your fries up a notch with a zesty dipping sauce. You can also spread it on your sandwiches or have it with sushi.
Ingredients
Quarter cup mayonnaise
Two tablespoons hot sauce
To Make
Stir well. You can add cayenne pepper if you like it really spicy. Or you can reduce the amount of hot sauce if you’re not that spicy.
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Cucumber Salad Dressing
Ingredients
Half a cup Greek yogurt
Half a cucumber, grated
1 tablespoon oil
2 teaspoons vinegar
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 teaspoons dried dill
Salt and pepper to taste
To Make
Stir all ingredients together. Add to a jar and shake well before serving with fresh salad. Also makes a nice dip for sandwiches.
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Zesty Pretzel Dipping Sauce
Ingredients
2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
Quarter cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons Greek yogurt
2 teaspoons dried dill
Black pepper
To Make
Combine all ingredients and stir well. Use a rubber spatula to transfer to a serving bowl and enjoy with pretzels.
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Barbecue Sauce
Ingredients
Half a cup of diced onion
2 tablespoons cooking oil or butter
Quarter cup of ketchup
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Quarter cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons black pepper
To Make
Start by sautéing the onions in a saucepan. Add all other ingredients and stir well. Bring to a boil then reduce heat. Simmer for about 20 minutes.
Use a basting brush to mop your homemade barbecue sauce over chicken before grilling. You can also bake it in the oven if you like.
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Italian Dressing
Ingredients
¼ cup olive oil
1/8 cup red wine vinegar
1 smashed garlic clove
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon black pepper
To Make
Combine all ingredients in a glass jar and cap tightly. Shake well. Let your dressing marinate for at least a half an hour before serving it with a fresh salad. Shake again before each use.
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Cocktail Sauce
Feeling like a shrimp cocktail? Whip this up in a hot minute.
Ingredients
1 cup ketchup
Half a cup prepared horseradish
Black pepper to taste
To Make
Combine ingredients. Use a rubber spatula to transfer to serving cups and present with a platter of chilled, cooked shrimp.
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Horseradish Mayo
This makes a great accompaniment to a nice, thick juicy steak… or serve it alongside of a French dip.
Ingredients
1 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons horseradish
2 teaspoons black pepper
To Make
Combine all ingredients. Transfer to ramekins and present on each person’s plate before serving.
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French Dressing
Ingredients
1 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1 tablespoon red vinegar
To Make
Mixed ingredients together. Place in a jar or serving cups to enjoy with salad or dip fresh vegetables.
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Onion Dip
Ingredients
1 cup Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons dehydrated onion pieces
2 shakes onion powder
2 teaspoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons black pepper
To Make
Mix all ingredients together. Use a rubber spatula to transfer to a serving bowl and present with your favorite veggie slices, crackers and chips.
