One of the major ways I have been able to cut down our grocery budget, is by making products homemade. I have mentioned this idea in a previous post, but wanted to expand my thoughts :) Not only are made-from-scratch items cheaper, but they are also healthier. I am able to adjust the recipes to fit our health goals (i.e. using whole wheat flour), and I am in control of what we are putting in our bodies. This is also reducing our consumption of preservatives and chemicals. Another benefit to making food from scratch is that it lowers your environmental impact by reducing your use of packaging.
You might be thinking, “That sounds well and good, but I just don’t have time, cooking from scratch is extremely time-consuming.” It is true that some things just take way to long, and for me, the costs aren’t worth the benefits. However, I have found a few simple recipes, that take much less time than I expected. Today, I am posting links to what have become my “staple recipes.” I have found these recipes to be both time and cost-effective. I hope they are helpful!
–Homemade Baking Mix (works like Bisquick)- The great thing about this mix, is that it can be used for pancakes, waffles, biscuits, and any other recipe that calls for a baking mix. I make a much smaller batch than the link recommends, but it is flexible.
–Artisan Bread– although this bread does take time to rise, it takes very little “in the kitchen” work time. If you aren’t home during the weekdays, this we would be a great thing to make on a Saturday.
-Homemade pizza-no recipe here, just be creative :) We use the fast rising pizza dough, which made dough making fast and easy. Then we add a variety of ingredients, our favorite is bbq sauce, pineapple, spinach, chicken and green pepper. This is our version of a Hawaiian pizza.
-Cooking whole chickens-this has been a huge money saver for us. Usually I can find whole chickens for anywhere between 79 and 99 cents a pound, which makes a whole chicken less than $5. We stretch the meat to at least four dinners, and then we use the bones to make chicken broth. We usually eat the breasts for dinner the night we cook the chicken, and I put the rest in portioned bags and freeze them. This is nice because I always have cooked chicken on hand. This is a major time saver on busy nights.
–Cream Cheese Icing– simple, basic, delicious.
– I hope you enjoy! I have a few new items on my “To Try” list, and as I do, I will share the results and recipes. Share your money-saving ideas in the comment section!