A Condiment Cost-Cutting Guide, Part II

 If you followed our Condiment Cost-Cutting Guide, you’d be glad to see these follow up recipes that use some of the condiments described in Part 1.  

 Many of the recipes here are made with simple and affordable recipes for basic condiments. When you have just a few essentials on hand, it’s easy to whip up other commonly used sauces, spices and dressings. It’s often cheaper than buying it at the store and certainly much more convenient than running out to the store when you are in a pinch. 

Shrimp Cocktail Sauce

Found shrimp on sale but not cocktail sauce? Make this quick and easy sauce by mixing together the following ingredients (refer to Part 1 for ketchup and mayonnaise recipes):

• 1 Cup ketchup
• 2 Tbsp grated horseradish
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice
• ½ tsp mayonnaise, hot sauce and/or Worcestershire sauce to taste 

Tartar Sauce

Traditionally eaten with fish, tartar sauce gets its distinctive flavor from the mixture of pickles and mayonnaise. You can find the recipe for pickle relish in Part 1. For tartar sauce, simply mix together the following:

• 1 Tbsp pickle relish
• 1/2 Tbsp minced onion
• 2 tsp parsley
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• Dash dried tarragon optional)

Steak Sauce

Some recipes just amaze me with their simplicity. Did you know you only need two ingredients to make stead sauce? Just mix together ½ Cup ketchup and ½ Cup Worcestershire sauce! 

You may be wondering, “Hey, what’s in Worcestershire sauce anyway?” Well, quite a lot actually. It’s one of the few condiments that are cheaper to buy. Although I wouldn’t recommend it, you can try making your own by following instructions at the following site: http://old.cbbqa.org/articles/WorcestershireSauce.html

Barbecue Sauce

Don’t wait for a sale. Just make your own simple sauce. 

• 1/4 Cup cider vinegar
• 1/3 Cup honey, molasses or substitute 7 Tbsp sugar plus 1 ½ Tbsp cider vinegar
• 1 Cup ketchup
• 1 Tbsp mustard (see recipe in Part 1)
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp black pepper

Combine molasses and vinegar in saucepan and heat until sugars are dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in the remaining ingredients. 

Sweetened Condensed Milk

Making brownies but ran out of sweetened condensed milk? Whip it up at home.

• 1 Cup hot water
• 2 Cups sugar
• 2 Cups instant powdered milk
• 6 Tbsp melted butter 

Pour hot water into blender and then add the remaining ingredients. Close and mix for 60 seconds. Mixture will be thin, but will thicken in about an hour. 

Peanut Butter

Seriously. Peanut butter. It’s so easy and can be really cheap to make if you find a good deal on dry roasted peanuts. Just but 1 Cup of the peanuts, 2 Tbsp peanut or vegetable oil and ½ tsp salt in a blender and whip. For chunky put only ¾ Cup peanuts, then chop ¼ cup and mix in afterwards.

Meat Gravy 

No need for specifics here. You can make any kind of gravy easily. You need a broth or ¾ Cup water plus pan drippings, flour, water and seasoning. Just mix 2 Tbsp flour with cold water until well dissolved. Add broth or dripping mix and heat until boiling. Turn down heat and let simmer five minutes. Season to taste. 

Poultry Seasoning

A good old standby that will be there for you when you need it. Use poultry seasoning in poultry of course, but also in pork, fish, stuffing and sometimes meatloaf.  Just sift together the following dry spices:

• 2 Tbsp marjoram
• 2 Tbsp savory
• 2 tsp parsley
• 1 Tbsp sage
• 1-1/2 tsp thyme
• Pinch rosemary
• Pinch onion power

Italian Seasoning

Use it for dressings and Italian sauces. All you need do is sift together 2 Tbsp each of the following dry ingredients:

• Basil
• Marjoram
• Oregano
• Rosemary
• Thyme

Find money-saving salad dressing recipes in the Condiment Cost-Cutting Guide Part III.