15 foods to make instead of buy!

There are many kinds of food that we buy from the supermarket for the sake of convenience.

However, many of these food items are full of salt, artificial colours, and preservatives; think of chips and soup stock.

Wouldn't it be so much better if you could make these food items at home? Well, now you can with these 15 amazing recipes that are very simple to make.

Click next to start reading.

Potato chips

Potato chips should come with an addiction warning - once you’ve had one, you just won't be able to stop!

Despite scoring high on the taste factor, commercially-prepared potato chips have way too much salt, sugar, and colouring.

So how about you try making your own delicious paprika potato chips that are baked and not fried? You’ll probably never buy your chips from the shop again after you taste these crispy treats!!

TIPS

- If possible, use a mandolin to cut your potatoes wafer-thin; this will result in crispier chips once baked.

- Get adventurous with your seasoning and try things like chilli powder and dried herbs for more intense flavour.

Recipe and image from www.traceysculinaryadventures.com

Tomato-based pasta sauce

Yes, we know – it’s really easy to pick up those bottled pasta sauces from the shop. Before you buy one again, take a look at the ingredients and be surprised at all the salt, sugar, and preservatives in it.

It's really time to put on that apron and make this yummy homemade tomato sauce - all you need are tomatoes, butter, onions, and salt!

TIP

- For an added burst of flavour and freshness, add some fresh basil leaves. You can also spice it up with some chilli powder or flakes if you wish.

Recipe from www.food52.om

Whipped cream

No more of that gluggy, overly sweet white stuff that you spray out of a can; it’s really very simple to make your own whipped cream at home.

You will need a bowl, cream, and your arm... well, an electric beater will do too! Add a little sugar before you start beating and make sure you stop just around the 'soft peaks' stage; otherwise, your cream will turn clumpy.

You’ll find it’s so much creamier than canned whipped cream too!

TIP

- Try flavouring your cream with vanilla extract or fresh vanilla from a pod.

Breadcrumbs

DIY breadcrumbs are not just tastier and fresher, they are also a great way to use up old, stale bread.

Here’s a simple recipe that you can try.

TIP

- When you’re blitzing your breadcrumbs, throw in some herbs such as rosemary or parsley – they add a beautiful depth of flavour and freshness.

Recipe from www.food52.com

Guacamole

Guacamole is a very tasty dip that we often buy from the supermarket. But this recipe is so easy that you really have no excuse not to try it out! Avacados, lime, coriander leaf, and salt are really all the ingredients you need!

TIP

- Jazz up your guacamole with a sprinkle of sweet paprika and a drizzle of olive oil on top. If you wish, you can also add tomatoes and garlic to the mix while blending it.

Recipe from www.bonappetit.com

Salad dressing

Most of us have a bottle or two of salad dressing sitting in our fridge.

But did you know that it’s really easy to make your own? Making your own dressing assures you that you know exactly what’s in it too.

Try this simple recipe for citrus vinaigrette the next time you’re in the mood for salad!

TIP

- Play around with the citrus elements – you can even try using grapefruit, mandarin or even kalamansi.

Recipe and image from www.bonappetit.com

Croutons

Who doesn’t love crispy, crunchy croutons in their soup or salad? While it’s really easy these days to pick up a pack of these crunchy squares from most supermarkets, think twice before doing so because they are actually full of salt, fat, and preservative.

So, it’s much better for your health (and your pocket) to whip up a batch of these yummy golden squares at home!

Here’s the recipe – enjoy!

TIP

- Instead of dried herbs, add finely chopped fresh herbs; you can even mix in some grated cheddar or parmesan cheese.

Image and recipe from www.savourysweetlife.com

Pesto

Pasta is taken to the next level when mixed with a tablespoon or two of pesto. A small jar of pesto here in Singapore, though, can be on the pricey side. So, why not make your own at home?

After all, fresh is always best and you’ll be supremely satisfied when you know you’ve made this smooth fragrant green mixture all by yourself!

Here’s a great pesto recipe especially for you.

TIP

- Go wild with the greens you add to your pesto. You can throw in anything really, such as spinach, watercress, or kale.

Recipe from www.bonappetit.com

Goldfish crackers

Kids loooove snacking on Goldfish Crackers. But buying so many packets of these delectable little fish-shaped biscuits to keep those little tummies happy can get quite expensive.

So, we’ve done a bit of scouting and found you this very cool recipe ; it even has instructions on how to make the cutest, tiniest goldfish-shaped cookie cutter ever!

TIP

- Get your kids involved in making these little biscuits. It’s a great rainy-day activity!

Recipe and image from www.tastykitchen.com

Granola bars

Granola bars are popular with both kids and adults. Because they’re often marketed as being full of ‘the good stuff’ such as oats and dried fruit, we usually don’t feel too guilty about eating one for a quick breakfast on-the- go; we even pack them into our kids’ lunchboxes.

However, the truth is that most granola bars are full of sugar and preservatives and may not be as good for us as we are made to believe.

Stay away from commercial granola bars and make your own with this wonderful recipe for homemade crunchy oatmeal peanut butter bars.

With a total cook+prep time of just 30 minutes and simple ingredients such as roasted peanuts and rolled oats, these bars are totally doable.

TIP

- For a fruity boost, throw in some raisins or diced apple into the mixture before baking.

Image and recipe from www.bakedharvest.com

Hummus

This creamy Middle-Eastern dip made with chickpeas and tahini goes hand-in-hand with warm Arabic bread vegetable sticks.

Have you ever tried to make it at home though? It’s amazingly simple for something with such complex flavours. After trying this recipe, you’ll probably never buy hummus again!

TIP

- Serve this yummy dip with a sprinkle of sweet paprika and a drizzle of olive oil on top... yum!

Recipe and image from www.smittenkitchen.com

Lemonade

Living in hot, humid Singapore, a glass of cool, refreshing lemonade is the perfect pick-me-up drink to beat the heat.

While you can buy lemonade from any shop or supermarket, this drink – as delicious as it is – is full of sugar.

So why not make a jug yourself and let it sit in the fridge to chill? Here’s an amazing recipe… you can thank us later!

TIP

- Try adding aromatics like lemongrass and lime leaf to this mix!

Image and recipe from www.thetastyblog.com

Pancake mix

It’s all too easy to grab that box of pancake mix when you hear your kid’s request on a Sunday morning: "Mummy, can we have pancakes for breakfast?".

But did you know it’s actually very simple to make your own pancake mix?

What’s great about it is that you can make multiple batches of dry ingredients and store them in airtight containers. Then when you want to make some, you only need to add the required quantity of 'wet’ ingredients such as milk and eggs!

Meanwhile, here’s a fabulous buttermilk pancake recipe for you to try.

TIP

- If you don’t have buttermilk, let the milk sit for a while with a tablespoon of lemon juice in it, or add some plain yoghurt to the milk.

Recipe from www.buzzfeed.com

Peanut butter

Smooth, creamy peanut butter is a big favourite among many kids. It’s delicious either when spread on toast or used as a dip.

However, most commercial brands are full of hydrogenated oils which are really bad for you. So why not make your own peanut butter at home?

This easy-peasy version can even be stored up to a month in the fridge!

TIP

Store it in an airtight container to preserve maximum freshness.

Recipe from www.foodnetwork.com

Chicken stock

Homemade chicken stock is so much better than those crumbly squares of mushed up goodness-knows-what, a.k.a. ‘stock cubes’.

It’s also very easy to make, as you will find out when you try this recipe!

TIP

- Homemade stock freezes very well. So make a big batch, portion it out into ziplock bags or airtight containers, and store it in your freezer.

Recipe and image from www.tasteofhome.com

Written by

Nalika Unantenne

Recipescook foodbuying food