Ingredients
- Now the fun part, making all the mixes! Grab your apron and maybe even a couple of friends and have some fun!
Preparation
Step 1
Buy your frequently used ingredients in bulk (flour, sugar, baking powder, etc.....) If you have limited storage space, gather a couple of friends for a mix day and split the ingredients. I can easily go through 25 lbs of flour on my mix days!
Using a large, shallow bowl will make mixing your ingredients much easier. It allows you to see if your ingredients are thoroughly mixed! (I used a dishpan from the dollar store for years to make my mixes in before I finally bought a GIANT stainless steel bowl). Make sure your bowl is big enough to hold all of your ingredients and give you enough room to stir (flour showers are just not pretty!).
A whisk makes quick work of dry ingredients. I keep a couple of different size whisks on hand for mixing my dry stuff together.
When cutting in shortening, especially into a large batch, I have found the best tool is--my hands. I can feel the shortening mixing in and can scoop easily to the bottom of the bowl to make sure everything is fully incorporated.
Making your own mixes allows you to control the ingredients. You can use all organic ingredients and still save over what an organic mix would cost you. Make gluten free mixes using an all purpose gluten free flour for a celiac friend (be sure all the other ingredients are gluten free also). Use a non-dairy dry milk powder for kids with dairy allergies. Leave the salt out for those with sodium or blood pressure concerns. It really opens up a lot of choices when you can control the ingredients. Sometime it takes a little experimenting, but it is worth it!
Mixes are great for sharing with other families. A can of peaches (store bought or home canned) and a bag of cobbler mix with a carton of whipping cream is a yummy gift for a new mom or as a housewarming gift. Moms of toddlers love cookie mixes that require just the addition of and egg and milk as an easy rainy day activity!
Mixes are great for camping! We fill a box with pre-measured mixes and only have to bring along a few extras (eggs, milk, water) in the cooler and we know we will be eating well. Some of our favorite camping mixes are: pancake mix (buttermilk or cinnamon oat pancakes), skillet scone mix, corn bread mix, quick cobbler mix (to use with fresh fruit from a local farmers market or picked straight from the tree), and tortilla mix, Our friends always tease us that we eat better when we are camping than they do at home.