The Beauty of a Story

In the interest of saving money, I occasionally teach myself to cook something from scratch. I always assume it will be cheaper to cook or bake something myself than to buy it from a store. And I am usually right. It just takes a little bit of time, or a lot a bit of time. But either way, more money left in my bank account is always a win. What I didn’t realize until I started was how easy it would be. Sometimes it takes less time to make the food than it would to drive to the store, navigate through crowds, decide between 50 different brands, and then drive back home again. Also, less decision fatigue.

Here are a few things I have learned to make recently which really are cheaper to make at home, and surprisingly easy as well.

Pizza Dough

I love pizza, but I was tired of paying for a ‘meh’ pizza which wasn’t very filling. With much trepidation, I looked up a recipe for pizza dough. And surprise! It wasn’t hard to make at all. At least the recipe I found anyway. It tastes better, fills us up, and leaves more money in my pocket.

Here is the recipe I use: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/homemade-pizza-crust-recipe/#tasty-recipes-66436

Granola

This isn’t that expensive, if you aren’t picky. I am rather picky (unfortunately for my grocery bill) about how much sugar we eat, and most granola is pumped full of it. When I tried to find nicer granola with quality ingredients, I was disgusted by the price for a teeny tiny bag. So I decided to try and make it myself. I was genuinely shocked by how quick and easy this recipe was to make. Not only that, but it stores really well in my pantry. Now, if you decide to put a whole bunch of dried fruit in your granola, it is probably going to end up just as expensive as the store bought stuff. I keep mine really simple, just coconut flakes and maybe some nuts and that keeps the cost down.

Here is the recipe I like: https://www.loveandlemons.com/granola/#wprm-recipe-container-42100

Maryonnaise

Again, in an attempt to cut back on the sugar lurking in everything, I decided to learn how to make mayo. And man, it is super, super easy to make. It also makes me feel rather homesteadery (I don’t think that’s a word) and talented. Always a good reason to do something. This is the only recipe where you need special equipment to make it. Everything else can be made with a bowl and a baking sheet. But mayonnaise is much easier with a stick blender, and that is what I use.

This is the recipe I like: https://www.inspiredtaste.net/25943/homemade-mayonnaise-recipe/

French Fries

Yes, it is possible to make french fries at home. This is the only thing I make at home I can’t say is better than the store version. I haven’t quite mastered the correct thickness for crispy french fries. But after doing it a few times, I can make them at least taste like french fries from a store. They taste good, are easy to make, and are a fraction of the price for a bag at the grocery store. Occasionally we still buy french fries for really busy weeks, but for the most part I make them at home. I don’t have a recipe I follow for this. Simply slice up your potatoes to your desired thickness (the smaller the better), drizzle oil over them, and salt to taste (in other words, use lots of salt). I roast them in the oven at about 450 degrees until done. When is done? When they squish, or crisp, to your desired consistency. Or until you simply can’t wait anymore and must eat dinner right now. Either way works.

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To close, I enjoy figuring out how to make things in my own kitchen instead of buying them from the store. Besides saving money, there is a great feeling of accomplishment when most, or all, of the things on the table were made by you in your own kitchen. It has been fun to find simple swaps for things we use every day. Just a little bit of extra time goes a long way in nutrition and budget goals.

What have you been making in your kitchen recently?

Shaina Merrick