reducing sodium in a small way

I enjoy the Hidden Valley Ranch dressing packets in dishes like my mashed potatoes. The problem is that if you look at the nutrition label the sodium level in those packets is quite high. Other people have recognized this as well, and the recipe files in my Yahoo pressure cooker group contain some homemade alternatives.

On Easter Sunday I made pressure cooker pot roast and pulled out the Dutch Oven to boil my potatoes before mashing them in my Kitchen Aid stand mixer. The substitute recipe I used to replace the Hidden Valley packet called for parsley, ground black pepper, seasoned salt, garlic powder, onion powder and thyme. I omitted the salt (reducing the sodium is the whole point after all), and used white pepper (who wants black flecks in their mashed potatoes?).

It turned out quite well. Both my dad and Terry really liked it. To me it was just as good as throwing in a packet of Hidden Valley.

Other versions call for dill or tarragon, so you can experiment and adjust to your liking.