Food Hacks: Recipes

Advertiser Disclosure ▾

This page contains affiliate links from which we receive a compensation. Like many publications Wise Bread is supported by affiliate commission from partner companies whose products appear on our site. This may influence which products we write about and the location and order in which products appear. We aren't able to cover every product in the marketplace.

Wise Bread Picks

• Travel Rewards Credit Cards
• Cash Back Credit Cards
• 0% Balance Transfer Credit Cards

It's easy to say that you can save money by making common, household foods or specialty items yourself, but it's much harder to figure out how to actually do that. Here are some recipes that should help:

1. Pesto

Apparently, there are some vehement disagreements as to how pesto should be made. Whichever recipe you choose, you'll save on the pre-made stuff from the grocery store and you'll be able to make as much as you need. Added props? You can flavor it to your own taste.

2. Roasted Tomatoes

Finally, something to do with the ones that manage to get bruised between the grocery store and the house! Roasted tomatoes are great on salads, pizzas, and in spaghetti sauce.

3. Smoothies 

Make fresh smoothies just like the ones you get in the restaurants. There are a million smoothie recipes out there, so take this as a reminder: Juice World is not the only place with a blender!

4. Biscotti

What could be more delectable than hard bread? Seriously, though, the co-workers and the party guests will love these homemade biscotti, and they'll never know you didn't get them at the store...unless their fabulous taste gives you away.

5. Root Beer

What could be more fun that brewing your own root beer in the basement? Once you get the hang of it, you can experiment with sweeteners, flavors, etc. Who knows...maybe you'll be the next Soda King.

6. Reduced Balsamic Vinagar

If you haven't heard of reduced balsamic vinegar, it sounds a little strange. But if you have? Well, I'll just say that most people who try it find themselves thinking about it for days afterward. Longing for it. To put their arms around it, love it, squeeze it...oh, wait. Nevermind. But it is good — a sweet-but-tangy sauce for fruit and (for the daring) vegetables. Bring it to your next potluck get-together.