Saving Money With Homemade Convenience Mixes

Queenie

I've posted about this in the Daily Thread, but I know not everyone reads that, so I've given it a thread of it's own - hope that's ok?

Queenie wrote:

With so much going on, I’ve had the opportunity to road test a ‘convenience mix’ from a US website which has proved enormously useful. I especially like the fact it can be stored in the freezer and used straight from the freezer. You can check it out here:
PDF format.Saving Money with Homemade Convenience Mixes (University Of Maine)
HTML format: http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/4029.htm

Hope that's useful for someone

thriftlady_2

I've often wondered about these mixes. There's one in the More-With-Less cookbook and I use the pancake mix from there.

What kinds of things have you made with it Queenie ?

Shortie

Cooooooo..... I like that, thanks Queenie! Okay, I'm don't have the tim to make bits, but this'll help when I get into the swig of things (the whole idea of the recipies really isn't it, to make it quicker).

Oh, that and I need to learn how to 'cook' bakery items and not burn them! :rotfl:

lynzpower

Who is going to try the tuna biscuit mix

No offence but that sounds really really unpleasant! I bet they are those US "biscuits" they have with fried chicken - almost like scones. I didnt like those at all, but cookie dough is more like it! Minus the tuna!!!!

thriftlady_2

Having looked at some of the recipes which use the mixes I'm wondering if it isn't just as convenient to start from scratch. For instance the banana bread recipe requires you to add : sugar, water, bananas, nuts, wheatgerm and egg. I think if I was going to make this I'd find it just as easy to measure out flour, baking powder, milk (instead of water) and oil/butter.

Also, if you stock all the things to make the mixes, you then have a container of mix to store as well, which is one of the problems I have with the pancake mix I use (it's just flour, baking powder and dried milk -I add water and oil to make pancakes, I skip the egg). The only reason I don't mix these from scratch is that I haven't worked out how much of each ingredient to use for a single batch.

These mixes won't save you any money if you already bake from scratch anyway.

Queenie

thriftlady wrote: »

I've often wondered about these mixes. There's one in the More-With-Less cookbook and I use the pancake mix from there.

What kinds of things have you made with it Queenie ?

I have made the muffins (several types), peanut cookies, oatmeal cookies, cheese teabread, biscuits (US equivalent of scones!) and a couple of versions of the tuna-broccoli casserole, fruit surprise plus versions of the tuna biscuit squares - all made successfully and eaten with relish (as in enjoyment, not condiment )

lynz - the tuna biscuit squares are actually far nicer than the recipe sounds; no offense taken, but truly, try before you give an opinion - that's what I did and truthfully, it's not quite as vulgar or revolting as it sounds ... particularly if on a tight income when you need good honest fill-U-up foods!! You may give an opinion based on reading the recipes, I can give one based on EATING them with two budding teens on my hands who need filling, tasty food

thriftlady - these are "scratch" cooking recipes - the beauty of them is, by making up a bulk amount in one go, when it comes to making up the individual recipes, it's a TIME saver, as much as money saver; in my life, time IS money

On one occasion, I was in a situation where I wanted to take some homemade treat to share with a group I was seeing. On the night before, I used my bread machine to make the dough for some Chelsea buns - they burnt!! No time that night to make anything else, I felt quite defeated!! The next morning, I used the mix, from the freezer and made a batch of banana and date muffins ... didn't take more than a moment to rustle up the batter using the mix (no weighing of ingredients) and voila! Muffins to go!! The alternative would have been to stop off and buy something from the supermarket = money saving + time saving


I feel saddened that the only comments appear to be negative and somewhat critical - I posted simply because I HAVE tried them (and adapted them) and as a reknowed "cook from scratch" moneysaver, thought they may well help someone else

Next time, I shall keep my finds, thoughts and experiments to myself

Have a lovely day :wave:

Queenie

lynzpower wrote: »

Who is going to try the tuna biscuit mix

My family did

janeawej

Well thanks from me Queenie Im going to have a go at a couple when Ive got a bit of time i like the idea of being able to produce some nice homemade muffins or biscuits at the drop of a hat!! Jane

twink

queenie i have saved these websites on my favourites, funny that today sqiushy was talking about her mum who uses a muffin mix and subs flavoured yoghurt for some of the liquid, keep the ideas coming be they craft or whatever dont let negative comments stop the rest of us benefiting x

thriftlady_2

Right third time lucky, what is up with this site tonight ?

Queenie wrote: »

I feel saddened that the only comments appear to be negative and somewhat critical - I posted simply because I HAVE tried them (and adapted them) and as a reknowed "cook from scratch" moneysaver, thought they may well help someone else

Next time, I shall keep my finds, thoughts and experiments to myself

Have a lovely day :wave:

Now, please don't do that Queenie:) Please don't confuse criticism of the subject with criticism of you I was interested to read your post.
I just thought it was worth pointing out some of the cons to using these mixes, because there are some as well as lots of good points, surely that's nothing to feel sad about:D . I'm lucky enough to be quite time-rich so timesaving is not a big consideration for me and I must admit it isn't something I think about when cooking, but I can see the advantages of mixes if you are rushed.

I actually make American style biscuits quite a lot. We like cheese ones. If you add a bit more liquid to make drop biscuits you don't need to roll them out -just splat them on a baking sheet. They're great with chili type meals. One thing I did once was to roll them out quite thinly saucer sized and press into muffin cups so they flopped over the edges. Then I filled them with a BBQ mince mixture and baked. Big success with the kids and ripe for experimentation.

See, now your post has reminded me how much we like biscuits and that I need to buy muffin cases tomorrow, so :T :T for that:D

Please continue to share your culinary adventures:D

catznine

Thank you Queenie!:T I used to use one of these recipes a lot when I had 2 hungry teenagers to feed, but didn't realise quite how much you can make with them. I mainly used mix for waffles, pancakes and muffins, which worked out really well.

I love the recipe for one or two people (now our kids have left home) and the wholewheat version. Will definately be using these as I will be able to make up the mix when I am feeling energetic and have it on hand for the days when energy is at an all time low. Looking forward to trying out the brownie recipe! :j

Catz x