5 Foods You Should Be Making From Scratch
While buying pre-made meals or even food in cans is certainly more convenient and easier for busy weeknights, cooking certain items from scratch has its own benefits. Homemade food is generally much healthier, since you get to control exactly which ingredients end up in the mix. What’s more, is that you’re more than likely to end up actually saving money in the long run by making your own food items at home. If you’re new to the world of homemade food, start with smaller and simpler recipes until you’ve really got a handle on being comfortable in the kitchen. It also helps to make these items in big batches, so you can get it al out of the way at the same time and be reassured knowing you’ve got homemade food ready to be reheated whenever you need. Here are five foods you should be making from scratch.
Extracts
When you buy pre-made extracts at the grocery store, you’re more than likely buying an extract with loads of added sweeteners, as well as artificial colors and even artificial flavors. Try a simple vanilla extract recipe to start.
Applesauce
Applesauce is a classic comfort food, but many pre-made versions in the grocery stores are stripped of their natural fiber content and pumped up with added sugar. Youreally only need water and apples to make a great applesauce at home by using a crockpot. Add a dash of cinnamon or other spices of your choosing to add additional natural flavor.
Beans
Yes, canned beans usually don’t cost much, but making your beans is incredibly inexpensive and not too difficult. You can even cook certain beans, such as lentils, right in your rice cooker.
Veggie Burgers
Those homemade beans you cooked from scratch will make a great base for homemade veggie burgers as well. Since many store-bought veggie burgers are loaded with preservatives and filler ingredients, you’re better off making your own right in your kitchen.
Granola Bars
This may be surprising, but granola bars are less healthy for you than you’d think. Yes, they have granola, but they’re often bound together with a ton of artificial sweeteners and other processed ingredients including fillers. Many granola bar makers actually mark up their prices based on the packaging it comes in. Save yourself a lot of money and cut out the many artificial ingredients by making them at home, right in your own kitchen.