Tutter
Power Conserver
Thank you! 
I started doing this long ago, and what I do is wait until I'm going to make something anyway, such as a scratch cake. Then, as I make it, I line up containers to store, and a mixing bowl.
Let's say that I need 2 cups of flour for the cake. I put 2 cups in the mixing bowl, then I put 2 cups in each of the jars/baggies etc. that I have lined up. At least 4.
Then I do the same with all other dry ingredients, such as salt, baking soda, sugar etc.
Label the containers with the name of what it is (dark powders start to look alike, and you want to know if it's pudding, or a cake, at a glance.), and the rest of the recipe. Such as how many eggs to add, how much oil, and what temp. to bake at.
Now put the 4 away while your cake is baking, and you have an instant mix for the next 4 times you make cake. And you didn't take everything out a separate time, like cups and measuring spoons, bags of flour and sugar.
I do this with cake mix, puddings, cornbread, etc.
For spices, I make chili powder, corned beef spice, and such. I would do taco spice by taste, but just because I have a very sensitive sense of taste. I'll say that something has a little orange zest in it, and dh wants to know how I can tell.
Once you play with it a while (Don't make a large batch at first; start one meal at a time. Add a little at a time, using actual measuring spoons, and have a notebook literally next to the spoon. Whenever you add, jot it. Later translate it, ignore the spatter spots, and copy neatly. ) and it seems pretty good, realize that if the do use MSG, you can add a little sugar, which is a flavor enhancer.
Obviously too much will ruin the recipe, but don't be afraid to add a bit at a time (jotting all the while!) until it tastes better to you.
Eventually you might decide that without is good, as well, but in the meantime, a bit of sugar will flavor enhance many foods.
Also, always have a pack of what you want to replicate, and copy the ingredients down. You'll want to not leave any out, and remember that they are in order of amount. Whatever the first ingredient is, is what there's the most of, all the way down to the last ingredients.
Good luck, and have fun; and thanks again for the recipes!
I started doing this long ago, and what I do is wait until I'm going to make something anyway, such as a scratch cake. Then, as I make it, I line up containers to store, and a mixing bowl.
Let's say that I need 2 cups of flour for the cake. I put 2 cups in the mixing bowl, then I put 2 cups in each of the jars/baggies etc. that I have lined up. At least 4.
Then I do the same with all other dry ingredients, such as salt, baking soda, sugar etc.
Label the containers with the name of what it is (dark powders start to look alike, and you want to know if it's pudding, or a cake, at a glance.), and the rest of the recipe. Such as how many eggs to add, how much oil, and what temp. to bake at.
Now put the 4 away while your cake is baking, and you have an instant mix for the next 4 times you make cake. And you didn't take everything out a separate time, like cups and measuring spoons, bags of flour and sugar.
I do this with cake mix, puddings, cornbread, etc.
For spices, I make chili powder, corned beef spice, and such. I would do taco spice by taste, but just because I have a very sensitive sense of taste. I'll say that something has a little orange zest in it, and dh wants to know how I can tell.
Once you play with it a while (Don't make a large batch at first; start one meal at a time. Add a little at a time, using actual measuring spoons, and have a notebook literally next to the spoon. Whenever you add, jot it. Later translate it, ignore the spatter spots, and copy neatly. ) and it seems pretty good, realize that if the do use MSG, you can add a little sugar, which is a flavor enhancer.Obviously too much will ruin the recipe, but don't be afraid to add a bit at a time (jotting all the while!) until it tastes better to you.
Eventually you might decide that without is good, as well, but in the meantime, a bit of sugar will flavor enhance many foods.
Also, always have a pack of what you want to replicate, and copy the ingredients down. You'll want to not leave any out, and remember that they are in order of amount. Whatever the first ingredient is, is what there's the most of, all the way down to the last ingredients.
Good luck, and have fun; and thanks again for the recipes!
