Save time and stretch your dollars by making your own pantry staples. Here are five of the easiest homemade pantry staple recipes to make yourself.
There are many benefits to making your own pantry staples. Not only can you save money and trips to the grocery store, making your own pantry staples is better for the environment and gives peace of mind about what is in the food you eat. Read on for these five best homemade pantry staples that you can make to save money.
This is possibly the easiest pantry staple that you can make yourself. For every cup of self-rising flour you need, you can simply use one cup of plain flour with one and three-quarters of a teaspoon of baking powder. No baking powder? No sweat! To make your own baking powder, simply combine baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) and crème of tartar in a one-to-one ratio.
If you have a stick blender or a food processor, making your own mayonnaise is a cinch. Place three eggs, one-quarter cup of lemon juice, one and a half teaspoons of salt, and one teaspoon of mustard powder in your blender. Have one and three-quarter cups of canola or vegetable oil ready in a measuring jug. Turn the blender to a high speed and gradually start pouring the oil into the mixture. You will soon notice a change in consistency as the sauce begins to thicken and emulsify. Once you have finished adding the oil, turn the blender off. Transfer your DIY mayonnaise into sterilized jars. It should keep for about two weeks in the refrigerator.
If you can make your own mayonnaise, why not make homemade ranch dressing too? In a mixing bowl, whisk together half a cup each of mayonnaise, sour cream, and milk. Add one teaspoon of dried dill and half a teaspoon each of dried parsley, chives, and garlic powder, as well as one-quarter teaspoon each of salt and dried onion powder. Lastly, add one to three teaspoons of lemon juice, according to your taste preference.
Next on the list of DIY pantry staples is salsa. This beloved party snack is super easy to make. Whether you prefer the cooked or the fresh version, this homemade pantry staple recipe requires just a few ingredients and a few minutes of prep time. In a mixing bowl, combine two cans of chopped tomatoes (or four chopped fresh Roma tomatoes), one-third of a cup of diced red onion, two chopped cloves of garlic, a couple of chili peppers (depending on heat preference), some chopped cilantro, a pinch of sea salt, and lime juice to taste. Use immediately or place in a jar in the refrigerator overnight for the flavors to combine.
Your list of homemade pantry staple recipes should include a DIY hot chocolate mix. In a blender, combine two cups of powdered milk, one cup of cocoa powder, and one cup of castor sugar. For extra creaminess and depth of flavor, you can also add a pinch of salt, one teaspoon of cinnamon, and one tablespoon of cornstarch or arrowroot powder. Blitz the ingredients together and transfer your DIY hot chocolate mix to a well-sealed glass jar.
At Save, we are all about helping you find ways to save money and these DIY pantry staples will help you do just that. Looking for more clever ways to make your dollars go further? Keep an eye out for our Save mailer.
