Marzetti's Simply Dressed Ranch Adds Zing to Summer Pasta Salad

I have been complaining lately that ranch dressings just don't taste like they used to, so the Marzetti Simply Dressed Ranch I was asked to sample arrived at just the right time. With this newest line of salad dressings -- Simply Dressed -- Marzetti is striving to go "back to basics." The dressings come in ten flavors, including not only classics but also unique choices such as Strawberry Poppyseed, Pomegranate and Ginger Sesame Seed. They must be refrigerated, as they are made of natural substances for pure, fresh flavor. That was the first thing about the product that appealed to me.

The ingredient list for Marzetti's Simply Dressed Ranch begins with canola oil, buttermilk, water, salted egg yolk, distilled vinegar and extra virgin olive oil. I like the fact that the canola oil provides 410 mg of Omega-3 ALA. The dressing does not contain high fructose corn syrup, preservatives, trans fat or artificial flavors. There are 55 calories per tablespoon. You can view the complete nutrition and ingredient label here.

Marzetti has created attractive packaging for these dressings. The 12-ounce bottles catch the eye -- they are made of plastic, have wide openings and are easy to handle. I opened the safety seal of the bottle of Simply Dressed Ranch and dipped in a piece of celery to check the taste. It was satisfying and delightful. I could taste the buttermilk immediately. It was obvious that the ingredients were natural and not synthetic.

Heavy meals don't appeal to me during hot summer months. I don't even like to turn on the oven -- I prefer the grill, as well as vegetables and salads. I decided to make a pasta salad and toss it with Marzetti Simply Dressed Ranch. It paired well with grilled chicken breasts. This is a quick, easy, tasty meal for your family or when entertaining company on those warm summer days. Marzetti also provides recipes on their website that are designed specifically for Simply Dressed products.

Ingredients

12-ounces rotini pasta
1 small can sliced black olives
1 large, fresh tomato, diced
1 cup cheddar cheese
8-10 slices turkey bacon
¾ cup Marzetti Simply Dressed Ranch

Cook the pasta according to the package directions -- al dente works best for pasta salads. Rinse in cold water and pour into a large bowl. Cook the bacon (or buy pre-cooked for convenience), drain well and crumble on top of the pasta. Toss in the remaining ingredients and mix well with the Marzetti Simply Dressed Ranch. This salad seems to taste best when it's been refrigerated for a couple hours or even overnight.

I received this product for free and I was compensated for the article.
Source:
Marzetti Company: marzetti.com