"Homemade" Ranch Dip

Using a packet of dry Hidden Valley Ranch mix, changing the directions and then calling it your homemade ranch is totally okay.  Because I say.

On the back of the above package the directions call for 1 cup of mayo and 1 cup of milk.  I make it this way all the time for dressing and it is Num Yummy.
When I want a good thick dip for my mounds of celery and cucumbers that follow me polishing off around 15 wings or so I make it this way:

1 packet HV Ranch dressing/seasoning mix packet
1 cup mayo
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup milk

You're already excited, I know. 

The sour cream makes it a little more tangy and less milk makes it thicker so that more will stick to your veggies. 

Because who wants to see any veggie showing through where you have just dipped? 

Not me.

Not you.

Go make this.

Tip Tuesday

I just realized something: I have strayed from writing about things I love on my blog. 

Gasp!

Time to stop that immediately and get back to talking about only happy things.
Like puppies and ice cream. 

Well, that might be taking it a little far.

How about cleaning.  Now there's something joyful to discuss.

This little tip is currently making me pretty happy though.

We have a shower pan in our master bath that we installed back in Februaryish of 2008.

Odd thing to remember the date of, you say?  As it turned out I got a very special surprise the day I went to pick up that shower pan. 

Anna was born about eight months later:).

Back to the shower pan. 

In the beginning I loved my shower pan.  Scrubbed it weekly even.

And now? 

Who cares?  It's a shower pan.

And then I actually stopped to look at it.

Fiberglass shower pans from Kohler with the non-skid bottom get really nasty if you don't keep up on them.

Weekly.

And then when you read about them you start to learn that they can't be brought back to their original state.  But, I pretty much don't ever take 'can't' for an answer. 

So, I found my own answer. 
And it's amazing.
Vinegar and paper towels.

Line the shower pan floor with paper towels (if you're doing this in a bath tub then I would go ahead and close the drain).  Pour vinegar down over the paper towels until they are thoroughly wet. Leave them sit over night.  The following day pull up the paper towels and you'll see that most of the staining is gone. Take a good scrubby sponge (that's what you call them too, right?) to the rest of it to finish off the job.  Pretty much looks like brand new again!

And it's WAY easier than:
A. Scrubbing until your arm falls off or
B. Replacing your shower pan


And yes.  Those ARE the only other options.