When we get into a shopping routine, it is easy to take for granted the things we buy from the supermarket.
Certain foods are assumed to be best acquired pre-made and pre-packaged, but in actual fact, it is easier and healthier to make some foods from scratch.
Not only is making food from scratch better for your health, but it also tastes better, and is likely to cost less too!
If you are looking to make more food at home and ditch supermarket brands, then you’ve come to the right place.
Let’s take a look at 3 store bought foods that you can easily make at home!
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Fruit Compote
Fruit compotes and jams are super easy to pick up at your local store, and they taste great, too.
However, many of these products have emulsifiers, preservatives and other chemicals in them, so it is always better to make them from scratch.
In addition, it is a fun learning experience to learn how to pressure-cook fruit into a gorgeous compote or butter that can be spread onto bread, put on top of porridge, or even eaten with a spoon.
Is it difficult to make fruit butter or compote? The truth is, it is one of the easiest recipes out there.
You can make apple butter in an instant pot, using very few utensils – all you need is patience with the cook-down process!
Nut Butter
Peanut butter, almond butter and cashew butter are highly popular products, particularly for people who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet.
Buying a jar of peanut butter is simple enough, but once again, these can often contain preservatives like xylitol, which can be dangerous for dogs and aren’t exactly beneficial for human health either!
How do you make nut butter? For this recipe, you will need a good food processor – but not much other effort is required! Your food processor will do the work of combining the roasted nuts and salt in five minutes flat!
Making your own nut butter is cheap, healthy and delicious. Why not try it next time you run out of your store-bought version?
Pasta Sauce
Pasta is a great meal to eat when you need something fast, healthy and simple.
Especially if you use whole wheat or gluten free pasta, you can create a healthy meal that fuels your body and tastes awesome.
However, most store-bought pasta sauces are super high in sodium, which can cause high blood pressure over time.
Rather than buying pasta sauce in a jar, you can make a delicious, fresh pasta sauce at home in just ten minutes.
Alternatively, you can slow-cook a tomato sauce in a crock pot that will tickle your taste buds and make your pasta dish taste absolutely incredible!
Don’t settle for a substandard sauce for your pasta treat.
You deserve better than that! Make a pasta sauce from scratch using fresh herbs and vegetables, and you’ll be amazed at the difference it makes to your meal.
Overall, it is easy to get complacent about the foods you buy at the store. Instead of settling for less, make these foods at home for a healthier, tastier version!
Slow Cooker Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
- 8 fresh, medium-sized tomatoes
- 2 chopped, sweet onions
- 6 chopped garlic cloves
- 6 oz tomato paste
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
- 2 Tbsp white sugar
- 1 1/2 Tbsp dried Italian seasoning
- 1 Tbsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup fresh, chopped basil
- 1 Tbsp fresh, chopped thyme leaves
Instructions
- Wash all the fresh tomatoes. Cut a small "X" on the bottom of each tomato. Bring 8 quarts of water to a rapid boil. Drop-in tomatoes to boiling water. Boil for one minute or until you can see the peel beginning to separate from the vegetable. Remove each tomato with a slotted spoon. Dip each tomato in an ice, cold water bath. Allow the tomatoes to sit in the ice bath for one minute to stop the cooking process. Drain.
- Once cool enough to handle, peel the remaining skin off the tomatoes. Cut tomatoes in half, removing the tough core. Gently squeeze to remove large seeds, but the removal of ALL seeds is not necessary. Coarsely chop tomatoes.
- Place tomatoes in your slow cooker.
- Mix the onions, garlic, tomato paste, vinegar, sugar, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper till thoroughly combined.
- Place dry ingredients in slow-cooker with tomatoes. Cover and cook, on HIGH for 4-5 hours or until tomatoes have broken down and are very soft.
- Remove lid and ceramic slow cooker bowl. Allow to cool for 20 minutes, stir in fresh basil and thyme.
- Process mixture with an immersion blender until smooth or process the sauce, in batches, in your food processor or blender.
- Season with salt and pepper. It is ready to pour over your favorite pasta.
