Useful shortcuts and money saving tips for the homemaker on a budget!
Kitchen Hacks for Frugal Foodies and Clever Cooks
Take some cooking shortcuts. If you love a variety of flavors from around the world, prepare and store these for use in a quick simmer or stir fry of any meat, vegetables and rice or noodles.
Cook with Salsa
Salsa in a jar. Not just for dipping! Buy it or make it and store it in a jar in the fridge. Vinegar extends the shelf life of salsa so you get plenty of storage time.
To make salsa at home, blanch tomatoes and peppers and peel off the skin. Add to a saucepan with chopped onion, 1 tsp minced garlic, salt, pepper and a splash of vinegar.
If you like it spicy, throw in a chili pepper or season with a few shakes of cayenne. Simmer for about 15 to 30 minutes. Let cool. Add to a Mason jar, cap and store in the refrigerator.
Add this to recipes such as:
- Salsa pork chops
- Rice and beans
- Nacho platter
- Shredded chicken, beef or pork simmered in a slow cooker
- Fish tacos
- Eggs, peppers and potatoes
- Salsa and cheddar cornbread
- Top your bowl of chili
- Dip your empanadas
MYO Thai Chili Paste
Love Thai flavors but have no idea how to make it at home?
Shop for Thai ingredients and make a chili paste that you can store and use in stir fries and curries along with coconut oil and coconut milk, as needed.
Use a food processor or blender to make a paste of garlic, ginger, fish sauce, shrimp paste, soy sauce, dried chili peppers, lime zest, shallots, cilantro and lime juice.
Transfer to a jar, cap and store in the refrigerator. Use in stir fries, or add a tablespoon or two to your simmer pot when cooking meat and vegetables. Add coconut milk and stir before serving. Wonderful and authentic!
MYO Sofrito to Add Spanish Flair to Your Recipes
Sofrito is a staple of Latin cooking and there are many variations. Each family has their own recipe, just like Italians swear by their mom’s tomato sauce recipe.
To make Sofrito at home, the basic principle is to use a blender or food processor to make a paste of tomatoes, peppers and onions and small batches and then mix them together to store in a jar for use in cooking.
You don’t want to put everything in the blender at once because it will come out like a smoothie.
Basic Sofrito ingredients include:
- Several green bell peppers
- Several red bell peppers
- Other varieties of spicy peppers depending on your preference, such as jalapenos, habaneros, chili peppers, poblano, cubanelle
- Two or three onions
- A bunch of garlic cloves
- Several tomatoes
- Cilantro and or flat leaf parsley, recao if available
- Lime juice and or vinegar
After processing your Sofrito veggies in small batches, pack them into a jar. Cap with a lid and store in the refrigerator.
Use in your favorite recipes such as:
- Meat and vegetable skillet
- Beans and rice
- Chilis and soups
- Chicken, chorizo and seafood paella
- Green rice
- Omelets and egg based dishes
- Slow cooker beef, pork or chicken
- Many more authentic Latin inspired recipes
Sofrito will keep in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks.
Bang Bang Sauce Hack
It’s easy to make bang bang sauce at home. This South Pacific inspired condiment will add some pizzazz to your recipes and goes great with fried favorites like nuggets, battered fish, shrimp in a basket and more.
- Bang bang sauce tastes yummy on sushi!
- Bang bang sauce is fun for dipping french fries and fried onions
- Bang bang sauce with a stir fry and rice, why not!
- Try bang bang sauce as a sandwich spread or add spicy flavor to mayo based salads
Takes minutes to mix it up, dip it up and enjoy!
Quick Bang Bang Sauce Recipe
Combine the following: mayo, chili sauce, hot pepper sauce, honey. Use amounts of your choice depending on if you like it sweet, spicy, creamy, tangy, etc.
Season it with paprika, cayenne and chili powder if you’re a fan of spicy!
Herbs on Ice
Got extra ice cube trays laying around? Next time you are harvesting herbs or have extra that you bought at the store to use in recipes, chop up your fresh herbs like basil, parsley, sage, cilantro.
Add a little to each section of the ice cube tray and carefully fill with water or olive oil just to the edge. Set in a plastic container and cover.
Carefully transport to the freezer. Once they are solid, remove your little herb cubes from the tray and transfer them to a plastic Ziploc bag.
Any time you need to add herbs to a recipe you can just grab a couple of the cubes and drop into your simmer pot or roast pan.
Fresh herbs taste great and add nutrition to any of the following types of recipes:
- Soups
- Stews
- Stir fries
- Roasted meats
- Crockpot meals
- Potato and veggie side dishes
- Fresh salads
- Mayo based salads
- Slaw mixes
- Pot pies
Salad Dressing or Vinaigrette Hack
Can’t be bothered to clean the last bits of jelly, ketchup, salsa, mustard or hot sauce from the jars and bottles they came in? Instead of fussing around with soap and water and a scrub brush, use what is left of the condiment to make a yummy vinaigrette.
Just add olive oil, vinegar, a pinch of salt, a pinch of pepper and a little bit of water. Shake well and now you have a tasty salad dressing… and you didn’t even have to clean that jar. Storage jar or squeeze bottle already included, genius!
Reusing Pickle Juice
Someone ate the last pickle! Instead of pouring that good pickle brine down the drain, cut up a cucumber and add to the jar. Cap, store in the fridge and let the brine do its job.
Taste-test your homemade pickles after a week. Your cukes will have a light pickle flavor. Two weeks, and they should be fully pickled. Enjoy with a sandwich, or dice up and add to your tuna or chicken salad.
You can also get experimental with your leftover pickle brine. Add green beans, sweet and spicy peppers rings, or green tomatoes to see how these turn out.
Want more flavor? Pop in a few cloves of garlic, some dill sprigs and whole peppercorns.
MYO Flavored Teas
Instead of paying high prices for flavored teas, get plain tea and flavor it with natural ingredients found at home.
Simmer up some different concoctions and save in a jar in the refrigerator. When it’s time for tea, boil your water, steep your tea bags and then add a little of the flavorful brew.
Works for green or black tea!
What kinds of potions can you mix up in your simmer pot?
- Orange peel, three or four cloves and two cardamom pods
- Lime zest and mint or lemon balm leaves
- Apple peels, five or six whole cranberries, a cinnamon stick and fresh ginger
- Raspberry leaves and chunks of peach
- Vanilla bean and orange peel
- Lemon peels and lavender
Make Your Own Herbal Iced Tea
After harvesting fresh mint or lemon balm from the garden, pack freshly picked leaves into a Mason jar to half full. Pour boiling water over all, to shoulder of jar. Steep for a day.
When ready to make tea, add the mint tea and steeped leaves to a big pitcher. Drop in ice cubes and pour cold water over to fill. Flavor with lemon and honey.
Simmer Up a Pot of Healing Tea
Simmer up a pot of warming spices to make your home smell sweet and welcoming. Pour into a cup of black tea and add milk and sweetener if desired. This is wonderful for your health.
Some call this chai spice, others call it pumpkin spice. Same thing, works for many purposes and you can drink it or add it to recipes.
Use any combination of whole spices including cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, nutmeg, green or black cardamom pods and fresh ginger.
You don’t need a lot of the spices. One or two cinnamon sticks, three or four cloves, seeds of two or three cardamom pods, few grates of nutmeg, and or an inch of ginger added to a quart saucepan of water is perfect.
Save the remaining liquid in a jar. Cap and store in the refrigerator.
At bedtime, omit the black tea and instead add your spicy brew to a mug of warm milk for a restful night’s sleep.
You can also use this spicy brew in all kinds of recipes! It is packed with minerals to help calm the nerves and heal the body. Try adding a few tablespoons of it to different recipes, such as…
- Hot cocoa
- Apple, pumpkin or peach pie
- Pancake batter
- Butternut squash soup
- Oatmeal or other morning cereal
- Fruit and yogurt smoothies
- Bran or oatmeal muffins
- Rice pudding or tapioca pudding
- Mashed or whipped sweet potatoes, or sweet potato pie
- Anything else you can think of that would taste great with a pumpkin pie spice flavor
Hygiene Hacks and Helpers
Homemade Toothpaste That Works Better Than Store Brands!
Make your own homemade toothpaste. This gets your teeth whiter and cleaner than any over the counter toothpaste. Purchase a bottle of calcium carbonate powder. Sprinkle a couple of spoonfuls into a small bowl and add a few drops of unrefined olive oil or coconut oil.
Drop in two or three drops of peppermint essential oil and one or two drops of clove oil. You can also use two drops of cinnamon and two drops of clove, instead of the peppermint.
Dip your toothbrush in to make a flavored paste. Carefully brush your teeth using techniques taught by your dentist. For best results and stain removal, don’t rinse right away. Instead, hold the mixture in your mouth and take your morning shower or do your morning routine.
Spit and rinse after 10 minutes or so. You can also follow with a water-only toothbrushing to remove whatever has been dislodged from your teeth and gums. This is an amazing well-kept homemade toothpaste secret that dentists don’t want you to know about!
Please note, the essential oils will be potent. You can reduce to one drop each If you experience mouth sensitivity. Children may not be ready for this level of intensity in a toothpaste.
A little goes a long way!
Bentonite for Bug Bites
Treat bug bites including tick bites with Bentonite clay. Sprinkle a bit of the clay powder into a small bowl. Add a few drops of water to make a paste. You can also mix in a drop of oil.
Apply to your bug bite. Avoid contact with the area so that the clay paste can dry. The clay paste will do its job of drying out the area and preventing the poison from entering the body.
If you are nervous about having gotten a tick bite, call your doctor and schedule a Lyme test just to be sure.
If it’s a mosquito bite you can probably reduce or even eliminate itching. If it’s a bee sting or spider bite, you’ll have less pain and the bite will heal more quickly.
Poison Ivy Itch Relief at Home
Plagued with poison ivy? Stop the intense itching and prevent the rash from spreading by using a baking soda paste applied to the skin.
Just sprinkle some baking soda into a small bowl. Add a bit of water to make a paste. Apply to affected area. Let dry. Go about your day. After showering, apply more.
DIY Facial Mud Mask
Make a homemade mud mask to clean and condition facial skin:
- Add a few spoonfuls of bentonite clay to a small bowl or jar. Drop in a few drops of mild essential oils such as lavender and orange.
- Add a few drops of water and a few drops of coconut, avocado or olive oil for moisture. Stir, adjusting ingredients as necessary until a clay mask consistency is reached.
- Apply to facial skin and let dry. Leave on for about 10 minutes, or sooner if your face feels especially tight and dry. Use warm water and a washcloth to remove mask, gently massaging your face in small circles.
- Apply a moisturizer and enjoy the soft and smooth feeling of your freshly cleansed skin.
Clay masks can be a bit messy, so definitely stay over the sink area. Wipe sink and counter top clean when finished.
Homemade Scalp Treatment
No time to wash your hair? Scalp feels itchy and a little stinky? Fill a plastic squirt bottle with apple cider vinegar and a saltwater solution. Add a few drops of rosemary and peppermint oil. Shake and squirt directly onto scalp. Use your fingers to massage in. Brush your hair. Your scalp treatment will do its magic while you go about your day.
Cleaning and Laundry Hacks
Purchase dishwashing liquid in bulk and also in a smaller size squeeze bottle. Pour some from the bigger bottle into the small so that it is easier to handle. Keep the small bottle to refill.
Make a simple abrasive scrub to remove gunk and build-up from your baking pans. Just sprinkle on a little baking soda and add a very small amount of hydrogen peroxide to make a paste. Use a dry cloth to rub this into your aluminum pans. Let sit. Then wipe clean and rinse.
After your glass cleaner gets used up, rinse out the bottle to and reuse. Fill the empty spray bottle with white vinegar. Use to clean glass shower door, and shower floor.
Make Homemade Window Cleaner
Add 3 tsp ammonia to a spray bottle and fill the rest with water to the shoulder of the bottle. Drop in about 12 drops of peppermint essential oil, or a combo of lemon and peppermint oils. Shake and spray on windows, then wipe clean.
Make Your Own Stain Remover Spray Solution
Mix 1 Tablespoon of OxiClean powder with two cups hot water. Add two Tablespoons hydrogen peroxide and two teaspoons rubbing alcohol. Stir well. Pour into a plastic coated cleaner spray bottle.
Feel free to experiment with ingredient amounts, you can’t really mess this up.
Squirt on stained clothing, rub in and let sit. Wash with laundry detergent as you normally would. Stains should be gone.
Homemade Laundry Booster
Are your family’s socks still looking grungy and smelling a little stinky even after washing? Laundry just not getting as clean as it could be? Boost cleaning power of your laundry detergent by adding a cup of vinegar and a half a cup of Borax powder to the wash load.
If clothing seems a little itchy after trying your new formula, use less of the Borax powder next time and double rinse after washing.
Clothes Drying Time Saver
Save on electricity bills and reduce drying time of your clothing with wool dryer balls. Just toss one in with your next load and start the dry cycle.
If you like your clothes to smell nice naturally, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the wool ball and then proceed with using the clothes dryer as you normally would.
Clean Your Carpet With Windex and Your Feet!
Clean your carpet with Windex. Test a small out of the way patch first to be sure this doesn’t affect the color after drying.
On a warm summer day, or on a cold day when you have the heat cranked, spray the surface of your carpet with Windex. Put on a pair of white cotton socks. Rub the Windex into the carpet using your feet. Cover every surface of your carpeted floor.
You don’t need to saturate your carpet. Just a light spraying, rubbed in with your feet, will do the job. Start early in the morning so you will have plenty of time to let the carpet dry while the sun is still shining through your windows.
Open the windows and pull up the shades to let the sunshine in and dry your carpet naturally. Position box fans in various places around the area to keep air flow moving and speed drying while avoiding the formation of mold or mildew.
Sustainable Gardening Hacks
Reduce, reuse, recycle! Wash and dry plastic meat trays from the grocery store. Save in your garden shed with planting supplies. When spring comes, poke small drainage holes in the meat trays. Fill with potting soil and plant garden vegetable seeds.
Use this simple trick to stop cabbage worms and similar pests from boring into your young plants. Cut out the bottom of a cardboard carton such as a milk or juice carton. Poke a hole in the center and cut a path to the hole. This type of cardboard is coated with something to resist moisture which is why it works.
Place the coated cardboard collar around the base of your garden plants. Bugs can’t climb over the edge of the cardboard so you will be taking care of pest control without chemicals!
DIY Natural Pesticides for Your Organic Garden
The best ways to protect your precious garden plants naturally and safely are easier than you think!
Keep a compost bin and add compost to your garden soil. Just sprinkle it on and mix into the soil before planting and halfway through the growing season.
The bulk of your compost should be a mix of green matter and brown matter. Green matter is composted grass clippings from the lawn. Brown matter is composted leaves. You can also add biodegradable kitchen waste such as coffee grounds, steeped tea and tea bags, fruit and vegetable peels and waste, and biodegradable paper goods that are not colored or contain printer ink.
Your compost heap should be located at the far end of the yard and you should use a garden shovel to turn the pile over to help speed decomposition.
Make a DIY Plant Spray to Keep Pests & Bugs Away
Ideas:
- White vinegar to a spray bottle and spray weeds that grow in the cracks of your sidewalks pavers and the peripherals.
- Spray your garden veggie plants with a mixture with tobacco water or a hot pepper solution.
Also try companion planting. Do some research for more details. Plant rosemary near your tomatoes to deter blight, mold and bugs. Plant marigolds throughout your garden to deter pests, mildew and mold.
Garlic and onions planted strategically near your vegetable plants can also deter mold, mildew and pests.
Do not plant tomatoes and potatoes near each other as they often share the same plant diseases. Potatoes are best kept in a separate patch from the rest of the garden.
Leave space between your plantings to make sure that there is adequate air flow which will stop mold, blight and mildew from forming on your plants when it has rained a lot or there’s high humidity.
