10 Essential Products You Can Make Yourself

 Grocery shopping can be exhausting when it comes to choosing the right product brands and juggling between prices. Well, I have good news for you because I've found that most of the essential products we all buy can actually be made in the comfort of your own home, in a couple of simple steps. You'd never have guessed how easy products like butter, mustard, deodorant and Greek yogurt are to DIY. The following instructions for common grocery products are sure to come in handy for you!

  1. Mustard 

Here's how you can make some delicious homemade spicy mustard, perfect for your upcoming dinner or barbecue party.

Yield: around 6 ounces of mustard

Ingredients: 

• 2 tablespoons yellow mustard seeds (also called white mustard seeds)
• 2 tablespoons brown mustard seeds
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, or coconut vinegar
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt

Directions: 

1. Grind mustard seeds (using a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder).
2. Place ground mustard seeds into a glass storage jar with the rest of the ingredients.
3. Stir ingredients well.
4. Store at room temperature for up to 8 hours before refrigerating.

Extra: Add honey or coconut crystals to enhance the flavor.

Recipe source: detoxinista.com

  2. Butter

Making homemade butter is much easier than you thought! Check out this simple recipe.

Yield: 16 servings

Ingredients:

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)  

Directions: 

1. Process the cream in a food processor for 10 minutes, or until it separates.
2. Strain the liquid from the mixture.
3. Season with salt if desired.
4. Using the back of a spoon, press your butter into a small container to ooze out any remaining liquid.

Recipe source: allrecipes.com

If you have excess grapes, why not make your own raisins? You can either use a dehydrator or simply an oven for the drying process. Here's how they're made. 

Yield: approximately 1 1/4 cups

What you need:

• 2 pounds grapes

Directions:

1. Wash the grapes and remove their stems. Discard any rotten ones.
2. Fill a large pot of water and bring to boil. Add grapes and cook for around 30 seconds. Drain and transfer to a large bowl of ice water immediately. Allow to chill.
3. If using a dehydrator: Set your machine's suggested temperature (most probably around 135 °F). The drying process will take around 24 hours, unless grapes are very small. Store raisins in an airtight container or plastic bag after making sure they've completely cooled down. 
4. If using an oven: Set temperature to the lowest possible setting on your oven (between 140 and 170°F). If allowed, use the convection setting. Place grapes over 2 rimmed baking sheets lined with parchment paper and put inside the oven. Monitor the grapes and toss them every now and again to make sure they dry evenly. When dried, allow raisins to cool before storing in an airtight container or plastic bag.

Recipe source: seriouseats.com 

  4. Cold Remedy

Instead of buying expensive medicine, try out this simple recipe for a cold remedy drink. Drink it once a day as needed. Although it has a strong taste, it's super effective for days when you're taken over by a cold, sinus infection or a sore throat.

Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon honey (organic wild flower honey is the best)
• 2 tablespoon organic, raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar

Directions: 

1. Mix ingredients all together in a glass. 
2. Heat in a microwave for about 10 seconds.
3. Stir the mixture and drink it. You may want to add some water to dilute it since the taste is very acidic. This remedy will also prevent your teeth from losing their enamel if you make it part of your daily routine.

Recipe source: foodlamor.com 

  5. Greek Yogurt

Create yummy, creamy Greek yogurt made with just 2 ingredients and a thermometer! Start experimenting with the following easy steps.

Yield: 6 cups

Ingredients: 

• 8 cups milk
• 4 tablespoons plain yogurt with live and active cultures or freeze-dried yogurt starter

Directions:

1. Place milk in a heavy-bottomed pot and bring it to 180°F (using a thermometer) over a medium heat. Remember to stir regularly to avoid scorching. When the temperature has been reached, allow the milk to cool to 110°F.
2. Add yogurt to the milk and combine the two ingredients by whisking them.
3. Pour the mixture into 2 quart-sized jars and close them. Put them in a small insulated cooler filled with 120°F water and close. Leave undisturbed for 6 hours.
4. Remove jars from water bath and place in refrigerator for 6 hours.
5. Before consuming, place the yogurt in a fine mesh strainer, lined with 2 cheesecloth layers, to allow it to strain and achieve the typical consistency of Greek yogurt.

Recipe source: seriouseats.com 

  6. Deodorant  

Have complete trust in the quality of our deodorant by creating it yourself. It's unbelievably easy to make, and you can even play around with different aromas by varying oils. Try it out by following these simple steps.

What you need: 

• 3 tablespoons Coconut Oil
• 3 tablespoons Baking Soda
• 2 tablespoons Shea Butter
• 2 tablespoons Arrowroot (optional)
• Essential Oils (optional)

Directions:

1. Place the butter and coconut oil together in a double boiler over medium heat and bring to slightly melted consistency, not fully. 
2. Remove from heat and add it to baking soda and arrowroot. Make sure you mix them together well.
3. Add essential oils.
4. When it cools completely, store in a glass container or an empty deodorant stick, not necessarily in the fridge.

Recipe source: wellnessmama.com

  7. Hot Dog Buns

Bread is not particularly expensive in comparison to other products, but nothing beats a homemade batch, fresh from your own oven. It only takes a couple of steps to fill your home with an irresistible smell, and of course, a fresh supply of tempting hotdog buns.

Yield: 9 hotdog buns

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp sugar
• 2 1/4 tsp (1 pkg) yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1 cup warm milk
• 1 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 - 4 cups flour
• 1 egg
• sesame seeds (optional)

Directions: 

1. Place the sugar in warm water and dissolve. Sprinkle the yeast over it and let it sit for 10 minutes.
2. Add milk, oil and salt, and beat everything with a dough hook until combined.
3. Add flour, 1 large tablespoon at a time, until the dough separates from the inside of the bowl. Knead the dough well for 5-7 minutes.
4. Place dough in an oiled bowl and coat it all around. Leave it to rise for about 1 hour.
5. On a slightly oiled surface, divide the dough into 9 equal pieces, rolling them into balls and then into cylinders. The recommended length for each one is 4.5 inches. Flatten them slightly.
6. Place the buns slightly apart on a baking sheet and cover with a light towel. Leave to rise for another 45 minutes.
7. After preheating the oven to 400, brush the buns lightly with the egg wash (1 beaten egg and 1 tablespoon water). Sprinkle sesame seeds if desired.
8. Bake for 20 minutes.

Recipe source: thebrewerandthebaker.com 

  8. Cream Cheese

Cream cheese becomes much more affordable with this great recipe. Get to making your very own cream cheese as follows.

Yield: 13 ounces of cream cheese

Ingredients: 

2 cups heavy cream
2 cups whole milk
1 drop liquid vegetable rennet dissolved in 2 tablespoons water
1/8 tsp. (one packet) mesophilic starter culture OR 1 ounce buttermilk
1/4 teaspoon salt or other flavorings (optional)

Directions:

1. Combine milk and cream in a pot and heat to 75°F, stirring regularly in the process.
2. Remove pot from heat and add the buttermilk (OR sprinkle the mesophilic starter culture over the milk's surface and allow to dissolve for 2 minutes). Stir gently and add the diluted rennet. Use an up-and-down motion with your spoon just below the surface of the mixture to ensure an even mixture. 
3. Cover pot with lid and wrap in a few kitchen towels before placing it in a warm location (70°F-75°F) to incubate. Leave for about 14 hours.
4. Allow the mixture to drain over a bowl using a muslin, for 7-10 hours.
5. Place in a container and refrigerate.

Extra: You may want to add 1/4 teaspoon salt or any other flavorings to give it more taste, before refrigerating.

Recipe source: wonderlandkitchen.com   

  9. Bug Repellent

There's a simpler way to repel bugs than spraying chemical-loaded commercial products with strong smells. Here's how to do it the natural and DIY way.

What you need:

• 1 empty spray bottle
• 8 oz. water
• 14 drops Citronella essential oil
• 14 drops purification essential oil

Directions:

1. Mix all the ingredients together and pour into the spray bottle. Add any essential oils of your choice to improve the scent and effectiveness (such as Rosemary, Clove, Cajeput, Lavender, Cinnamon and Eucalyptus).
2. Shake well before use.

Recipe source: listotic.com  

  10. Stain Remover

Have you ever looked for a stain remover and failed to find one around your home? Keep one handy without paying a penny. The following recipe includes common ingredients you'll find in your cupboards.

 What you need:

• 1 empty spray bottle
• 2/3 cup dish detergent
• 2/3 cup ammonia
• 2 cups warm water
• 6 tablespoons baking soda

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients and pour into the spray bottle.
2. Shake well before use. Apply to stains, let sit, and scrub if needed. 

Recipe source: listotic.com