Mixes - Common Homemade Mixes

Save some money and make your own mixes. Double up on the recipes and make one batch for yourself and one for a gift.
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This would be a great gift jar mix just layer in a 1 quart jar in the order given or mix all together and put in a jar. Dont forget to add a recipe card with the instructions on how to cook.

Ingredients

2 ½ cups Bisquick mix (or make your own see recipe below "All Purpose Baking Mix")
1 1/4 cups corn meal - yellow
1/2 cup sugar
1 T baking powder (make it a heaping Tablespoon)

If making this mix in as a gift jar layer in your 1 quart jar in order given, packing each ingredient before adding the next.

Cornbread directions

1/2 jar Cornbread Mix
1 slightly beaten egg
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup softened butter

If giving with a gift jar: In large mixing bowl pour out jar of cornbread mix and mix together, put 1/2 of mix back in jar for use later.

Preheat oven to 350. Combine all ingredients and mix until mixed together. Pour into 8 inch greased baking pan. Bake for 25 - 30 minutes until golden brown or until when a toothpick in inserted in center and pulled right out it comes out clean (no uncooked batter). Enjoy!

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This would be a great mix to give with a package of pasta noodles alone or perhaps in a crockpot.

Ingredients

½ cups dried pinto beans
½ cups dried red kidney beans
2 Tbl dried minced onion
1 ½ tsp beef bouillon granuals
1 pkg chili seasoning mix (or make your own (see recipe below) and use about ¼ cup)
¼ to ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

Layer the dried beans in a small canning jar. Next mix spices together and put in a baggie, then put baggie on top of beans in jar.

Decorate jar as desired. Include recipe card with the following recipe for using the mix.

Chili Mac

1 jar or package Chili Mac Mix
1 – 2 cans dice tomatoes with green chilies (don’t drain)
1-2 cups water
1 lb ground beef
Noodles
Grated cheese (optional)

Night before, place beans in bowl and cover with water (at least a couple inches above beans, as they expand), add a dash of baking powder and let soak overnight at least 8 hours.

Next morning drain and rinse the soaked beans and add to crockpot with along with spices, diced tomatoes and water. Brown and drain any excess oil from ground beef and add beef to crockpot. Cover and cook on low all day about 10 hours. Cook pasta about 30 minutes before serving and either mix into to chili mac in crockpot and cook about 30 minutes more on low, or just serve the chili mac on top of noodles. Garnish with grated cheese if desired. Enjoy.

More tips: Another great gift idea for this recipe is to include your chili mac mix with either a serving dish, mixing bowl or perhaps a useful measuring cup bowl. Don’t have canning jars, save those empty pasta jars, remove the labels and you have a recyclable jar, or just put beans in a food storage bag also, with the spices bagged up separately.

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4 T chili powder
2 tsp ground coriander
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp dried minced onion
2 tsp dried minced garlic
1 tsp dried mexican oregano
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
¼ tsp white (or black) pepper>

Use 3 Tablespoons or more to taste, in your favorite chili recipe instead of pre-packaged chili mix.

This recipe takes a few more ingredients than mix 1 so it does have more flavor.

2 1/2 T chili powder
2 T all-purpose flour
½ to 1 T crushed red pepper (depending how much heat you want)
1 T dried minced onion
1 T dried, minced garlic
2 tsp white sugar
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp dried basil
1/4 teaspoon course ground black pepper

Use about 3 Tablespoons or more to taste, in your favorite chili recipe instead of pre-packaged chili mix.

A great recipe to keep on hand in your pantry for seasoning stews, roasts and for the favorite Chip Dip.

3/4 cup Dried Minced Onion
4 tsp Onion Powder
1/4 tsp Sugar
1/4 tsp Ground Celery Seed
1/3 cup Beef Bouillon Powder
2 tsp Dried Minced Garlic (optional)

Mix all the ingredients and store in an airtight container. Experiment with the amount you use to your taste. Enjoy!

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I like to keep taco seasoning mix on hand not only for tacos but for seasoning some of our crockpot recipes. Experiment with the amount you use, don't assume you can use the same amount as in a store bought packet, this recipe is a little more potent.

5 tsp Paprika
2 tsp Onion Powder
2 tsp Dried Minced Onion
6 tsp Chili Powder
1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper
4 tsp Cumin
1 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Dried Minced Garlic
1/2 tsp salt (I like using sea salt)
1 tsp dried Oregano (use dried flakes if you can find them)

Mix all the ingredients and store in an airtight container. This would also make a great Gift Jars gift, what could you add to this gift? Enjoy!

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Instead of having several packages of mixes for pancakes, biscuits or cakes how about making a master mix that you can use for each of these and more recipes. Years ago when my kids were small, this was kept on hand to use as needed. Not only did it save money in the long run but I didn't need to have a pantry full of boxes of mix.

5 lbs all purpose flour (20 cups)
2 1/2 cups dry powdered milk
3/4 cup double acting baking powder
3 Tbsp salt
2 Tbsp cream of tarter
2 lbs vegetable shorting (5 cups) (my favorite Crisco)

Stir baking powder, salt, cream of tarter, dry powdered milk and sugar into the unsifted flour. Sift all together. Cut shortening into above ingredients until it has a cornmeal consistency. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

Here are some recipes using the All-Purpose Mix.

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Biscuits - makes 1 dozen

Preheat oven to 450. Mix 3 cups All-Purpose Mix and 3/4 cup water together and kneed 10 times. Drop by spoonful on greased baking pan and cook for 10 minutes.

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Pancakes/Waffles

Mix 3 cups All-Purpose Mix, 1 egg and 1 1/2 cup water together.

Simple Syrup

2 cups Sugar
1 12 cups Water
3 Tbl. Brown Sugar
1 test Vanilla
1 tsp Maple Extract

Bring all to a boil. Stirring until sugar dissolves (good rolling boil). Turn off burner, leave pot on burner until bubbling stops. Let cool and serve over pancakes or waffles.

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Muffins - makes 1 dozen

Preheat oven to 450. Mix 1 egg and 1 cup water together. Blend egg & water mixture with 3 cups All-Purpose Mix and 2 T. sugar.

Fill muffin cups 3/4 full and bake for 25 minutes.

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Coffee Cake

Preheat oven to 400. Blend 3 cups All-Purpose Mix, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 egg and 2/3 cup water together. Pour into greased cake pan.

In another bowl mix together 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 3 Tbl. butter and chopped nuts (optional). Pour over top of cake mix. Cook 25 minutes.

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Yellow or Chocolate Cake

Preheat oven to 325. Mix together 3 cups All-Purpose Mix and 1 1/2 cup sugar, set aside (if making Chocolate cake add 1/2 cup cocoa to mix & sugar). In another bowl mix together 2 eggs and 1 cup water (if making yellow cake add 1 tsp vanilla to egg & water mixture). Add 1/2 mix & sugar to egg & water mixture, and beat for 2 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients and beat. Pour into greased cake pan and cook for 25 minutes.

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Drop Cookies - makes about 4 dozen

Preheat oven to 375. Mix together 3 cups All-Purpose Mix, 1 cup sugar, 1 egg, 1/3 cup water, 1 tsp vanilla and 1/2 cup chopped nuts and or chocolate chips. Drop by spoonful onto greased cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes.

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