Make Your Own Kitchen Staples and Save Hundreds of Dollars per Year!
We all love the convenience of packaged foods, ready-made drinks, and pre-measured mixes, but they sure can put a strain on a family’s food budget! Many of these frequently purchased items can be easily made at home for a fraction of the cost.
Below you will find recipes for a homemade sports drink, three gourmet instant coffees, hot chocolate mix, dry soup and rice mixes, coating mix for chicken, a baking mix, and pancake syrup.
They all are delicious, easy to make budget stretchers. Why not give them a try?
Homemade Sports Drink
1-quart water
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3-4 tablespoons sugar
1 package unsweetened koolaid
Boil water. Add other ingredients.
Stir until the liquid is clear. Refrigerate.
Gourmet Instant Coffees
Cafe Au Lait:
2 cups nonfat dry milk
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup instant coffee
1/2-1 teaspoon cinnamon
Mix together in a blender. Store in an airtight container. Use 1/4 cup mix per cup of water.
Cappuccino:
1-cup nonfat dry milk
1/2 cup instant coffee
3/4 cup sugar (use 1/2 cup if you want less sweetness)
1-teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon dried grated orange peel
Mix together in a blender. Store in an airtight container. Use 2 tablespoons of mix per cup of hot water.
Suisse Mocha:
1-cup nonfat dry milk
1/2 cup instant coffee
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
Mix together in a blender. Store in an airtight container. Use 1 tablespoon of mix for each 6 ounces of hot water.
Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
11 cups powdered milk
1 16-ounce container of chocolate powder mix (such as Quik)
6-ounce jar of coffee creamer
1/2 cup powdered sugar
Mix all ingredients and store in an airtight container. Use 1/3 to 1/2 cup of mix per mug of hot water.
Onion Soup Mix
1/3 cup powdered beef bouillon
3/4 cup dried, minced onion
4 teaspoons onion powder
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
1/4 teaspoon sugar
Mix all ingredients together. Store in zip top plastic bag.
Flavored Rice Mix
2 cups uncooked rice
1 cup broken spaghetti
6 tablespoons powdered chicken bouillon
1/4 cup parsley flakes (dried)
2 teaspoons onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Mix all ingredients together. Store in a zip top plastic bag.
Chicken Coating Mix
1-cup white or whole-wheat flour
1-tablespoon paprika
1-teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
Mix thoroughly and store in a zip top plastic bag. Shake well before using.
Baking Mix
8 cups of flour
1 and 1/4 cups dry milk powder
1/4 cup baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups shortening
Combine dry ingredients. Cut in shortening until it resembles coarse textured cornmeal. Store in a tightly covered container in your cabinet.
Yield 10 cups.
Pancake Syrup
1 3/4 cups white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon maple extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Boil the water, white sugar, and brown sugar for one minute.
Remove from heat. Add the maple and vanilla extracts. Cool, bottle and then refrigerate.
For more great ideas, visit these money saving websites:
The Dollar Stretcher
www.stretcher.com
The Frugal Homemaker
www.FrugalHomemaker.com
Family Corner.com
www.thefamilycorner.com
Make-Stuff.com
www.make-stuff.com/cooking/index.html
Miserly Moms
www.miserlymoms.com
Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer, educator and mother, and an expert in child development, home schooling and creative parenting and home making.
Visit her online at http://www.irenehelenzundel.com
