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I cook and bake a LOT. I have a family of 7 and we very rarely eat out. We all know that groceries are not getting any cheaper and one of the ways I combat high prices in the store is to make my own mixes. You know, all of those little packets that you pick up- the taco seasoning, the ranch dressing mix, gravies, etc. I just make them in bulk and it has saved us a bundle! I thought that today I would share a couple of my favorite mixes with you and how I store them so they will last a long time.

Herbs and spices should be kept in a cool, dark place. One way that I help my mixes stay fresh for the longest possible time is to store them in plastic containers with tight fitting lids. But, I take it one step farther! I recycle plastic lemonade mix containers that I get from family, spray paint them black with spray paint meant for plastic outdoor furniture and then I store my mixes inside! Works like a charm.

I just use a bright colored paint pen to write on top of each one what I have inside and store them in my cabinets. They stack perfectly, keep me organized and make it really simple to mix up large batches of the mixes we use the most, like ranch dressing or chili seasoning.

Buttermilk Dressing Recipe

Source credit: Robyn’s View

  • 1/2 cup powdered buttermilk
  • 3 Tablespoons dried parsley
  • 1 Tablespoon dried dill weed
  • 1 Tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 Tablespoon course Kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon pepper

Mix all the ingredients together ( you can use a food processor or grinder to make it really fine, but I don’t). Store in an airtight container. To use mix combine 1 Tablespoon with 1 cup mayo and 1/2 cup milk. Stir well. I like to let it sit in the fridge for at least 2 hours, I think it has better flavor that way.

 

Homemade Onion Soup Mix

Makes enough to equal 1 packet

  • 1/3 cup beef bouillon granules
  • 3/4 cup dried onion flakes
  • 4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon sugar

Mix it all together and store in an airtight container. To make a dip, mix 5 tablespoons mix into 16 ounces of sour cream. To make soup, mix together 5 tablespoons with 4 cups of water, bring to a boil and let simmer for a few minutes.

Having these, and other, mixes at the tips of my fingers makes it so easy to whip up some healthy snacks for my kiddos whenever they want. We’ve started putting a tray of cut up raw veggies on the table at 4:oo pm every day to let the little (and big) people snack on in the afternoon. The kids are loving it and I’m loving that we aren’t spending a fortune in ranch or other dip!

Money Saving Tip: Meals by the Week takes meal planning off your plate. They  plan dinner menus based on sale items at your grocery store. Currently, Meals by the Week publishes 18 different menus each week for grocery store chains, including Safeway, Hy-Vee, Trader Joe’s, Sprouts, and others. They also publish a Vegetarian and a 400 Calorie menu. Recipes are family-friendly, and we like to build convenient menus based on real food.

CharleyC

Charley Cooke is a wife, mother, homeschooler and blogger. She and her husband are raising 4 young girls in beautiful Southern Oregon and loving every minute of it! She blogs daily on her own site, http://www.cookesfrontier.blogspot.com/ about food, family, crafts and everything in between.

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