Cheaper Food Staples From Scratch
I don’t know about you, but recently my social media feed has been full of reels about how to make many snack & pantry items from scratch. Honestly, it can be overwhelming! Am I allowed to say that sometimes I feel bad that I am not making those “from scratch” items and yet inspired to try it at the same time?
With 3 small children underfoot, getting meals planned, cooked, and cleaned-up after is already a tall order. Having some very easy grab-and-go type snacks on hand makes my life better. With this in mind, I decided to take the plunge and try making something from scratch… First up: Peanut Butter.
Peanut butter is a staple in our house. We use it for sandwiches, toast, bagels, smoothies, just on a spoon as it is, and so much more. I love its versatility, heart healthy mono- and poly-unsaturated fats, and the nutrient density for my growing kids. I’ve bought the jars from the store for years but have always thought it would be fun to make my own. Plus, it seemed like a little baby step into cooking from scratch. I will report, it tasted so good, and it felt easy enough that I’m going to do it again! Below is the recipe, and feel free to sub out the oil for one you already have on hand like olive, coconut, or vegetable. For the sweetener, you could do sugar, honey, or a simple syrup. Some sub out the sweetener as well. Play with the recipe and see what works best!
Homemade Peanut Butter
Ingredients:
16 oz Dry Roasted & Salted Peanuts
~3-4 Tbsp Grapeseed Oil
~1-2 Tbsp Maple Syrup
Directions:
Put Peanuts into your food processor and mix until fine, add in 1-2 Tbsp oil, mix again, add in the remaining oil and sweetener, continue to mix until smooth. This will take ~8-12 minutes of mixing time (longer to allow for the food processor to cool). Store in an air tight container and add to your favorite items. Enjoy!
Quite by accident, I also ended up making pancake batter from scratch this week too. I thought we had some Bisquick in the pantry and much to my surprise at 4:45pm, we did not. My google search fueled my confidence as I realized I had everything I needed to make a pancake batter from the baking ingredients I already keep on hand. It tasted good and the pancakes got the same rise they always do. I was very pleased with myself!
Next, I plan to try making my own homemade cheese crackers and some chicken and veggie patties for quick snacks. What I learned is that by choosing items my family will actually eat and keeping it relatively simple to accomplish, I’m much more likely to do it. It was also fun to include my kids in the kitchen a little more. They are always happy to be my taste testers! If having more homemade items is a goal of yours, my advice would be to start small and see where it leads you. There can be a balance of store-bought pantry snacks for on-the-go ease and items you keep on hand that you make on your own too. I love this balance! What are your favorite items to prep from scratch?
Happy cooking, baking, and shopping!