Homemade Challenge

**SarahElmore** · 08-02-2011, 09:40 AM

I have been doing some searches online about all of the convenience foods we purchase but we could be making them homemade!! It's especially rewarding when you have all of the ingredients already & you actually save money instantly! I have a couple recipes I want to make but I was wondering if anyone else wants to join in?! I think it will be fun, frugal & also better for us than all of those added preservatives. Here is my short list:

Taco Seasoning (instead of the packets)

Homemade coffee creamer

Homemade Vanilla extract.

I have a website for these if you are interested too!

**Jayne** · 08-02-2011, 09:44 AM

Can you post that website?...Thanks

**OOwl** · 08-02-2011, 10:25 AM

I need a good recipe to substitute the can cream soups called for in MANY recipes. I have a life-threatening allergy to MSG so I have to be hyper vigilant about it being in any foods I consume (and it's in ALL those can cream soups!). So, if you have a good recipe for that, I'd appreciate the link. Thanks!

**KimZ** · 08-02-2011, 11:01 AM

4 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter
¼ cups Onions, Chopped
4 cloves Garlic, Minced
¼ cups Flour, Unbleached, Plus 2 Tablespoons, Divided
4 cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth ( I use stock)
2 cups Cream Or Half-and-Half
1 teaspoon Salt
½ teaspoons Fresh Cracked Pepper
½ teaspoons Thyme (or Any Seasoning You Desire)
¼ teaspoons Nutmeg
Melt butter in large frying pan over medium high heat. Add in onions, garlic (and any other veggie or meat you desire at the time). Cook 5 minutes until onions are cooked and translucent.

2. Blend in ¼ cup flour and stir until bubbly.

3. Add in the chicken broth and heat until slightly thickened while stirring frequently.

4. In a separate bowl or large measuring cup, whisk the cream, remaining 2 tablespoons flour and seasonings together.

5. Slowly pour cream mixture into the soup, stirring constantly. Heat to a boil and until it thickens

Add any variations you might want..... Corn... Mushrooms.... Chicken.... ( in my case Avocado ;-) ) tomato, pea, etc etc etc

**KimZ** · 08-02-2011, 11:10 AM

I make probably 75% of my items already from scratch.... but I can ALWAYS do better - Count me in! I have a HUGE repetoire of normal everydays if anyone wants a recipe

**lisa0069** · 08-02-2011, 11:29 AM

I have made my own vanilla it is in the cabinet now. Used a half bottle of left over vodka, and put 2 vanilla beans in it. Had to go to wegmans and get the vanilla beans. Pricey up front, but for the amount you use in a year this will last like 20 years LOL.

**wunsagin** · 08-07-2011, 02:04 PM

I have recently made chicken gravy mix to replace those gravy packets. I already had everything in the pantry, one batch makes enough to replace 8 packets and it tastes great.

Another from scratch substitute I've done lately, corn muffins. It was SO easy to pick up a mix but I have to admit, HM is 100% better!

Next I want to try HM ranch dip/dressing mix and a substitute for dry italian dressing, both of those I use in cooking a lot.

**grammea** · 11-03-2011, 09:33 AM

I make all my soups from scratch,can't have the high sodium content in most and can't afford the low sodium varieties.
Making a homemade chocolate cake this weekend using Hellman's mayo.Remember my mom making this when I was a kid and googled the recipe.Hope it's as good as I remember!!!
God bless,
Helen(grammea)

**dinah** · 11-03-2011, 09:46 AM

oooh, sign me up please!

i want to learn how to make fruit leather and a zillion other things!

i've started making my own taco seasoning and homemade hamburger helper.

**imagine** · 11-03-2011, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by lisa0069

I have made my own vanilla it is in the cabinet now. Used a half bottle of left over vodka, and put 2 vanilla beans in it. Had to go to wegmans and get the vanilla beans. Pricey up front, but for the amount you use in a year this will last like 20 years LOL.

Homemade vanilla is so yummy in recipes.

**frugal me** · 11-09-2011, 01:46 PM

I'm going to try to make a homemade Bisquick recipe.
I use this quite often for pancakes, cheddar rolls (like Red Lobster), topping for pot-pies, etc.

**betterthanIdeserve** · 11-10-2011, 08:21 PM

I make a lot of bread, dh has to watch sodium intake so that is an easy way to drop it. Make this bread on sunday, easy and oh my soooooooo yummy. Today is thursday eve and I still have about a loaf left. Anything that will last a few days with our teen son is def a keeper. The recipe made 3 loaves but should have made four. This is the site faithfulprovisions.com/2010/08/30/how-to-make-homemade-bread

**donnabc** · 11-13-2011, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by dinah

oooh, sign me up please!

i want to learn how to make fruit leather and a zillion other things!

fill magic bullet with strawberries (blueberries, blackberries, etc)...add a squirt of honey and blend.
spritz tray with olive oil and pour mix in. turn dehyrator on and wait for it to dry :0) ... I usually do mine late at night and they are done in the am when I wake up (but I do 3 trays at a time)

one magic bullet cup = one tray on the food dehyrator.

enjoy