Did You Know Ranch Dressing Was Invented By A Plummer?
Ranch Dressing, as strange as it sounds, wouldn’t be around if it wasn’t for plumbers, the flavor enhancer, and the State of Alaska.
First Off, Who Invented Ranch Dressing?
Move over California; it was Steven Henson, a Nebraska native who created ranch dressing, invented the condiment after moving to Anchorage in 1949
A plumbing contractor in the Alaskan bush, according to a story about Steve Henson in the Santa Barbara Independent. The outlet reported that Henson invented the recipe for “ranch” dressing somewhat out of necessity after taking on a second job in the kitchen while “trying to keep his hungry work crews happy.”
What Was In Steve’s Ranch Dressing?
“From my memory, it was buttermilk, Miracle Whip, some spices, and I think some chopped-up shallots — and then, the ingredient that was kept secret: pure MSG,” Kept secret MSG is short for monosodium glutamate. It’s a flavor enhancer derived from L-glutamic acid, naturally present in many foods.
In the 1950s, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) put a federal ban on sweeteners and gave MSG a bad rap. Allegedly, Chinese restaurants used MSG in their cooking, prompting the hate against cooking with MSG. Today, there is no concrete proof that MSG is bad in moderation.
In 1956, he purchased the Sweetwater Ranch up on San Marcos Pass. He soon renamed the spread Hidden Valley Ranch. ( sound familiar?)
Word Began To Spread On Ranch Dressing
He began a mail-order business at the ranch, selling packages for 75 cents apiece. The operation soon occupied every room in the family home.
By the mid-1960s, the guest ranch, which had never done well financially, had been completely overtaken by the mail-order business. By the late 1960s, the Hensons were filling orders from all 50 states and more than 30 countries.
In 1972, Steve Henson sold the business to the Clorox Company and settled down again to a life of leisure and travel. Since 1972, Hidden Valley Ranch has been owned by Clorox. Ranch dressing was created in 1949 by a plumber-turned-cowboy.
Celebrate! Junk Food, Aliens and Tug-of-War
Tug-of-War Tournament Day
BACK IN MY DAY, we played tug-of-war and we loved it! I always enjoyed Tug-of-War, but it’s also one of my favorite radio experiences. When I was living in Maryland, the station I worked for would host a Tug-of-War. The rope was super long and the tug-of-war took place on opposite shores of a bay! It was amazing! Also, I got to MC on behalf of one of the opposing sides and talk a bunch of crap on the microphone, so you can imagine how much that made my day. LOL
