Heck, I have even posted about MYO bread & butter, automatic dishwasher detergent, and menstrual pads. I do not know if it is the winter weather or some new found feeling of empowerment, but lately I look at something and think, "Why buy it? I can make that!". Becoming disgusted with plastic and over packaging has also been a motivational push in making my own.

Here are three things we use a lot of that are super simple to Make Your Own.

KETCHUP

1 (6-ounce) jar tomato paste
1/2 cup carrot puree
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons apple-cider vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon firmly packed brown sugar (optional)
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon chili powder, or to taste

Pour the butter and liquid off through a sieve, but save the liquid!! Not only did I make butter, but buttermilk as well. It is a two for one deal. The buttermilk will be used for pancakes or biscuits later.


Rinse the butter under cold water until it runs clear. Press out excess moisture and transfer to container of your choice.


One pint of cream will yield one cup of buttermilk and about one cup of butter (2 sticks). I used some cheap cream I had left over from Christmas to make this batch, but the least expensive organic cream I can find sells for $2.95 a pint. The organic butter I buy is $4.99 a pound. Organic buttermilk is $3.39 a quart. I save over $2.00 on the butter by making my own, but actually end up spending more on the buttermilk. In the end I gain a financial savings of 79 cents. Not worth the time to make your own? Consider this, in an effort to reduce packaging I started buying premium organic grass-fed local butter packaged in one paper wrapper. It retails for $6.99 a pound. Ouch! Now my savings jump to $2.79.

The real benefit for me is the package savings. I can go from two cardboard packages and four wax paper wrappers when buying the less expensive option; or, one cardboard package and one paper wrapper with the pricey stuff, down to one cardboard container when making my own. I think I can even find cream in glass at my coop. Even less waste!

I find it amusingly enjoyable and oddly empowering to make my own butter and buttermilk. Now if I could just get that bread thing figured out...

Option 2: Bake!
What better way to warm a home than with the smell of fresh baked bread or cookies? My house seems to rise two degrees if I have been baking or cooking a lot throughout the day. The kitchen is especially toasty where I am spending all my time baking that bread and cookies. Added bonus: you get to eat the goodies! Not to mention save money by making your own. One of my favorite things is cracking the oven door open after baking and standing in front of it with my shirt bottom pulled out to catch all the heat. Ahhh....

Option 3: Clean.
Okay, admittedly this is not as fun as eating warm cookies, but it works. If you are up and moving rather than sitting idle in front of dare I say it the computer gasp! you will feel warmer. I am amazed at how clean my house gets the colder I get. Sweeping, scrubbing, dusting ick!, running up and down the basement stairs to line dry the laundry, it is enough to break a sweat. Or, you could march in place while you read my posts.

Option 4: Spread the warmth.
If I have nothing going on until later in the day I spread my body heat throughout. In the morning I rely on residual body heat stored from being in bed all night. That tends to run out around noon because I have not been marching in place while reading all your posts. So I get a quick recharge in the shower. 4:00 the Chitlins show up and a lot of running around and preparing dinner keeps my body temp up. Four hours later Hubby arrives home stinky from work, so I share a shower with him to reheat. Another few hours pass and it is time to snuggle into bed for the process to start all over. On days I have meetings I have to shower upon awakening, but I am lucky enough to leave the house and toast my buns on the heated seats in my car; along with enjoying the company of normal folks who actually use their heat.

Option 5: Warm yourself from the inside out.
Hubby drinks coffee, the Chitlins and I drink hot cocoa. A teakettle is a permanent fixture on our stove throughout the winter. It does not take long for the water to heat up, it adds moisture to the dry winter air, and I find comfort in the sound of its whistle. A tray of large mugs, jar of cocoa mix, and homemade marshmallows are always easily accessible.

Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix

2 cups nonfat dry milk powder
3/4 sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup powdered non dairy creamer
1/8 teaspoon salt

1. Mix all ingredients in large bowl until evenly blended.
2. Store in tightly covered container at room temperature.
3. Spoon 3 or 4 tablespoons of mix into cup, add boiling water, and stir well.

Makes about 4 cups mix.

Leave a comment with your email address if you would like the marshmallow recipe. Or, you can email me at flockmaster [at] greeensheeep [dot] com.

Option 6: Go outside!
Whenever the family starts to complain that it is cold in the house I tell them to go outside. "If you think it is cold in here, go outside! Then it will feel warm."