The next time you’ve got some free time on your hands, try making one of these kitchen staples from scratch! You’ll save money and have fun while learning a new technique. 

Yogurt

This is one of my favorite kitchen staples to make from scratch. And it really doesn’t take too much time! Got leftover milk close to it’s expiration date? Don’t pour it down the drain! Make the creamiest yogurt you’ve ever tasted right from your own kitchen. Homemade yogurt tastes PHENOMENAL. I love store-bought Greek yogurt, and this is even better!  It’s so creamy and mild-flavored. And, I love how you can control the thickness by how much powdered milk you add. 

Prep time is about 30 minutes, and then it sits overnight. Keeps for up to two weeks. 

Bagels via Real Mom Nutrition 

Sally’s method is very similar to the one I’ve tried before, except I used the dough function on my bread maker. After the dough is finished, then I divide it into the bagel rounds and finish by boiling and baking. Homemade bagels are ten times better than store-bought, and they’re chewier and have more flavor. Plus, you save money and can add whatever toppings you like! 

Whole Wheat Tortillas via The Lean Green Bean

Made with just four ingredients! Lindsay was tired of seeing the mile-long list of ingredients on the store-bought tortilla package and ventured out to make her own. I hear ya sister. I get frustrated too by the ingredient list that’s way too long. If you have some time, make a bunch of these and freeze flat in between sheets of wax paper! Pull out however many you need for a meal and pop them in the microwave. 

Pesto

This is a kitchen staple I make ALL the time. Homemade pesto takes 10 minutes, tops. I like using walnuts instead of pine nuts. Trust me, you can’t tell the difference. Pine nuts are 2-3 times more expensive than walnuts, which is why we made the switch! Most of the ingredients should be things you already have on hand — parmesan, garlic, olive oil, walnuts. In the Spring and Summer I usually have a basil plant outside which makes this much cheaper. 

Turkey Breakfast Sausage

This meal is something that can VERY easily be prepped over the weekend, and really, it’s a necessity that you prep it over the weekend. No one wants to spend each morning making sausage patties! You can sub in beef if that’s your thing, or use 93/7 turkey for a darker colored patty (this is 99% lean). These homemade turkey breakfast sausages are delicious warmed up in the morning alongside eggs and roasted veggies. 

Fresh Pasta

Fresh homemade pasta has a whole different — better — taste that you can’t get from dried pasta. Making noodles by hand isn’t too hard, but you definitely need a pasta maker. Spend a couple hours on the weekend making fresh pasta! You can freeze it afterwards or hang it on a pasta drying rack to re-hydrate later. 

Simple Whole Wheat Bread

Simply a great-tasting and easy-to-make whole wheat bread. Making homemade bread is even easier if you invest in a bread machine! I love this recipe because it includes the addition of honey, which adds a slight sweetness. 

What are your favorite foods to make from scratch at home? What do you usually buy pre-made vs make from scratch? Leave me a note, I’d love to hear! 

7 Comments

  1. Love trying out new things. Have been wanting to make homemade yogurt.

  2. Love this round-up, almost all of these are on my bucket list to try making this year! Yogurt especially is one I’ve been itching to try but just haven’t gotten the guts to do it yet.

  3. Love this list! I have made most but not all of these and now will definitely be adding turkey sausage and bagels to my list to try this year! Thanks for the inspiration!

  4. I make homemade sourdough bread every Sunday and keep homemade pesto cubes in the freezer. Homemade corn tortillas are super easy too! Just got the KitchenAid pasta attachment and can’t wait to try it out!

  5. Oh how I love everything about this post!! I made homemade breadcrumbs from leftover stale bread, hummus, and sunflower seed butter! Saves me SO much money!!

  6. I’m all about not reinventing the wheel when there are healthy convenience options available, but my girls have actually been asking me how yogurt and other foods are made so it would be fun to make some of these with them. Thanks for the inspiration!

  7. […] 7 Foods to Try Making From Scratch @ Zen & Spice […]

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