Make handy homemade mixes
Homemade mixes are frugal and easy to make. You can make them to stock your pantry or give them as gifts. You can find a large variety of homemade mixes and gifts-in-a-jar recipes on my community forums. Simply click here. Recipes include: master baking mixes, spice blends, dips, flavored coffees, soups, brownies, stuffing, popcorn flavoring, salad dressings and chicken coating. The first reader tip shares a taco seasoning mix to get you started.
HOMEMADE TACO SEASONING:
I recently was out of taco seasoning mix. I had been using 1/3 of an envelope package per batch of tacos. So I made my own using 1 tablespoon chili powder and 1/8 tablespoon ground cumin. I browned one pound of ground meat and 1/4 cup chopped onion. I added the seasonings and 1/3 cup water to the browned meat and onion. I let it simmer for 10 minutes. Voila! I had tacos that tasted good, cost less than the $1.29 packet of taco mix, and did not have any chemical additives. — Jane S., Iowa
FRUGAL WEDDING FAVOR:
My favorite cheap wedding favor is a small bag of the couple’s favorite trail mix with a tag that says “perfect mix.” Here are some more great ideas: individual boxes with ingredients to “make your own smores”; plastic cake decorating bags filled with hot chocolate and topped with just the right amount of marshmallows; premade drink mix of any kind, such as iced tea or lemonade, and a decorative stirrer or a plastic light-up ice cube at the top of the bag. Happy favoring! — Renee, email
STORAGE METHOD:
My neighbor introduced me to her recipe for homemade ground whole-wheat bread. She also taught me how to store the ingredients. She used the dry ice method. I had a large, broken-down freezer chest in which I placed sacks of grain and other dry baking supplies. I just placed the sacks in the chest with dry ice on top and closed the lid. By using more dry ice every six months, or each time I purchased new supplies, I never had any problem with weevils or other insect infestations again. With smaller purchases, I use square glass or plastic bottles and break up the dry ice and place a small piece in each bottle. I cover the bottle with a tight-fitting lid. The bottles fit nicely in my cupboard and seem to keep fresh forever.– Peggy, Washington
photo by stevendepolo
2 Comments
Leave a Reply
- ISA
- Are you making the most of your ISA allowance? Halifax offers two types of ISA - cash ISAs and stocks & shares ISAs.
- Cash ISA
- Everyone likes to save tax free, which is why we offer a range of cash ISAs that could suit you. Start saving with one of our cash ISAs today and you could benefit from tax-free interest on your savings. Remember, tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may change.
- Savings
- Reach your savings goals with our range of savings accounts. View all our savings accounts and find the one that's best for you.
-
Soaps Gone Buy laundry kit contest giveaway
This contest is now closed. Whether you’ve been making...
Anna
8/28/2011 at 12:33 pm
I pay a dollar for 3 packages of taco seasoning. I don’t think I could make my own as cheaply.
Cindy
10/19/2011 at 5:33 pm
If you make your own taco seasoning, you will know what is in it and you can control your salt intake as well – take a look at the ingredients on the taco seasoning packet!!