Homemade Convenience Foods

Recipes for Making Your Own Mixes

Sep 24, 2009 Leigh Vozzella

Learning how to make your own healthy alternatives to store bought mixes and convenience foods is easy with these budget-friendly recipes.

In today's economic climate, many people are looking for ways to cut back and get "back to basics". The first place people often begin to make these cuts is the grocery bill. Making "convenience foods" at home, rather than purchasing these items at the grocery store, allows for more control over the cost as well as the nutritional content.

Convenient Breakfast Recipes

Mornings can be an extremely busy time for families with everyone rushing off to school and/or work. Many parents tend to fall back on the old breakfast stand by of cold cereal because it's quick and easy. For a more nutritional, yet quick and easy, start to the morning, try any of these Quick Mix recipes:

Quick Mix Recipe

Use within 10-12 weeks. Makes 13 cups of mix.

Ingredients:

• 8 1/2 cups All-Purpose flour
• 4T baking powder
• 1T salt
• 2tsp cream of tartar
• 1tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 cups instant nonfat dry milk or buttermilk
• 2 1/4 c shortening (there are many varieties available that are healthier alternatives such as palm oil)

Preparation:

1. In a bowl combine all dry ingredients and blend well.
2. With a pastry blender or heavy duty mixer, cut in the shortening until the mix resembles cornmeal in texture.
3. Pour mixture into an airtight container, label, date and store in a cool, dry place.

Recipe for Quick Pancakes

Makes 10-12 4" pancakes.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups Quick Mix ( above)
• 1T sugar
• 1 egg beaten
• 1 1/2 c milk or water

Combine mix and sugar. Combine egg and Milk. Add egg mixture to dry mix. Blend well and let stand 5-10 minutes. Cook. (These can also be made ahead of time and stored in the freezer in an airtight container for an even quicker breakfast.)

Recipe for Morning Muffins

Makes 12 large muffins.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups of Quick Mix (above)
• 4T sugar
• 1 egg beaten
• 1 cup of milk or water
• *optional- blueberries or 1 cup of grated raw apple with cinnamon

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place quick mix in a medium bowl, add sugar and mix well.
2. In a small bowl, combine egg with milk. Add the egg mixture all at once to the dry mixture and blend.
3. Bake for 15-20 minutes (20-25 with apples).

(Like the pancakes, the muffins can also be made in advance and stored in the freezer in an airtight container. When you are ready for them, just pop them in the microwave until warm.)

What's For Dinner?

For many families, the dinner rush isn't any easier than the morning rush. Whether it be work schedules, activity schedules or just a lack of pre-planning, sometimes it seems easier to just serve the convenience foods. Before reaching for that frozen pizza, try these quick, simple and convenient dinner recipes:

Cheeseburger Mac Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1-2 lbs lean ground hamburg
• 2 boxes of "healthy" mac n' cheese (such as Annie's)
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1tsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• pinch of paprika

Prepare the mac n' cheese according to the direction on the box. Brown the ground beef, add spices and then add to cooked mac n' cheese. This is a much healthier alternative to the store-bought Cheeseburger Mac convenience food mix.

Quick Beef Stroganoff Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1-2 lbs lean ground beef
• 1 lb egg noodles
• 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
• 1/2 tsp black pepper (or to taste)
• 1 lg yellow onion peeled and thinly sliced (or 1 1/2 tsp onion powder)
• 1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick)
• 2T flour
• 1 cup beef broth
• 2 tsp dijon mustard
• 1/3 cup sour cream (room temperature)

Preparation:

1. Brown beef and then add salt, pepper, and onions (or onion powder).
2. In a small saucepan, melt butter and blend with flour. Add broth and mustard then cook, whisking constantly for 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
3. Add beef and gravy mixture to cooked and drained egg noddles. Mix thoroughly.
4. Smooth in sour cream and serve.

Convenience and Health

Store bought convenience foods and mixes contain unhealthy amounts of sodium as well as additives such as MSG. In these economic times, everyone is looking for ways to cut back. Making convenience foods and mixes at home is not only healthier but it's also economical. More make-your-own recipes can be found at Mom Advice and at Budget 101.

The copyright of the article Homemade Convenience Foods in Recipes is owned by Leigh Vozzella. Permission to republish Homemade Convenience Foods in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Quick Homemade Dessert