Back to the Basics---From Scratch Cooking Can Actually Be a Time Saver!

Good morning, everyone!

I am excited about the series that we are starting.

Really excited.

Why? Because I love to teach people how to save money on their groceries.

Actually, I love to teach people how to save money on just about everything, which is why I am constantly posting things I have found or really liked from other,
kindred-spirit pages over on 

The Welcoming House's Facebook Page.

I would encourage you to join us over there if you have not already done so.

From Scratch Cooking is a phrase that scares most folks nowadays. Yes, it has a nostalgic ring to it, but it also has a fear moniker attached to it. We think "time-consuming", or "fussy".

What we SHOULD think is: "better for my family" and  

"as easy as buying the box in the grocery aisle".

See, all you REALLY have to do to do a lot of scratch cooking
 is think and act smart about it.

Think about the zillion options you have at the grocery store. 

Boxes. Bags. Frozen meals.

 Many options supposedly to save us time...

and empty our wallets all in the pursuit of convenience.

But what really we need to think when we see those is that SOMEONE, at SOMETIME actually did that regularly at home. Then realized that it could be reproduced and sold for a profit.

Then big companies got involved, told us that we simply dont have the time to make things the "old fashioned way" and began making a killing on those same items.

Every time I walk through the cake mix aisle, part of me freaks because I know how little product is in each one of those boxes, and people think they are getting a steal on it when they get them for $1 each. Sheesh. I bet using regular ingredients I could make one, better and healthier, for under 30 cents. And that is no joke.

Earlier last year I published my very first Ebook, the Master Mix Way, and in there I shared 50 recipes, in five different categories, for making a large batch of a mix, storing in on the shelf, and then using it, with many variations, for making different products.

Over the months I have linked different recipes and shared them with you, because I think people need to know more about these mixes.

I plan on doing that a lot more this week.

Today, however, I am simply going to tell you the three top recipes that I make in large batches, and bag up, then placing in my cupboard so when I need a quick mix, I grab one and go.

The first one is my tortilla mix. While in the book, The Master Mix Way I shared a master mix for making tortillas, and it works wonderfully, I still like the convenience of grabbing a bag that contains just enough mix for one meal of tortillas for my family, or a batch of tortilla chips. It is an add-water-and-go batch, which saves me a ton of money on ready-made tortillas, and also makes it fresh and hot for my family. Tortillas are a good thing to start with because they are simple, cheap, and easy to get the kids involved with in making. I make about a dozen bags at a time, with one batch each in them, and store them in a plastic shoe box container in my cupboard. Contains the mess, and easy to spot what I am looking for thanks to the labels on the front.

This is a flour tortilla recipe, and as with all the recipes I am going to share this week, I use my Wondermill to grind the grains for them.

Flour Tortilla recipe  

(One batch makes 12-18 large tortillas)

In a single bowl, place the following:

4 cups flour

 ( I mix fresh ground whole wheat and all purpose 2 cups each)

1 tsp salt

2 tsp baking soda

2 Tbs lard

*combine all these things and place in a bag. Store in a cool, dark cupboard for 2-3 months. If you live in a warm climate, then omit the lard and add when you make up the bag.

To make up a bag, add 1 1/2 cups warm water, mix, let sit for ten minutes, mix into 12-18 equal size balls. Roll out into tortillas, put onto a hot greased griddle, and bake until dark circles appear on side against heat. Flip and repeat, store in a bowl covered with a plate or a tortilla warmer if you have one.

Basic Noodle Recipe (one batch feeds five adults)

All right, I know it is cheap and easy to buy your own pasta. But what about whipping up a homemade batch that only takes a few minutes, and having homemade chicken noodle soup? Or noodles with alfredo sauce, made from fresh ground flour that not only makes them healthy but filling? I promise you, once you use this recipe for real noodles, it will be the last time you rely on the store bought ones. I have about 20 bags at a time of these made up, and when I am mixing them up, I throw in basil or oregano to make it even better.

 IN a bowl combine the following:

 2 1/2 cups fresh ground whole wheat flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp dried basil or oregano

1/4 cup dry milk powder (either non fat or whole milk powder)

This is for each bag. Whisk ingredients and on the outside of bag write this:

Add 2 eggs and 1/2 cup water. Knead until smooth. Roll out as thin as possible, or use pasta roller machine. Cut into strips, let dry on a towel on table for ten to fifteen minutes, then heat large pan full of salted water with dash of oil in it. Take noodles and boil them for 5 minutes. Strain and serve.

 Pancake Mix: (one batch makes 20-28 pancakes)

(which can also double as waffle mix if you double the eggs)

We freeze these in huge batches so that we can pull some out anytime for snacks, or quick breakfasts for the kids. If you take the same recipe and double the eggs, thinning out the batter a little, it makes fabulous waffles as well. :)

In a bowl combine the following:

2 cups freshly ground whole wheat flour

2 cups all purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup baking powder

2 tsp salt

whisk together and store in a large bag. On the outside write the following:

Add 4 eggs, 1 1/2 cups milk, 1/4 cup oil, and 1-2 cups water. (I thin the batter out periodically as the whole wheat flour will absorb the water as you go).

And that is it. Three basic mixes I keep in my cupboard that I can pull out in a flash and use to finish or base a meal off of.

Tomorrow we are going to be talking about the five basic master mixes I keep on hand at all times for baking needs, some of which you have already been exposed to here on The Welcoming House in past posts, and a couple you haven't. Then come back for more mixes to make your life easier throughout the week as we go into different areas of the grocery budget and teach you ways to save money.

See you right back here tomorrow!

Blessings to you and yours,

Heather

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