We admire those gifted gourmands whose kitchens are populated with cool devices and exotic goodies to whip up homemade cheeses, breads, or wines. But, our kitchens are populated with -- kids. So when it comes to cooking, quick-and-easy is the priority. We long for the day when we can luxuriate in the kitchen whipping up enticing meals "just for fun" -- but until then, we're all about getting healthy(ish) food on the table FAST.
Thus, it surprised us when we started realizing that sometimes making it is just as easy as traipsing to the store or dialing 1-800-PIZZA. And the fringe benefits -- fresher ingredients, less money, less sugar -- truly made us smile!
- Soup. While we love the convenience of
canned soups, we’re not so wild about the super-high doses of
sodium (and even MSG) they often come with them. Making homemade
soup allows you to cut out the bad stuff, and it tastes infinitely
better. Best of all, it’s easy. Simmer fresh broccoli in chicken or
vege broth, puree in a blender, add a bit of salt, parmesan cheese
and a tad of milk or cream to taste. For added fun, offer toppings
at the table -- fresh diced herbs, croutons, grated cheese. Then
hand out the spoons and dig in!
- Coffee. Starbucks just raised their
prices, so that Venti Latte might now be running you over four
bucks a pop. Make your own gourmet
coffee drinks at home
and save a fortune getting your daily fix. Your wallet -- and
most likely your waistline too -- will thank you.
- Popsicles. Quite possibly the easiest
thing you will ever whip up in the kitchen – and making them is a
blast. Leave behind the excess sugar (or high fructose corn syrup)
in storebought brands and invest in plastic molds (for a few
dollars). Then fill with your favorite no-sugar-added fruit juices,
yogurt, pureed fruits, or layered combinations – freeze and
enjoy.
- Granola. Upwards of four or five bucks
for a box of your favorite kooky cocoa crunchies -- why or why is
cereal so expensive? Maybe it’s the truckloads of sugar that it
contains… who knows. Cooking up your own granola is
not only healthier and more affordable, but it allows you to be
creative and add new ingredients each time to make something
unique.
- Muffins. Once again, the culprit here is
sugar sugar sugar. If you read the label on storebought brands,
it’s usually the first or second ingredient. Search online for your
favorite flavor whether it’s banana or apple
raisin. As a rule, we usually half the amount of
sugar, even in recipes, and it still gives off plenty of
sweetness.
- Pasta Sauce. We have nothing against
jarred sauce – in fact, our pantry is usually stocked with a few
varieties of marinara. But once you figure out how easy it is to
whip up your own pasta
creations, you’ll become addicted. Just a handful
of ingredients and a few minutes on the stovetop and you’re ready
to serve.
- Pizza. Ordering pizza once or twice a
month was a family ritual until we discovered the brilliant
refrigerated doughs at Trader Joe’s (a place that never ceases to
amaze us!). For about two bucks, it’s good-as-homemade and comes in
regular or whole wheat. Press it into a pan and slather on your own
sauce or TJ’s jarred pizza sauce -- top with shredded mozzarella or
another appropriately gooey cheese (we’ve even used Monterey Jack),
fresh veges, sundried tomatoes, olives, etc – and finish with a
sprinkle of Parmesan. Ten minutes in the oven and you’re enjoying
mouthwatering pizza that’s better than anything in a box.
- Crackers. Crackers don’t seem like a likely culprit, but a surprising number of mainstream grocery brands contain unsavory things like high fructose corn syrup. While not everyone would be inspired to make their own, it’s a great way to impress guests or just treat the family to something new. Experiment with grated cheeses, seeds, and herbs to make your own custom flavors – and say sayonara to those Saltines!
