Redhead's Ranch Rub

 

Are you looking for a new way to spice up things like chicken and wings? Have you run out of ideas about what you can do with that leftover hamburger meat? Are you having friends over for the big game and want to serve them something they'll love? If so, why not try 'ranch'? It's not a 'spice' so much as a 'blend' that you can mix in with hamburger meat before you make patties, or a 'rub' you can roll your chicken breasts or wings in. It's something my husband came up with out of nowhere, but has turned out really well. Here's what you need-

1 oz (1 envelope) Hidden Valley ranch dressing mix (store brand works too)

2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

Pinch of salt, pepper

In case you were wondering, my husband is a redhead. :)

If you're making hamburgers, knead this mix into approximately one pound of ground beef. Form the patties and cook as usual.

If you want to make it an 'extra sticky' rub, you can also add in a tablespoon or so of corn meal. This works really well on un-breaded chicken wings. We've also used the mix on raw wings that were previously rolled in egg whites for breading. This mix usually covers twelve wings or two average chicken breast pieces. For a less 'tangy' taste, only use half of the mix and put the rest in the freezer for later use. Of course, you'll want to do this before any chicken touches it!

I haven't used this on pork or seafood, so use your own judgement. It should be fine on pork and fishes that don't have a strong flavor on their own. I'm not much of a seafood eater. However, it is my experience that the best recipes tend to be the ones you 'stumble upon' by experimenting. That's how my husband came up with this one; he was bored one day around lunchtime, so his thoughts went to food. He isn't usually a 'ranch' fan, but he knows I love the stuff and so was willing to try something new. Apparently it worked, because he really likes this! Hopefully you and your family will too!