Thursday, January 10, 2019

Substitutes CAN BE.... Frugal, Fun & Flavorful

We have all had those moments when working on a recipe or dinner and BOOM we realize that we are out of something that seems to be a key ingredient.  WHAT DO YOU DO?
Do you stop and make an extra run out to the store?
Do you scrap the whole thing?
Do you figure out a functional substitute?

I like figuring out a substitute.  I think some of my best meals/bakes have come from experimenting with a new ingredient!
Nothing is etched in stone.  Don't be afraid of trying new and different things.

  • I like to add fruit juice or Kool-Aid mix  to homemade tea to jazz up the flavor.  Fancy flavored teas cost a small fortune - and it is so easy to make your own.  You can make them as strong or light in flavor as you wish
  • Use fruit juice, leftover juice from canned fruits, stale pop, etc. as part of the liquid in Jell-O.  Gives you a new and lovely taste.
  • Remember that you can grind your oats to make oat flour if necessary for a recipe.  No need to go out and spend a lot on a bag of oat flour you may not use.
  • Add leftover (smashed) baked beans to meatloaf or meatballs.  They are yummy and they are so moist.  Also think about topping a burger with some cheese and baked beans.  Smashed baked beans can be added to chocolate cake recipes (as part of oil/liquid) for a super rich cake.  Back in the day - schools used to do this all the rime with leftovers - best cake ever!
  • DID YOU KNOW - 1/2 cup of real fruit juice is equivalent to a serving of fruit?  Yep!
  • Save leftover chips, crackers, stale bread - to grind up and use as coating when frying.  We love using cheese crackers for a bit of favor.  TRY grinding up pork rinds to coat  items for baking - they are gluten free!  Triscuit crackers are good as well and come in many flavors!
                                                          click on picture to enlarge

I actually choose to substitute an egg in baking with either a banana, applesauce, or peanut butter - depending on what I am baking.  I love the idea of using soy protein - I always have protein powder in the pantry (for SHTF stash).  I keep ground flax in the freezer all the time as well - great in muffins (good for you as well).
  • Need to thicken a pot of soup or stew?  Yes, you can use corn starch or flour - but think outside the box and add extra flavor.  A small package or equivalent  of country gravy mix is great in any creamy type soup - adds a ton of flavor.  Instant potatoes can be used to thicken and it adds hidden veggies!  A packet or equivalent of any gravy mix will add flavor and thicken up nicely (I always add to stew).  A recently new one for me is to MIX 1/3 cup Masa (corn flour - used in corn tortillas) with 1 1/3 cup milk.  Whisk until absorbed and use in creamy Mexican soup dishes or corn chowder.  This adds the best corn flavor!!!
  • Leftover rice mixed with egg and parmesan cheese packed into a pie pan makes a great crust for a quiche or a hearty/savory - meat/veggie dish - no need for a basic pie crust.
  • Leftover rice can also be added to meatloaf or meatballs - stretches meat a little further
  • Keep the crumbs from the bottom of cereal boxes and cookie containers to use as toppings on ice cream or pudding - no need for sprinkles!
  • No creamer for your coffee?  Use milk, real cream, ice cream, cool whip, whipped cream, or hot chocolate mix for a change
Over the holidays I was mixing up my 'harvest potato' casserole and came to realize I had no corn flakes (used in the topping).  I did have fruit & flake cereal - so I literally went through the amount I needed and picked out the dried fruit (returned to box) and it worked fine.  No panic - just improvised with what I had.  Truthfully any non-sweet cereal would have probably worked.

Get creative. Like I said earlier - nothing is etched in stone.  Substitute  and save money and MAYBE find a new taste sensation that your family loves!
PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD - IT'S OK!

16 comments:

  1. You mentioned using Koolaid to jazz up iced tea. Have you ever tried the orange tea bag in with regular tea bags to make orange iced tea? It has a great flavor. Petro's Chili Restaurant makes it and it is so good. Here is a blog post I wrote about it:

    http://savingmoneyinmytennesseemountainhome.blogspot.com/2015/12/hint-of-orange-iced-tea.html

    I do the same as you and use the fruit juice in a can fruit in place of some of the cold water when making jello. Substituting definitely helps to save money.

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    1. Thanks Belinda I will read that. I like jazz up iced tea and G will drink anything! He sometimes gets tired of just plain old tea.
      I love subbing and you are right - you really can save money and it tastes good too!

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    2. I add 2 scoops of lemondae mix to my gallon of tea, and no sugar or sugar substitute.

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  2. It was common to substitute items when cooking but now people either don't cook or don't know they can. Good post.

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    1. Thanks. My Mom subbed all the time. I am hoping that many folks are getting back into cooking - it seems like gardening is becoming "the thing" again.

      I just wish people would realize how expensive and non-nutritious eating out is.

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  3. I do substitutes all the time. I'm not running to the store for one item. I was making tacos the other night and the meat was done and the rice had another 5 minutes. I went to put the shells in the oven and they were all crushed. I cut up a bunch more lettuce and made a taco salad instead. Just as good and probably more healthy. The crushed tacos went on top.

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    1. I have had that happen as well. Sometimes our OOPS are better than the original plan.

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  4. It's embarrassing to think back to when I first started cooking. I had a recipe for turkey chili and I would go through all the ground turkey at the store, looking for the one that was exactly ONE pound. If I was missing one ingredient or didn't have the exact type of beans listed, I'd scrap the idea and move on! Boy, have I come a long way!! Most recipes are now merely suggestions and I do my own thing!

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    1. That is funny! You took the recipe very literal!!!
      That is me as well - a recipe is a suggestion or idea - then I go on from there.
      It's fun and keeps things interesting.

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    2. Debby, I used to be just about the same way when I got married 50 yrs. ago. Then one day, I had the idea to "personalize" my recipes. I would try a new recipe the way it was written the first time, after that I would change it (however slightly) to make it "my recipe". It's a FUN thing to do!!

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    3. I guess we probably all have done that. G has asked me at times if I made a recipe as it was written or did I improvise. He tells me I should at least try it once as written!
      I guess I am one to see a recipe - then remember MOST of it and then wing it! LOL

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  5. Love these ideas. Some are new to me!

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  6. I have never met a recipe I didn't tweak somehow. You think, gee, I don't have black beans for this, why can't I use the navy beans that I have, or I don't have spinach, would kale work in this recipe? And there are so many sites that you can just list the ingredients you have, and out pop several recipes.

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    1. I am the same way. I am always changing things up. That is what makes cooking fun in my opinion!

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