The Penny-Pincher's Pantry

Ingredients

Pancake Mix

• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups milk

Chocolate Syrup

• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup light corn syrup
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Bacon Bits

• cooked bacon

Pre-Chopped Garlic

• garlic clove
• olive oil

Fresh Buttermilk

• 1 tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice
• 1 cup milk
• 3/4 cup plain yogurt (optional)
• 1/4 cup milk (optional)

Packaged Croutons

• bread
• oil
• salt
• garlic salt

Jarred Spaghetti Sauce

• 1/2 chopped onion
• 1 minced garlic clove
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 28 ounces tomatoes (diced or chopped)
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon dry oregano
• ground black pepper

Taco Seasoning Packet

• 4 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 2 teaspoons dry oregano
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Packaged Bread Crumbs

• bread
• oregano (optional)
• thyme (optional)
• garlic powder (optional)

Directions

1. 1

   Pancake Mix: Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, whisk eggs, and vegetable oil into milk. Add liquid to dry mixture and whisk. Don't overmix; batter should be lumpy. Makes 10-12 pancakes.

2. 2

   Chocolate Syrup: In a saucepan over medium heat, stir together water, light corn syrup, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and vanilla extract. Stir constantly until just boiling. Cool and store in the fridge for up to 2 months.

3. 3

   Bacon Bits: Finely chop leftover cooked bacon and place in a zip-top bag, pressing out all the air when you seal it. Form into a flat, thin layer and freeze; simply break off a few pieces and crumble them when you need bacon bits. Freeze for up to 3 months.

4. 4

   Pre-Chopped Garlic: Chop a handful of peeled garlic cloves in a food processor; place in a sealable container and cover with olive oil. Store chilled airtight up to 2 weeks. Once the garlic is gone, use oil to flavor pasta or salad dressing.

5. 5

   Fresh Buttermilk: For 1 cup buttermilk to use in baking, mix white vinegar or lemon juice with milk; let sit 5 minutes and use. Combining 3/4 c plain yogurt and 1/4 cup milk works, too.

6. 6

   Packaged Croutons: Cut any type of bread into cubes and coat them lightly in oil, then sprinkle with salt and garlic salt. (Add even more flavor by tossing in oil-and-vinegar salad dressing or dry herbs). Toast on a baking sheet, stirring occasionally, in a 350 oven until just golden.

7. 7

   Jarred Spaghetti Sauce: Saute 1/2 a chopped onion, minced garlic clove, and olive oil in a medium saucepan until onion is soft. Add tomatoes, diced or chopped, kosher salt, and dry oregano and simmer 20 minutes. Season with ground black pepper.

8. 8

   Taco Seasoning Packet: Stir together chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, ground cumin, paprika, dry oregano, sugar, and salt. Use 2 tablespoons to season 1 pound ground beef, chicken or turkey.

9. 9

   Packaged Bread Crumbs: In a 300 oven, dry slices or cubes of any type of bread about 15 minutes. Crush in a food processor or with the bottom of a pan. For seasoned bread crumbs, add dry herbs like oregano or thyme (a little garlic powder tastes great, too). To make flaky panko-like crumbs, mince fresh bread by pulsing it in a food processor, then dry the crumbs in a 250 oven.