Don’t Buy It, Make It!
Healthy Kitchen Swaps Made Easy
Ready to take control of what’s in your food and make your kitchen a healthier place? These common store-bought items are simple to make with ingredients you likely already have at home!
From salad dressings and spice blends to pantry staples, we’ll walk through practical swaps that anyone can make with real ingredients.
Avoid overwhelm by choosing one simple swap at a time! Before you know it you will transform your pantry with wholesome foods that are better for your body and your budget!
Thank you for attending our class at the Kentucky Sustainable Living Festival!
Brown Sugar
Out of brown sugar or looking for a cleaner option? This quick recipe shows you how to make your own using just white sugar and molasses. It’s an easy, budget-friendly swap that gives you full control over flavor and ingredients—no last-minute store runs required!
Broth
Store-bought broth often comes with extra sodium, preservatives, and mystery ingredients. This simple recipe shows you how to make a rich, flavorful broth at home using real veggies, herbs, and scraps you might already have. Includes pressure canning instructions for shelf-stable broth!
Catalina Salad Dressing
Bottled dressings can be loaded with sugar, oils, and preservatives. This homemade Catalina dressing is tangy, slightly sweet, and made with simple pantry ingredients you can actually pronounce. It’s a quick, flavorful swap that brings bold taste, without the bottle.
Cranberry Juice
Making cranberry juice at home is a very simple process. Do you want to mix things up and make other fruit juices or mixed fruit juices??? You may also substitute all cranberries for other fruits.
Fruit Leather
Store-bought fruit snacks often sneak in added sugars, artificial dyes, and preservatives. This easy recipe lets you turn ripe fruit into naturally sweet, chewy fruit leather—no junk, just real ingredients. It’s a fun, kid-friendly swap that’s perfect for lunchboxes, road trips, or anytime snacking.
Mayonnaise
Store-bought mayo often hides processed oils and preservatives. This easy recipe whips up creamy, delicious mayonnaise with just a few real ingredients in minutes. It’s a fresh, customizable swap that brings better flavor—and better fats—to your favorite dishes.
Spicy Mustard
Store-bought mustards can be bland or loaded with additives. This homemade recipe delivers a balanced spice that adds flavor without overpowering your dishes. It’s a simple, wholesome swap that brings a little zing to sandwiches, dressings, and more.
Spaghetti Sauce
Store-bought sauces often hide added sugars, preservatives, and extra salt. This simple recipe lets you simmer up a fresh, flavorful spaghetti sauce using real tomatoes and herbs you trust. It’s an easy, wholesome swap that turns pasta night into something special.
Spreadable Butter
Tired of tearing your toast? This simple recipe shows you how to make soft, spreadable butter at home using just two ingredients. It’s a quick, cost-effective swap that blends the flavor of real butter with the convenience you love—straight from the fridge.
Taco Seasoning
Store-bought taco mixes can be loaded with fillers and excess salt. This homemade blend is packed with real spices and bold flavor, perfectly balanced and totally customizable. It’s a quick, clean swap that brings authentic taste to every taco night.
Looking for practical tools that make cooking from scratch easier??
Check out my favorite kitchen tools on Amazon!
Fresh Ground Flour
If the fresh-milled flour presentation at the Kentucky Sustainable Living Festival sparked your interest—or if you didn’t get a chance to attend, we’ve pulled together all the info you need to get started.
See a replay of the presentation, explore grain mill options, and learn where to source wheat berries. Everything you need, all in one place.
PLUS: Download a FREE copy of the Video Guide.
