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Convenience boxed foods can be expensive but are hard to live with out so why not make your own. You can purchase bulk egg noodles and and a large jar of dry ranch from the bulk section of your supermarket to make up several bags of the mix. Use it in a gift basket for a bridal shower or a new mom or quick Holiday gifts for co-workers. When you need a quick side dish for a pot luck or picnic make up two batches to take along.

I created this recipe to make my life easier and to continue to have my pantry full of convenience food. This will taste better than the boxed name brand version and save you time and money.

BACON RANCH PASTA

2 cups egg noodles

3 tablespoons dry ranch salad dressing mix

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic pepper

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

gallon zip-lock bags and sandwich size zip-lock bags

DIRECTIONS FOR THE MIX

Place noodles in a gallon zip-lock bag. In a small separate bag mix dry ranch, garlic pepper, garlic powder and onion powder and place in smaller zip-lock bag. place the smaller bag in the gallon zip-lock bag with the pasta.

mix as many of these as you want and put in pantry and save for when you want to cook something up quick without too much work or need a quick gift for someone special.

TO PREPARE

1 cup cooked chopped bacon (if you like you can add bacon bits instead)

2/3 cup milk

1 cup Great Value salad dressing or Miracle Whip

1 bag of Bacon Ranch Pasta Mix

Bring large pot of water to boil and cook egg noodles till ala dente. Rinse and drain in cold water. Mix the Bacon Ranch Pasta mix with milk and salad dressing add bacon and egg noodles and toss, chill for 1 hour add extra salad dressing if it seems too dry.

I do usually add cheese and tomatoes or peas and carrots to give it more flavor this will make 6-8 servings servings.

VARIATIONS

Add 1 cup shredded cheese

1 cup frozen green peas (cook with pasta)

1 cup frozen peas and carrots (cook with pasta)

Use leftover chopped chicken, turkey or ham instead of the bacon, or in addition to the bacon

Add 1 cup Parmesan cheese (add 2 tablespoons salad dressing)

Make it a BLT and add chopped tomato and serve on a bed of lettuce

chopped olives for an Italian taste

The possibilities are endless! Don't be afraid to add your own touch, after all a recipe is just a suggestion.

Learn more about this author, Anna Kleinschmidt.
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