Zesty Italian Salad Dressing Powder Copycat

• 2 tbsp dried oregano
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp white sugar
• 1 tbsp dried parsley
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1/4 tsp dried thyme
• 1/4 tsp celery seed

Yeah yeah standard copycat recipe. It's very good copy of Good Seasonings (regular) Italian dressing packet powder, but it is not the ZESTY.

Last ingredient:

• 1 tbsp Fruit Fresh® powder

Now it is perfectly zesty! Fruit Fresh is a sour powder that is commonly used in canning or to prevent sliced fruit and vegetables from turning brown from oxidation. Now, don't forget you have a SOUR condiment right in the back of your pantry! The sour comes from citric acid and ascorbic acid. ZESTY!

I use about 2 tablespoons of this mix for a standard small 8 oz. dressing cruet, along with a small blob of mustard.

Why are we bothering with this anyway, why not just buy it?

Because I get angry paying $2 for a spoonful of the name brand in the store.

PROTIP:

Most people mix oil and vinegar and the seasoning and refrigerate it. Then it becomes congealed and gross.

What I do is leave out the oil, just make a cruet of SPICED VINEGAR and keep it in the fridge. When you want dressing, add fresh olive oil to the salad. The spiced vinegar is good in general cooking.

Edit 11/2020: I still use this and KFC Seasoning as my main seasoning salts for general cooking, it's great! KFC is more dark and savory, the Zesty Italian is light and zingy.