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Archive for the ‘DIY – Cheap!’ Category


Soy Sauce

Here is another easy and shelf-stable recipe to help you in building your home store.  There are many uses for soy sauce.  Making your own is cheap, easy and more delicious than commercially produced sauces.  I use it as a spice in meatloaf, soups and stews.  And if you are a DIY junkie, you have the ingredients already in your home.  If not, I have linked products for this recipe below for your convenience.

 

Soy Sauce
Recipe Type: Spice
Author: PrepperPenny
Prep time: 5 mins
Total time: 5 mins
Serves: 2 cups
Ingredients
  • 1-1/2 cups boiling water
  • 4 Tbsp Beef Bouillon
  • 4 Tbsp Cider Vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp Dark Molasses
  • 1 tsp sesame seed oil
  • pinch of black pepper
Instructions
  1. Whisk all ingredients together until dissolved and pour into an airtight container. May be refrigerated indefinitely.

THRIVE beef-bouillon

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Sweet Mayo Whip

Why buy commercially made food when you can make it better, cheaper and in the convenience of your own home?  My family doesn’t like mayo.  We love Miracle Whip.  But I know from experience that homemade anything tastes better than about anything I have bought in a store.

Here is a perfect example.  This is a delicious recipe for Miracle Whip that allows you to refine the amounts of the ingredients to customize the flavors you love the most.  I tweaked mine with more lemon juice and vinegar to give it a bit more tartness.  You may like adding more garlic or using less salt.  You are in control.

Because I have such a complete home store and have my own chickens, this cost me only the price for the vegetable oil I used.  All the other ingredients are things I have, grow or raise.  This is the versatility and flexibility I have in using ingredients I keep in my home that allows me to make commercial products we used to buy.

Learning these skills now, before you will need them in a SHTF scenario is important.  Every time you learn to make something new, from scratch will prepare you and your family to enjoy a diet and foods that you are accustomed to without having to make sacrifices many may face.

MrPrepper always likes the food I make.  But with this, he actually told me that it was the best he ever tasted.  Believe me.  That was a 5-Star rating!

 

Sweet Mayo Whip
Recipe Type: condiment
Author: PrepperPenny
Prep time: 20 mins
Cook time: 3 mins
Total time: 23 mins
Like commercial Miracle Whip, this recipe is a deeper and richer flavor. If you prefer Miracle Whip over Mayo like I do, you will certainly want to try this recipe
Ingredients
  • 2 Egg Yolks
  • 1 Tsp Sea Salt
  • 2 Tbsp Powdered Sugar
  • 2 Tbs Real Lemon Juice
  • 3 Tbs Vinegar
  • 1 1/2 C Vegetable Oil
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp Corn Starch
  • 1 1/2 Tsp Dry Mustard
  • 1/2 C Boiling Water
  • 1/2-1 Tsp Garlic Powder
  • Pinch of Paprika (Optional)
Instructions
  1. Using a blender or hand mixer, whip the first 4 ingredients well.
  2. Very slowly, drizzle oil into egg mixture while continuing to mix
  3. Add vinegar then let this set while you prepare the next stage
  4. In a separate bowl, mix cornstarch and mustard until fully incorporated
  5. Add this mixture into boiling water using a whisk briskly to blend it. In only a moment or so, it will become the consistency of pudding. Remove from heat source.
  6. Very slowly, add the hot cornstarch mixture into the egg mixture while whipping it with your mixer.
  7. Once it becomes recognizably gelatinous, add your garlic and paprika (optional).
  8. Refrigerate in an airtight container and use as you normally would.

 

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Dry Italian Spice MixSpice mixes are one of my especially favorite homemade products that I keep in my home store.  This recipe in particular is an all-time favorite.   If you are an avid or prolific gardener, you could literally grow nearly every ingredient here, except for the pepper and salt.  Grow your herbs, dry or dehydrate them and you know you are using organic or pesticide free ingredients.  I typically quadruple this recipe so I always have it available.  For me, it’s all about stocking my home store for cost savings, health and convenience.  This recipe meets all these standards.  Using this recipe also saves you money over the store-bought envelopes.  And you control the ingredients!

I will post a great Italian beef sandwich recipe soon.  It’s a recipe my family absolutely loves.  And it’s incredibly easy using this spice mix.

 

Dry Italian Seasoning Mix
Recipe Type: Spice Mix
Cuisine: Italian
Author: PrepperPenny
Prep time: 5 mins
Total time: 5 mins
No need to buy commercially produced spice blends. You can make them yourself. Plus, you can adjust the spices to make it unique to personal taste!
Ingredients
  • 1 Tablespoon Garlic Salt
  • 1 Tablespoon Onion Powder
  • 1 Tablespoon granulated Sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons Dried Oregano
  • 1 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon Dried Thyme
  • 1 teaspoon Dried Basil
  • 1 Tablespoon dried parsley
  • 1/4 teaspoon Celery Salt
  • 2 Tablespoons Salt
Instructions
  1. Combine ingredients and store in and airtight container.
Notes
To Make Italian Dressing 1/4 Cup Balsamic Vinegar ~ 1/3 Cup Canola Oil ~ 2 Tablespoons Water ~2 Tablespoons of Mix. Combine and shake vigorously. . . . Enjoy!

 

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Spice Mixes

Making your own spice blends has many advantages.  They are usually less expensive than commercial brands.  You control the ingredients so you have control of things like sodium content.  Homemade is usually much richer with deeper flavors and you are working to add to your own home store.

 

Homemade Fajita Mix
Cuisine: Mexican
Author: PrepperPenny
Prep time: 5 mins
Total time: 5 mins
Don’t buy it in those envelopes. They are expensive. Besides, this mix is much better, flavorful, easy and cheap to make.
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 teaspoonCumin; ground
  • 1/2 teaspoonOregano; dried, crushed
  • 1/4 teaspoonSalt
  • 1/4 teaspoonRed pepper; ground
  • 1/4 teaspoonBlack pepper; ground
  • 1/8 teaspoonGarlic powder
  • 1/8 teaspoonOnion powder
Instructions
  1. Simply combine all ingredients in an airtight container, shake to mix and store as you would with any other spice mix. Use exactly as you would for the pre-made stuff.

 

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Brown Sugar Recipe

Keeping fresh brown sugar in my home was . . . challenging.  By the time I was half-way through a box or bag, it wound up being a terribly hard block that I would literally take a hammer to.  No more.  Now I make only as much as I need when I need it.  So it’s always fresh and fluffy and very easy to work with.  Here is all you need to do.  Adjust the amount for what you need.  Make a half-batch or double, triple or whatever.

1 Cup Sugar

1 TBSP Molasses

You will just stir, and stir and when you think you have a lumpy mess, stir some more.  The first time I made it, I though, “Oh no.  I messed up.” But I kept going and eventually the sugar was eventually all coated with the molasses and as you can see by the photo, turned out absolutely beautiful.

 

 

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Dishwasher Detergent

Learning to make the commercial products you currently buy saves you quite a lot of money, especially over time.  Inline of my life of building my own home store, this recipe will lead you to a more self-reliant life ~ one recipe at a time.

 

Dishwasher Detergent
Author: PrepperPenny
Prep time: 5 mins
Total time: 5 mins
DIY home products saves you a lot of money over time and you get the satisfaction of controlling the ingredients you family comes in contact with.
Ingredients
  • 1 cup borax
  • 1 cup washing soda
  • 1/2 cup citric acid (Can substitute with unsweatened lemonade drink mix)
  • 1/2 cup kosher salt (for scrubbing action)
  • * 2 Tbsp Rice (Optional)
Instructions
  1. Simply mix all the ingredients and keep in an airtight container.
  2. Use 1 Tbsp per load
  3. * I found through my own experience that the basic recipe becomes very clumpy and hard. If you add a little bit of rice, it keeps you detergent loose and broken up. It’s such a small amount (only a few kernels get into each load) that it washes right through and saves you a lot of frustration.

 

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Magic Cheese DipThis recipe using your Magic Mix is the base for any recipe which calls for a cheese sauce.  It’s very versatile.  Blend your favorite cheeses and add spices to make it what you want.

Magic Cheese Dip

Recipe Type: Appetiser
Cuisine: American
Author: PrepperPenny
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 10 mins
Total time: 15 mins
Here is a simple, quick and inexpensive dip to make for any gathering.
Ingredients
  • 1/2-2/3 cup Magic Mix (depending on desired thickness)
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
Instructions
  1. Heat water and Magic Mix in a saucepan over low/medium heat until smooth and creamy. Add your cheese and stir constantly until it is melted and fully incorporated.

 

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Master Brownie Mix

Cake mixes, brownie mixes, canned pie fillings and puddings are some of the more common pre-made food most Americans keep in our pantries.  But you save a lot of money and avoid any ingredients that commercial producers may use in pre-packaging something you can easily make yourself.  Part of building your own store is learning to make the foods that you rely on buying at your local grocers.  Here is a delicious brownie mix I have all the time.  Like with any brownie mix, you can adapt it to make them just exactly the way you love them.  Cover them with icing, add chocolate or butterscotch chips, marshmallow or nuts.  You have total control. Learning to use the foods you store develops the skills you may have no choice but to face in tough financial and economical times.

Master Brownie Mix
Recipe Type: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Author: PrepperPenny
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 30 mins
Total time: 35 mins
You can divide the recipe to make smaller batches.
Ingredients
  • 8 C. Sugar
  • 6 C. Flour
  • 2 C. Cocoa Powder
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp Baking Powder
  • 1 Tbsp. Salt
Instructions
  1. Mix – 2 1/4 Cup
  2. Eggs (Beaten) 2
  3. Oil or Melted Butter – 1/3 Cup
  4. Vanilla – 1 tsp.
  5. Mix and bake at 350* for 30 mins.

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Blueberry Muffin Mix

Recipe Type: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Author: PrepperPenny
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 30 mins
Total time: 35 mins
Serves: 6
You can easily mix the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt to store. Then all you have to do is add 1/2 cup milk, 1 stick of melted butter, 1 C. fresh blueberries (or a fruit you chose) and 2 eggs. For convenience, you can make several batches at a time to have on-hand in your home store!
Ingredients
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking power
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 C THRIVE Freeze-Dried Blueberries*
  • 2 TBSP THRIVE Whole Egg Powder*
  • 1/2 C THRIVE Powdered Milk*
Instructions
  1. Combine ingredients and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
  2. To Prepare: Start by adding 3/4 cup water. You may need to adjust it a little to accommodate for the powdered and freeze-dried ingredients. But allow mix to sit while oven preheats to allow blueberries, egg powder and powder milk to rehydrate. However, blueberries do NOT need to be rehydrated as they will plump while they bake.
  3. Bake the muffins at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

blueberries_1WholeEggsInstantMilk

 

Click any image to be taken to PrepperPenny’s THRIVE on-line store!

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Jiffy Mix Recipe

I love the convenience of food prepared in a box.  But if you check the the ingredient label for Jiffy, you might want to make your own.

INGREDIENTS ON JIFFY CORNBREAD BOX: WHEAT FLOUR, DEGERMINATED YELLOW CORN MEAL, SUGAR, ANIMAL SHORTENING (CONTAINS ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING: LARD, HYDROGENATED LARD, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED LARD), CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING: BAKING SODA, SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, SALT, MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID.  CONTAINS: WHEAT

Here is a recipe for making your own where you control the ingredients and can feel good about putting it on your table.

Jiffy Cornbread Mix

Cuisine: American
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 15 mins
Total time: 20 mins
Serves: 6
Ingredients
  • 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Instructions
  1. egg
  2. /3 C Milk
  3. To make Corn Muffins, preheat oven to 400F, spray muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  4. Fill muffin pan 1/2 full, bake for 15-20 minutes.
  5. OPTIONAL:
  6. Sharp Cheddar Cheese
  7. Onion
  8. Peppers

 

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