Spaghetti Seasoning Mix

This recipe, adapted from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, yields about 2 ¼ cups of mix, enough for eight recipes of spaghetti sauce. 

Homemade spaghetti sauce seasoning mix

½ cup instant minced onion

½ cup parsley flakes

½ cup cornstarch

2 tablespoons Italian seasoning

2 tablespoons sugar (I like brown sugar)

2 teaspoons salt (I add 1 t. pepper too)

1 teaspoon garlic powder (I add at least 1 T.)

Instructions for the mix

In a bowl, combine all the dry ingredients.

Stir the mixture thoroughly until well blended.

Store the mix in a sealed, airtight jar or divide it into smaller packets for single-use servings. 

How to make the sauce

This mix can be used to make a classic spaghetti sauce with canned tomatoes and ground meat. 

Sauce ingredients

1 pound ground beef, Italian sausage, or ground turkey

1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste

2 cups water

¼ cup of the homemade seasoning mix 

Sauce instructions

Brown the meat. Cook your choice of ground meat in a large pot until it's no longer pink. Drain off any excess fat.

Add the seasoning mix. Sprinkle ¼ cup of the seasoning mix over the cooked meat and stir to combine.

Create the sauce. Add the tomato paste and water to the pot and mix well.

Simmer. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook for at least 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens to your desired consistency.

Adjust the thickness. If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can add a cornstarch slurry. Mix one part cornstarch with one part cold water and slowly whisk it into the simmering sauce.

Serve. Use the sauce over spaghetti noodles and top with cheese. 

Onion Soup Mix

 Onion Soup Mix
1 1/2 c. dried onion
3/4 c. beef bouillon mix

1/4 c. onion powder

2 T. celery seed

2 T. parsley

Pour all ingredients in a quart jar and shake well.  

1/4 c. = 1 packet of onion soup mix

Homemade Beef Bouillon

 This makes 1 pint.

Homemade Beef Bouillon

3/4 c. dry mustard

1/3 c. garlic powder

1/3 c. paprika

3 T. onion powder

3 T. chili powder

1 T. celery seed 

Mix and store in pint jar.  

1 T. bouillon mix to 1 c. water

Ranch Dressing Mix & Ranch Dressing

Ranch Dressing Mix
1/4 c. Pepper
1 1/2 c. Parsley Flakes
1/2 c. Garlic Salt
2 T. Kosher Salt
1/4 c. Granulated Garlic
3/4 c. Granulated Onion
2 T. Dill Weed
Combine all ingredients in a quart jar. Shake to combine. Makes about 3 ½ cups of dry mix

Ranch Dressing
1 T. dry ranch mix

1 c. mayonnaise

1 c. buttermilk

3/4 c. sour cream

1/2 t. lemon juice
Whisk together all ingredients until thick and creamy. Dressing will thicken in the refrigerator if you like a really thick ranch dressing. Makes 3 cups.

Cream of Chicken Soup.....Condensed or ready to eat

Cream of Chicken Soup   (Makes 2 cans of condensed)

Place in saucepan and bring to a boil:
2 1/2 c. chicken broth
1/2 c. milk

In bowl mix together:
3/4 c. flour or cornstarch
1/2 t. onion powder
1/2 t. garlic powder
1 1/2 t. parsley flakes
1/2 t. pepper
1/2 t. salt
2 t. chicken bouilon
Stir in 1 c. milk and whisk together.  Stir into the chicken broth mixture.  Cook & stir until thickened. For condensed:  simmer 10 minutes and divide in half in pint jars.  Use in any recipe calling for condensed Cream of Chicken Soup.
For soup:  Add 2 1/2 c. of milk or water.  Cook & stir until thickened.  Simmer 10 minutes.  Serve.

Keeps in fridge for 1 week or can be frozen.

Cream of Chicken Soup Mix

Cream of Chicken Soup Mix

1 c. non-fat dried milk

¾ c. cornstarch

¼ c. chicken bouillon (not cubes)

4 T. freeze dried minced onion

1 t. dried basil

½ t. dried thyme

1 t. pepper

Measure all ingredients into a pint jar and shake well.

To use: mix 1¼ cup water with ⅓ cup of dry mix and cook over medium heat until it reaches the consistency of canned cream soup.

Makes approx. 4 cans of cream of chicken soup.

 

Salsa Mix

This year I dried 2 gallons of minced onions....so I was looking for things to make to help use them.  I found this recipe and we have loved it!!!  Makes a great salsa a bit on the hot side.


Salsa Mix
1/2 c. of crushed, dried red pepper flakes
1 T. dried parsley flakes
3 T. dried cilantro flakes
1/2 c. of dried onion flakes
2 T. dried, minced garlic
2 T. of canning salt (table salt, will turn it cloudy)
1 T. of black pepper
Measure all ingredients in a pint jar & shake well.

To use: one 28 ounce can of tomatoes (if you buy canned tomatoes), or enough diced fresh tomatoes to fill up as many canning jars as you want. Use 1-2 tablespoons of the mix for a pint and 2-3 tablespoons for a quart.  **  I used 6 c. chopped fresh tomatoes and ¼ c. mix.

Brownie Mix

Never buy boxed brownie mix again! Follow the recipe below and make brownies for approximately .30 cents a mix!  So simple, so easy. Not just frugal but cuts out the unknown ingredients.

BROWNIE MIX
1 Cup Sugar

1/2 Cup Flour

1/3 Cup Cocoa

 1/4 tsp Salt

1/4 tsp Baking Powder
At Baking Time Add: 

2 Eggs

1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil

1 teaspoon Vanilla.
Bake @ 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes in an 8x8 or 9x9 pan. OR use the amazing Pampered Chef brownie pan and bake it in much less time - depends on your oven, check after 12-15 minutes of baking and remove when brownies are done!

Put mix in plastic zip-lock bags or mason jars.

Taco Seasoning & Oven Tacos

I love fried taco shells but they take a while to fry.....I'm thinking these Oven Tacos might be a great new way to fix tacos??!!

Taco Seasoning
1 T. chili powder
1/4 t. garlic powder
1/4 t. onion powder
1/4 t. crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 t. dried oregano
1/2 t. paprika
1 1/2 t. ground cumin
1 t. sea salt
1 t. black pepper
In a small bowl, mix all together. Store in an airtight container.
This is like one package of taco seasoning.  Mix with a little water.  Enough for 2 lbs. of hamburger.  OR  make a canister full,  1/4 c. = 1 seasoning packet.

Oven Tacos  -  adapted from  Blog Chef

2 lbs. ground beef (or turkey/chicken)
1 small onion diced
1 small can diced green chilies
1 recipe of Taco Seasoning (Above)
8 oz. tomato sauce
16 oz. refried beans
2 c. shredded reduced fat Colby-jack cheese
18-20 hard taco shells {if gluten free, be sure they are}
Optional Condiments- Lettuce (shredded), Tomato (diced), Salsa, Guacamole, Sour Cream

In a large skillet brown ground beef and onion, drain, if needed. Stir in chilies, refried beans, tomato sauce, and taco seasoning. Mix well and cook for a few minutes.
Spoon the meat mixture into the taco shells and place into a 9 x 13 inch baking dish, standing up. Sprinkle cheese over the top of the taco meat in each shell. Place into the oven and bake at 400 for 10-12 minutes, until the cheese has melted and tacos are heated through. Serve with condiments.

Make you own Mixes.....

A Pinterest find......
Make your own Ranch, Dry Onion Soup Mix and Taco Seasoning and store in small mason jars.

Taco Seasoning:
1/2 cup chili powder
1/4 cup onion powder
1/8 cup ground cumin
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon sea salt
Put ingredients into a jar and shake.

Dry Onion Soup Mix:
2/3 cup dried, minced onion
3 teaspoons parsley flakes
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons turmeric
1 teaspoon celery salt
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
Mix all ingredients in a jar, then give the jar a good shake. I’d recommend shaking the jar to mix the ingredients well before each use.
Use 4 tablespoons in a recipe in place of 1 packet of onion soup mix. Store this in a dry, cool place.

Ranch:
5 tablespoons dried minced onions
7 teaspoons parsley flakes
4 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Mix together and store in an air tight container.
For dressing: Mix 2 tablespoons dry mix with 1 cup mayonnaise and 1 cup buttermilk or sour cream.
For dip: Mix 2 tablespoons dry mix with 2 cups sour cream.
Mix up a few hours before serving, so the flavors all blend.

Brownie Mix....

Never buy boxed brownie mix again!  Simple & easy & saves $$.  And now I know exactly what is in it....no unknown ingredients and preservatives that I don't want anyway!! 

Brownie Mix = $0.30 per pan/mix. 
1 Cup Sugar, 
1/2 Cup Flour,
1/3 Cup Cocoa,
1/4 tsp Salt,
1/4 tsp Baking Powder.
Place these ingredients in a bag or jar and store.   When you want brownies.....
Add: 2 Eggs, 1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil, 1 teaspoon Vanilla.
Pour into a square pan (8x8 or 9x9) Bake @ 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.