Review: #CleverSalads with Marzetti’s “Simply Dressed”

When I started couponing a lot about three years ago I found out salad dressing is one of those things you can get for cheap or even for free.

I was quickly well stocked and it took me a while to use up my stash. I noticed we were using a bottle of ranch that was *cough* months old and still “good”.

Did I really want to feed my family “dairy” dressings that were shelf stable for months? And were full of ingredients I didn’t recognize.

I stopped getting salad dressing with coupons and started making my own simple vinaigrettes. I love olive oil and different vinegars and selecting herbs to mix in and serve on our salads.

Before you think I’m all fancy, let me tell you the fresh basil plant I used all summer long is now a dusty husk and still in my window sill. My June Cleaver impulses only extend so far.

One dressing I didn’t make too often from scratch was Ranch. It really needs time in the fridge after you make it for the flavors to fully develop, and I usually make the dressing at the last minute.

But Ranch is my husband’s favorite, so I’d like to serve it more often.

When I had an opportunity to review Marzetti’s new line of Simply Dressed salad dressings I was really tempted to try one of their vinaigrettes, like Balsamic, Champagne, or Ginger Sesame.

I decided to try the Ranch dressing to see if it was a happy medium between rarely making my own and depending on a bottle of indeterminate freshness.

The Simply Dressed line is refrigerated, right next to the salads in the grocery store. I got mine at Kroger.

I liked that the ingredients, except for one stabilizer, were all things I could find in my kitchen: “CANOLA OIL, BUTTERMILK, WATER, SALTED EGG YOLK, DISTILLED VINEGAR, EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL, SUGAR, SEA SALT, GARLIC, ONION, XANTHAN GUM”

We’ve used Marzetti’s Simply Dressed Ranch as a dressing on salad, a dip for carrots and as a dipping sauce for homemade chicken nuggets. I think it had a fresh taste, a good balance of flavors and a nice creamy texture. My kids all liked it. The husband is pleased.

I found a recipe utilizing the Ranch dressing as a drizzle over fresh, steamed green beans. Scatter some bacon bits on that and my kids would lick the plate.

Also, it looks like it would be a good alternative to mayonnaise on a sandwich or a wrap.

What I especially liked about Simply Dressed is that is contains NO preservatives, trans fat, high fructose corn syrup, MSG, or artificial flavors.

Also, all of the flavors except for the Ginger Sesame are gluten-free! Some, like the Strawberry Poppyseed, are egg and dairy free as well.

Now I have an alternative to making everything from scratch or serving an ancient bottle of yummy chemicals.

And I can still use coupons to save money!

What do you usually use on your salads? Check out the whole line of Marzetti’s Simply Dressed and let me know what kind looks best to you.

I was one of the bloggers selected by T. Marzetti Company and Clever Girls Collective to host a Marzetti Simply Dressed review. They provided me with product to test myself and compensation for my time. However, my opinions are entirely my own.