10 foods you should cook rather than buy
Some people prefer to buy peace and some, like me, prefer to save money. Of course, you already know that you save a lot by making your own broths, breads, pasta, sauces… but it still takes time! Let me introduce you to 10 quick foods you can make yourself to save money. Plus, many are great as gifts. Take notes for the upcoming holidays.
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1 – Powdered seasonings.
Spice mix sachets are far from economical. You’ll save a lot if you buy the spices separately and make the mixes yourself. What’s more, you can add salt to taste.
Taco seasoning (Tex-Mex)
2 tbsp chili powder, 1 tbsp dried oregano, 2 tbsp garlic powder, 4 tbsp cumin, 4 tbsp paprika, 2 tbsp onion powder, 1 tbsp ground pepper, 1 tbsp salt
Italian seasoning
2 tbsp oregano, 1 tbsp fennel seed, 3 tbsp basil, 2 tbsp onion powder, 1 tbsp ground pepper, 1 tbsp rosemary, 2 tbsp thyme, 1 tbsp salt, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 2 bay leaves
BBQ seasoning
1 tsp oregano, 2 tsp salt, 2 tsp garlic powder, 2 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp thyme, 1 tbsp ground pepper, 5 tbsp smoked paprika, 4 tbsp brown sugar, 4 tsp ground mustard.
2 – Hummus
The first time I bought hummus, I almost had a heart attack when I saw the price. It’s cheap to make yourself, there are so few ingredients (1 can chickpeas, tahini, lemon) and you can season it to your taste. Throw in a homemade shish taouk!!!!
3 – Chili Oil
A jar of chili oil costs about $5 per 250 ml. If we calculate that a 1L bottle of canola oil costs around $7… we’re already a winner! What’s more, crushed chillies are not expensive.
4 – Popcorn
Okay, purists will tell me “it doesn’t taste the same, it tastes healthy”. In fact, kernel popcorn is healthier than bagged popcorn, because it doesn’t contain butter or margarine, but you can always add butter and your favorite seasonings. So, why not? A bag of Orville-style popcorn costs about $1.40, while the same amount of kernel popcorn (1/4 cup uncooked) costs about $0.20. How’s that for savings?
5 – Lipton chicken noodle soup
Feeling sick? Choose Lipton soup in a pouch. If you’re healthy, SAVE by making it yourself. A can of Lipton Chicken Noodle Soup costs $3.50 for 4 pouches/8 servings. With a homemade recipe, you’ll get much more than 8 servings, and you can choose the salt content.
Water – FREE
Chicken bouillon powder – $7 for a 400g/72-serving jar
Dehydrated vegetables – $2 for an 85g bag
Noodles – $3 for a packet that will last a lifetime
6 – Bag of onion soup
Who hasn’t eaten plain potato chips dipped in onion sour cream? You’ll spend $4.70 for 4/30g sachets of powdered onion soup. Believe me, just like chicken noodle soup and seasonings, you’ll save big by making your own sachets. Ingredients: 1/4 cup dehydrated onion flakes, 2 tablespoons beef bouillon powder, 1/4 teaspoon onion powder, 1/4 teaspoon parsley flakes, 1/8 teaspoon paprika, salt and pepper.
7 – Oatmeal
A 10-pack of 30g sachets costs around $4.70. A bag of quick oatmeal costs $8.50 for 2.25kg. The math is simple: 30g<2.25kg!
8 – Cocktail syrup
I have a collection of commercial and handmade cocktail syrups, because I don’t like to waste and making syrups is ideal for not throwing away my fruit, herbs, etc. A bottle of cocktail syrup costs more or less $14, and making your own costs more or less $0.50.
9 – Oat milk
Oat milk contains only two ingredients, oats and water. Water is free ahah and a 300g bag of oats costs $5. A liter of oat milk costs around $5.75. With 300g of oats, you can make 4 liters of oat milk!
10 – Pancake mix
Can anyone explain to me why there are so many ingredients in commercial pancake mixes? It’s always just flour and sugar. At the cottage, I always have a 3-liter Masson jar in the pantry. All I have to do is add milk, fat and an egg. A commercial can costs about $4.50 for 905g of preparation. Making it yourself costs $5 for 2.25kg!
