Fitting homemade meals into your schedule is hard enough, but choosing healthier options makes things even more complicated. Let's face it, avoiding "hidden" sugars at the grocery store usually involves more time and more money. Sometimes you wonder if it's really worth it. Surely it wouldn't hurt to slip in a little corn syrup here and there for the sake of convenience?
I'll admit, I've given in to that temptation far more often than I care to admit. But I always regret it when I think about how much those conveniences are really costing my family in terms of their health. Finding alternatives to supermarket convenience foods make take a little more work, but as you begin to make it a part of your lifestyle, you'll find that it really isn't that hard. And making your own sauces, dips, and seasonings can actually save you money when you compare your better tasting, healthier versions to the expensive "gourmet" store-bought variety.
Pizza Sauce
3 oz. can tomato paste
12 oz. can tomato sauce or pureed tomatoes (make sure there is no sugar added)
2 cloves diced garlic
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon marjoram
Combine all ingredients. Use with your favorite pizza crust recipe.
2 cups cooked garbanzo beans (chick peas)
1/4 to 1/2 cup water
1/4 cup tahini or sesame paste
1/4 cup lime juice (use lemon juice as a substitute)
1 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
4 to 6 cloves garlic (or more to taste- we like a LOT)
salt
Combine in blender until you have a smooth paste, adding water to reach desired consistency. Serve with veggies or crackers. I’ve also put this on burritos, pizzas, and chicken. I’ve even eaten it plain when I needed a quick and tasty protein snack.
Sugar-Free Seasoning Salt
When I started reading the labels, I discovered that most premade seasoning mixes have sugar added. I made up this mix to replace one of my favorites.
1 tablespoon powdered onion
1 tablespoon powdered garlic
1 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoons pepper
2 teaspoons salt, optional
Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container. This mix is good sprinkled on steaks and hamburgers. Or add a teaspoon or two to a 1/4 cup of soy sauce and a 1/4 cup of oil to make a great marinade for grilled chicken.
Taco Seasoning
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon cornstarch (we omit this with fairly good results)
Makes the equivalent of a 1.25 oz. package of taco seasoning mix, good for seasoning 1 pound of browned ground beef.
Herbal Beef Rub
This is my absolute favorite way to season a beef roast. The recipe was adapted from one featured in Country Magazine as “Herb-Crusted Chuck Roast”
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground mustard
1 teaspoon dried savory
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
I usually make large quantities of this at one time and store in a jar to use as needed. One recipe equals about 1/4 cup of mix, but it doesn’t need to be exact. Take out the desired quantity mix with enough olive oil to form a thick paste. Rub over your beef roast and bake uncovered until it is done. Yum!
Pork Seasoning
This recipe was adapted from one featured in Country Magazine as “Paprika Pork Roast”
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoons onion powder
Combine and use to season pork roast or chops.
12 oz. can tomato sauce or pureed tomatoes (make sure there is no sugar added)
2 cloves diced garlic
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon marjoram
Combine all ingredients. Use with your favorite pizza crust recipe.
Hummus
Sugar free and fat free!2 cups cooked garbanzo beans (chick peas)
1/4 to 1/2 cup water
1/4 cup tahini or sesame paste
1/4 cup lime juice (use lemon juice as a substitute)
1 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
4 to 6 cloves garlic (or more to taste- we like a LOT)
salt
Combine in blender until you have a smooth paste, adding water to reach desired consistency. Serve with veggies or crackers. I’ve also put this on burritos, pizzas, and chicken. I’ve even eaten it plain when I needed a quick and tasty protein snack.
Sugar-Free Seasoning Salt
When I started reading the labels, I discovered that most premade seasoning mixes have sugar added. I made up this mix to replace one of my favorites.
1 tablespoon powdered onion
1 tablespoon powdered garlic
1 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoons pepper
2 teaspoons salt, optional
Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container. This mix is good sprinkled on steaks and hamburgers. Or add a teaspoon or two to a 1/4 cup of soy sauce and a 1/4 cup of oil to make a great marinade for grilled chicken.
Taco Seasoning
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon cornstarch (we omit this with fairly good results)
Makes the equivalent of a 1.25 oz. package of taco seasoning mix, good for seasoning 1 pound of browned ground beef.
Herbal Beef Rub
This is my absolute favorite way to season a beef roast. The recipe was adapted from one featured in Country Magazine as “Herb-Crusted Chuck Roast”
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground mustard
1 teaspoon dried savory
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
I usually make large quantities of this at one time and store in a jar to use as needed. One recipe equals about 1/4 cup of mix, but it doesn’t need to be exact. Take out the desired quantity mix with enough olive oil to form a thick paste. Rub over your beef roast and bake uncovered until it is done. Yum!
Pork Seasoning
This recipe was adapted from one featured in Country Magazine as “Paprika Pork Roast”
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoons onion powder
Combine and use to season pork roast or chops.
