Philothea Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 Has anyone stopped buying certain pre-made convenience foods and started making them from scratch? Please share recipes, if you are inclined. I stopped buying taco seasoning packets. I just make my own now from the seasonings in the cupboard: Garlic powder Onion powder Cumin Thyme Oregano fresh ground black pepper sea salt Chili powder sometimes chipotle powder or cayenne if DH is not around, he doesn't like things really spicy and a can of tomato juice (or a small can of sauce, if I have no juice) instead of water ETA: I really can spell. Truly. It is so embarassing when you botch a thread title. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIN Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 I make my own salad dressings - ranch, Italian, and French. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prairie~Phlox Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 I also make my own taco season. I make my own refried beans using the recipe called Refried Beans with the Refry on allrecipes.com I make my own spaghetti sauce by buying a #10 can of plain sauce or crushed tomatoes from Sam's club for about $2.50. I freeze what I don't use. Then just add my own seasonings. There's stuff in canned spaghetti sauce that I don't care for (some sauces have corn syrup in them :glare: I also make my own beans starting from dried beans. I use my crockpot to cook them. Beans for chili & soup that is. Dh is still partial to Bush's Baked Beans, so I buy it in a #10 can also. (for about $4-5 I noticed the price went up recently. Another thing I buy is tomato past in a #10 can and freeze it. I use an ice cream scoop and scoop lumps onto waxed paper and then smash it down, freeze it, carefully take them apart and put into a ziplock bag and freeze the lumps. They are about the same amount as what a small can has. This last me for months and keeps well. anyway, that was a little more on saving than just convience foods, but hopefully it helps someone. Oh, I never buy rice packets either, I always season it myself or make flavored rice. One of our favorites is a rice, spinach casserole. Phlox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SquirrellyMama Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 We make lots of stuff instead of buying convenience food. Taco seasoning, tortilla shells, bread, graham crackers, snack crackers, ketchup, pizza, etc... I don't like buying frozen pizzas anymore because you can make them bigger and better at home. kelly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 I have never bought a seasoning packet of anything - rather throw together the spices etc. myself. Mashed taters are always form scratch. Rice is never from a box. Cookies/cakes/pies etc. all from scratch (except for angel food cake - I am not messing with all those egg whites when the kids are going to eat the durn thing so fast! That I make from a mix.) hubby brews his own beer - he thinks it taste better and that he is saving money. i asked him to brew me some Mikes but no luck yet. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer3141 Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 I make our own salsa and tomato sauce. I make our own bread, cheese, and cookies. I now hate the taste of store made cookies Ffor the most part. PMS is different, I say!) I make our own butter. I'm contemplating stepping into the world of homemade yoghurt. Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philothea Posted September 12, 2008 Author Share Posted September 12, 2008 We make lots of stuff instead of buying convenience food. Taco seasoning, tortilla shells, bread, graham crackers, snack crackers, ketchup, pizza, etc... I don't like buying frozen pizzas anymore because you can make them bigger and better at home. kelly I've often wondered about making crackers, does it save? And do you have any good tips for making them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PariSarah Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 My whatever-you've-got spaghetti sauce recipe. My healthy pancake mix. My caesar salad dressing recipe. I make my own taco/chili seasoning too. About a tablespoon of cumin seeds, a teaspon of coriander seeds (both toasted in a dry skillet, if I have time), a tablespoon of dried oregano, and one to four whole chillies. Grind in a coffee grinder, and walla! It's missing the dried garlic, which most mixes have, but I add lots of fresh to the recipe, so that's okay. I also double any cookie recipe I'm making, and freeze a log or two for cookie emergencies. (This whole past year has been a cookie emergency. So we're all out.) Most of your standard cookie recipes can handle this--not meringue or lemon bars or something like that, but your standard drop cookies and cutout cookies and that sort of thing. (I've never actually bought premade cookie dough, but I can imagine cookie emergencies in which a responsible mom would have to do it.) This recipe beats any boxed brownie, and isn't any more complicated. (Maybe the first time you make it, it is. But the second time--and there WILL be a second and third and twentieth and four hundredth time--it takes all of two extra minutes to get everything together and measure it.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 The Zatarian's Red Bean/White Bean seasoning mix became unavailable in my area, so I just started making my own. A "kit" for making gumbo, from Culinary Cuisine, also became unavailable, so I started making my own from scratch. My family say all are much better, too, LOL! Now that I'm making a roux on a more regular basis, I'm thinking of beginning to toy with making other gravies, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 I make my own mayonnaise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angela in ohio Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 I read your post several times thinking that whole list was things you make yourself. And I kep thinking, She makes her own sea salt? What a woman! Anyway... Cream soups. SO much better homemade. Once I learned to make a roux, I'e never looked back. The book More With Less really helped me learn to make staples myself, including the cream soup. After I married dh, I had to go from Prego to homemade spaghetti sauce. It's really easy to make. A lot of things we just don't have anymore. I didn't really replace them with homemade alternatives. For example, Rice-a-Roni - now we have mixed brown and wild rice in olive oil instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom2legomaniacs Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 I just use stuff from the cabinet instead of taco seasoning too. Pancakes, muffins, red sauce for spaghetti are a few of the things we never buy but make from scratch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crissy Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 You all are so good. The first thing that came to my mind was brownies. :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 For the most part, I don't use convenience foods anymore. Last night, since this has been a hectic week and I didn't plan ahead, I did use Stove Top stuffing and instant mashed potatoes, but that's extremely rare. The turkey was cooked the night before, since it was thawed, and I needed a meal fast. :glare: I make my own taco seasoning, stuffing, cookies, bread, pizza crust, pancakes/waffles, sometimes tortillas--the kids just go through them so fast! My sister buys that Sloppy Joe mix in the can; I never have. I have found lots of recipes that don't use creamed soups since dh has high blood pressure. No Hamburger Helper or such. The only soups I will buy occasionally are tomato soup and sometimes bean soup, tho I often make that myself. Black beans and rice is easily made: add some cumin and garlic to the can of black beans. Serve over rice with your choice of toppings. We started out with the boxed stuff there. I'm working on mac and cheese. I found a crockpot version we liked. It's just not a quicky food now. ;) Now that I've got jam down, I'll probably quit buying that. I know there have to be other things. I know I pass lots of stuff in the aisles... I wasn't sure that homemade spaghetti sauce was cheaper, it takes so many tomatoes... I did recently learn to make enchilada sauce tho, and a nice sized batch at that! I've been wanting to try crackers; we go through lots of them with soup. I'm also toying with making yogurt, and I've seen making your own cheese, but I'm thinking that's more plausible if you own a dairy cow. :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lwilliams1922 Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 (baked) french fries oatmeal cookies brownies potato salad refried beans enchiladas enchilada sauce I also make soap and deoderant now as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emeraldjoy Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 Transitioning into full time bread making. These wonderful pumpkin chocolate cookies that cost $6 a dozen at our local organic food store. Granola Bars is a new and VERY exciting one I recently tried and succeeded .....much, much tastier and, of course healthier. Popcorn on the stovetop. Pancakes and all that jazz. Pizza occasionally. Always Mac and Cheese. The yogurt I too have been contemplating. I love all the above ideas. I do hope they keep coming!!! Emerald Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NicksMama-Zack's Mama Too Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 pancake mix spaghetti sauce Mac Cheese popcorn (microwave in a lunch bag) muffins mashed potatoes pizza (on the grill, no less!) due to my dh stomach issues, we don't eat anything out of a box (Rice R Roni, stuffing, mac cheese etc) K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TraceyS/FL Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 I love the HillyBilly housewifes Rice a Roni recipes! In fact, when i made the beef the other day DH said, "I hope it's as good as the last time!" (and he NEVER comments on food like that!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laughing lioness Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 We make most things from scratch. Yogurt and granola (our basic breakfast meal) all desserts, pies, cookies, bars, bread, etc pancakes white sauce all soups -both broth and cream based smoothies some teas - chamomile, mint, I am experimenting with echinancea leaves) salsa all jellies beans applesauce pesto bruschetta (I actually found a canning recipe for this!) Meatballs (the Swedish meatball recipe from the Joy of Cooking- I get a fam pack of hamburger and mix with deer meat- make a boatload of meatballs at a time and freeze them. Hungarian cabbage rolls We buy large cans of tomato sauce from Sams and freeze in ziplock baggies. I priced it out and even using homegrown tomatoes it is still cheaper to buy the large cans. I'm using our tomatos for salsa (more expensive) and for dried tomatoes (in the oven). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Virginia Dawn Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 The only time I buy any kind of mixes for baked goods is for birthday cake and frosting. I would like to stop that but my kids would protest. :-) I make my own: pancakes, muffins, cookies, cakes, quick breads, pies, and recently added yeast bread. I want to add tortillas. I make my own seasoned coating mix for baking pork chops and chicken. I make my own seasoned rice, bread crumbs, chocolate syrup, chocolate pudding, pizza, mac and cheese, chicken tenders, popcorn Occasionally: ice cream, salsa, salad dressing, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SquirrellyMama Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 I've often wondered about making crackers, does it save? And do you have any good tips for making them? I'm not sure if it saves me money but I do know exactly what is in them. I can make them without preservatives and all the unhealthy stuff. I don't really have too many tips. Do a google search for homemade crackers and you'll come up with lots of recipes. Kelly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danielle Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 I absolutely cannot stand store bought bread anymore. I'm on a routine with my Kitchen Aid. Always make cake from scratch using Joy of Cooking one egg or lightening cake. Everyone asks what's so good about this cake--it's been so long since most people have eaten a scratch cake they don't know what cake is supposed to taste like. Two nights ago we went to a dinner and awards ceremony for dd and others at a major downtown hotel. I was up all night with indigestion, which I NEVER get at home. What do they put into that stuff? Not only do I wonder about the mystery ingredients in groceries, but now restaurants too. Danielle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E_Edgerton Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 Tomato sauce, taco seasoning, meatballs, salad dressings, and it sounds dumb but carrot sticks...I was paying a bunch more for the little carrots...now I just buy a big bag, peel, trim, and cut lengthwise making little sticks. I put them in a container and I have my carrot sticks.:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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