Is Making It From Scratch Any Cheaper?

Lately I've been wondering if it is cheaper to make everyday items from scratch, or to just buy them. Now of course some things just taste better when they are made from scratch, but sometimes it may not be worth the extra time in the kitchen if the cost equals the cost to just buy it. Here's an interesting article I stumbled across, written by Jennifer Resse. It highlights a few everyday pantry items and shows us if it is more cost effective to buy them or to make them. You can check it out here. Pin It

Baked Chicken Skins

Before you get all grossed out, I'll let you know ahead of time, that these were for my dog! That being said, you can certainly make them for yourself. After all, skin off a fried chicken is pretty tasty! Anyway...I always skin my chicken before I cook it(unless I'm baking it, then I skin it after because it keeps it moist). As I was skinning a pack of chicken I decided I'd try to bake it up for my dog, as a treat. All I did was lay it on a lightly sprayed, foil lined baking pan. I baked them at 400 for about 15 minutes. Your dogs will love them! Keep the rest in the fridge if you have leftovers. If you do want to make these for human consumption, I'd sprinkle them with salt, pepper, and any other seasoning of choice(before putting them in the oven). Pin It

Homemade Granola Bars

 I'm really trying to make more everyday items from scratch. My family loves granola bars, so I decided to try these homemade granola bars from Allrecipes.com. We all loved them! Enjoy!

Ingredients

2 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup wheat germ
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup all-purpose flour(I used whole wheat pastry flour)
3/4 cup raisins (optional)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup honey
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Generously grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, flour, raisins and salt. Make a well in the center, and pour in the honey, egg, oil and vanilla. Mix well using your hands. Pat the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until the bars begin to turn golden at the edges. Cool for 5 minutes, then cut into bars while still warm. Do not allow the bars to cool completely before cutting, or they will be too hard to cut.  

recipe courtesy of allrecipes.com

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Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup

I have a new favorite recipe site. OnceaMonthMom.com  . I will do once a month cooking from time to time (or my version of it anyways). Once a Month Mom has a TON of wonderful recipes and advice for anyone wanting to try once a month cooking. I made Italian sausage tortellini soup tonight and it was delicious! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

• 1 lb Italian sausage( I used sweet Italian sausage)
• 1 cup onion, chopped
• 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
• 5 cups beef stock
• 2 cups tomatoes, chopped(I used canned)
• 8 ounces tomato sauce
• 2 cups zucchini, sliced
• 1/2 cup carrot, sliced
• 1 1/2 cups red bell pepper, diced  (I didn't use)
• 1/2 cup dry red wine
• 1 Tablespoons basil, dried
• 1 Tablespoons oregano, dired
• 10 ounces tortellini, cheese, fresh
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, shredded

Directions:

 Saute sausage in a large pan. When the sausage is cooked almost all the way through, push to the side and add onion and garlic. Saute for a few minutes, untill onion and garlic are soft. Drain fat. Add stock, tomatoes, tomato sauce, zucchini, carrot, bell pepper, wine, basil and oregano. Simmer for 40 minutes, until carrots are soft. Add tortellini to boiling soup. Follow package directions on tortellini for cook time. Serve with parmesan cheese on top.

Recipe courtesy of Kelly at onceamonthmom.com Pin It

Scalloped Potatoes

Tonight was my first attempt at making homemade scalloped potatoes. The recipe I found was on Food.com. It was really simple and very tasty. Enjoy!
 
Ingredients:
4 cups thinly sliced, peeled potatoes
3 Tablespoons butter
3 Tablespoons flour
1 & 1/2 cup milk
1 teasp. salt
1 dash cayenne pepper ( I used black pepper)
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese ( I also threw in some grated parmesan cheese)
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese for top

Directions: In a small sauce pan, melt butter and blend in flour.  Let sit for a minute. Stir in cold milk with a whisk. Cook on low until smooth and boiling while stirring occasionally with a whisk. Reduce heat and stir in 1 cup cheese. Place a half of the sliced potatoes in a lightly greased one quart casserole dish. Pour half of cheese sauce over potatoes. Repeat. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top(I added this closer to the end). Bake uncovered for 1 hour at 350.

 

 

 

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Freezing Sandwiches

Did you know that you can freeze sandwiches? Well, you can! I started doing just that a few months ago for my husband's lunches. I love doing this for a couple reasons. One...it's so much easier making a week's worth of sandwiches all at once instead of one every day. Also, I love using up the lunch meat, cheese and bread before it goes bad. I'm assuming I'm not the only one who finds random packages of meat and cheese in the fridge, with just a couple pieces left in them. You're left wondering how long it's been open, or if it's still good. Then you just throw it in the trash to be safe. I hate having to do that...

 I've only tried this with meat and cheese sandwiches, but here are the directions:

Make up the sandwich with meat, cheese, and bread of your choice. Wrap it up in plastic wrap. Then wrap in foil. Put it in the freezer. You might want to label them also. You can either thaw them in the fridge the night before, or  they might thaw out in a lunch bag in time for lunch. My husband likes to heat them in a microwave at work sometimes also. If you want to add any condiments, lettuce, tomato, etc...do this before you eat it, NOT before you freeze it. Enjoy!


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My New Favorite Toy

I have been wanting an apple peeler, corer, slicer since forever! The only ones that I've ever seen, however, are the kind that hook on to the side of your kitchen counter. I've tried those, and they just do not work on my counter... at all! I was so happy to find one that actually suctions right on to the top of your counter. I got it in the mail today, and I tried it tonight. I love it! It works perfectly and now, dare I say it, I can almost feel fall in the air....You can check it out over on Amazon. Pin It