I’m all about homemade—home-cooked meals, handcrafted gifts, gardening, and preservation—but I also like my convenient kitchen hacks.
So, I have started investigating things I can make at home to keep on hand and use to make meals. I’ve found recipes for gravy mixes, biscuit mixes, canned soup mixes, dehydrated ingredients, and so much more. Credits go to each individual author.
There is no point in me re-inventing the wheel, so here are some links to the items I plan to try.
Homemade Gravy Mix
The packets at the store can be several dollars each! Even the bulk jars run over $10. These will be so much cheaper. Gravy is basically just a thickener, seasonings, and a liquid. Most use flour, but arrowroot or arrowroot. Any of the three work just fine.
Brown gravy – to go with meat. I use any meat drippings out of the cooking vessel to add flavor and as part of the liquid.
Or make a beef gravy by adding in beef granules/bouillon. https://www.thespruceeats.com/beef-gravy-mix-recipe-480891
Country Gravy mix – Country gravy is a milk-based white gravy. It goes well on chicken, chicken fried steak, biscuits, or potatoes.
Chicken Gravy – perfect with chicken or turkey for a Sunday dinner or Thanksgiving.
Biscuit Mix
We’ve probably all bought that box once in a while. It is made for pancakes, biscuits, or dumplings. It’s also easy to make and keep from simple pantry items at home.
This is the recipe I’ve developed for it. I store it in a pop-top-type container that is airtight.
Homemade Biscuit mix
Homemade biscuit mix that works exactly like the boxed brand – use for biscuits, dumplings, pancakes and more.
Ingredients
- 6 cups flour
- 3 tablespoons baking powder
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 cup lard or shortening
Instructions
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Sift flour, baking powder and salt three times into the bowl of a food processor.
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Whir until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.
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Store the mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 months.
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Use whenever your recipe calls for “Bisquick mix”. Use milk (I prefer it over water) for the desired dough consistency.
Recipe Notes
Part white whole wheat flour can be substituted. Mixing with milk or water, the whole grain flour will soak up more liquid.
Spice Mixes
It’s another super expensive little jar at the market. But so easy to make things like apple pie or pumpkin spice mix from the basic spices already on hand. Even spices like Taco seasoning or curry powder can be whipped up at home! Don’t forget to have fun – if you don’t like one flavor, leave it out or swap in something else.
This page from Allrecipes also has a few more exotic spice mixes like Ras el Hanout and Garam masala. https://www.allrecipes.com/recipes/16328/ingredients/herbs-and-spices/homemade-spice-blends/
Spreads
Mayonnaise
I often make my mayonnaise. It doesn’t contain harsh chemicals or weird ingredients I can’t pronounce. My food processor makes it some together in no time. Check the recipe for my mayo here.
Mustard
I prefer to buy yellow mustard, but go for it at home!
https://leitesculinaria.com/95287/recipes-homemade-yellow-mustard.html
I have made grainy country mustard at home https://honest-food.net/wprm_print/basic-country-mustard
Many more options exist. Dehydrating, preserving, and canning are worth volumes of books. These basic items can get you started though, or help in a pinch when you need something quick.