How to Make Your Own Mixes

On My Heart by Marilyn Moll

 

How to Make Your Own Mixes

Dear Marilyn,

"I would love to have a mix for baking bread that is as complete as possible. I have already purchased white flour, whole wheat flour and powdered milk. Some of the things I will be receiving soon are powdered egg, powdered butter and honey powder.

Can you think of a recipe that I can use all of these ingredients with to come up with a bread mix that is as complete as possible? Also, would I be able to add the yeast to the dry mix for storage? Once the dry mix is made, it will be stored in mylar bags with oxygen absorbers." Angela

 

Dear Angela,

I don't have a mix recipe incorporating all the ingredients you mention, but I think you could take my basic, Marilyn's Famous Whole Wheat Bread recipe for two loaves and convert it to the food storage items you have.

For example - add whatever amount of honey powder would be equivalent to 1/3 cup for a two loaf recipe. Same thing for the butter powder as a substitute for the oil.

 

Even though you will be vacuum packing your bread mix with an Oxygen absorber - I would still, if possible, add the yeast at time of making the bread to insure that the yeast is still viable.

 

You could add about 1/3 cup dry milk powder to the mix, if desired, for additional protein and other trace minerals, however it is an optional ingredient. I would not add the egg powder as it isn't necessary for basic yeast breads.

 

Mixes are Convenient, Easy, and Economical

 

Angela, thanks for reminding all of us that dry mixes are not only very convenient to have on hand, but economical.

 

Here is a really easy recipe you can probably make with what is already on hand.

 

Quick Pancake and Waffle Mix

 

8 Cups whole wheat pastry flour (packed if freshly milled) or other whole grain flour *

4 tsp salt

7 Tbsp baking powder

1/2 cup Sucanat or brown sugar

2 2/3 Cup dry milk powder

 

Combine the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir well to distribute the ingredients evenly. Store in a zipper-top freezer bag or other freezer container. Be sure to label the contents and include the recipe for making up the pancakes.

 

* Do not substitute hard winter wheat for pastry flour. The pancakes will be heavy and dense. Be sure to "pack" pastry flour into a measuring cup if it is freshly milled to get accurate measurements.

 

For Gifts: Package the mix in a decorative jar or bag. Be sure to include the recipe.

 

Click Here for Instructions for Making the Pancakes and  Spiced Apple Pancake or Waffle Topping from Basic Ingredients

 

Powdered Milk is Versatile

 

Powdered Milk should be part of that basic food storage plan we have been talking about because it is economical, convenient, needs no refrigeration, has multiple purposes, stores easily, and offers significant nutritional value. Basically, it can be added into any recipe calling for fluid milk or added for a nutritional boost.

This versatile food storage item can be also be used directly into other recipes or homemade mixes such as:

 

• white sauce or gravy mix
• cream soups
• puddings
• Homemade yogurt or kefir
• Basic cheeses such as mozzerella and cottage cheese
• Beverages such as milk, and hot chocolate

 Tips for Using Dry Milk Powder

 

Sift it with dry ingredients to make your own cake, bread, or muffin mixes.

 

Enrich bread, main dishes, meat loaves, mashed potatoes or hot cereals with powdered milk

 

 

I will be posting more homemade mix recipes for quick breads, desserts, cream soups and more that use basic ingredients at the urbanhomemaker.com/blog page in the next few weeks.

 

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