How to Save Money in the Kitchen with Convenience Mixes

Paying more at the cash register, for gasoline, housing, and life in general? This article is designed to help you save money in the kitchen, while cooking up some wonderful meals for the family. Using convenience mixes made in your own kitchen, will allow you some creativity and money saving opportunities.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Sealed Storage Containers
• Baking supplies
• Each of these mixes should be stored in a pantry and used as needed.

1. Saving money in the kitchen is easy when you plan ahead. Watch for sales and purchase the staple items needed for each mix. By combining coupons and sales you will add an extra savings to your pantry. Although you may need to spend a little up front in order to create the basic mixes below, the eventual savings is as tasteful as the treats. The convenience mixes below are only a sample of the many types of mixes available, or create your own.
2. It is important to store all mixes in tightly sealed containers.
   
   Cornmeal mix
   4 cups of cornmeal
   4 cups of flour
   1&3/4 cups of dry milk
   ¼ cup baking powder
   1 Tablespoon salt
   1&1/2 cups shortening
   
   Combine all ingredients thoroughly. Store this mix in a tightly covered container, makes a little over 11 cups.
   
   
   Corn Bread
   4&1/2 cups of mix
   2 eggs beaten
   1&1/3 cup water
   4 Tablespoons Sugar
   
   Optional Ingredients- add chopped onions, bacon, chives, shredded cheese, and/or chopped green peppers
   
   Combine all ingredients, bake at 425 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.
   
   
   Johnny Cakes
   
   2cups of mix
   1 egg beaten
   1 cup water
   2 Tablespoons sugar
   
   Optional – 1 cup chocolate chips
   
   Mix all ingredients, pour onto greased hot grill. Cook until browned and then flip, cooking until browned on each side. Serve as you would pancakes.
3. Pie Shell Mix
   7 cups flour
   1 Tablespoon salt
   2 teaspoons sugar
   2 cups shortening
   
   Combine all ingredients, store in tightly covered container.
   
   Use one cup of mix for one shell, add 2 or 3 tablespoons of water (use as you would any pie crust). Use as the shell for desert or pot pie main course.
   
   This shell may be baked at 425 for about 15 minutes for a prebaked shell.
4. Quick Oat Mix
   
   4 cups flour
   3&1/2 cups uncooked oats
   1&3/4 cups dry milk
   ¼ cup baking powder
   1 Tablespoon salt
   1&1/2 cups vegetable shortening
   
   Combine all ingredients and store in tightly covered container. Makes a little over 11 cups of mix.
   
   Oatmeal Muffins
   
   2&1/4 cups mix
   2/3 cup water
   1 egg
   ½ cup raisins
   
   You may choose to substitute the egg with ¼ applesauce.
   
   Combine all ingredients and bake at 425 for 20 minutes
   
   Oatmeal Cookies
   
   2 1/2 cup mix
   ¼ cup flour
   1 teaspoon cinnamon
   1 egg
   ¼ cup water
   1 teaspoon vanilla
   ½ cup raisins
   
   Combine all ingredients, bake at 350 for 15 mintues or until cookies are lightly brown.
   
   Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
   
   2 ½ cups mix
   ¼ cup flour
   1 egg
   ¼ cup water
   1 teaspoon vanilla
   1 cup chocolate chips
   
   
   
   Oatmeal Breads
   3 cups of mix
   2/3 cup of sugar
   1 egg beaten
   2 cups of fruit such as mashed bananas, applesauce, or other
   Optional- ½ cup nuts, raisins, or dates

Tips & Warnings

• As with any recipe I encourage you to take a few chances. Increase the use of fruits or decrease the amount of added fruits or optional items. The consistancy of your batter should be a good guide.