Back in the pioneer days, people made their own items, from soap to candles. Nowadays, we can afford to let someone else handle those messy and labor-intensive processes. Still, there is something fun and rewarding about making things yourself. Plus, it has the added benefit of allowing you to know exactly what’s in it. Here are some store-bought products you should try making yourself.
Chicken Broth
Chicken broth is a pantry essential, perfect to pull out for a simple weeknight dinner recipe. You can elevate even the simplest recipes with homemade chicken broth. The trick is to save your bones after making a chicken recipe. Boil them in a pot with veggies, seasonings, and water for two hours, and you have a stock you can store in your freezer for your next chicken soup or casserole.
Essential Oils
Aromatherapy is great for helping you relax at the end of the day, as well as stave off some minor ailments like headaches or insomnia. However, good essential oils can run a pretty high price tag. But if you have an herb or flower garden, you can extract your own oils. Look into cold-pressing techniques for fruit-based oils and steam distillation or ethanol extraction for other types of plants.
Cleaners
Home cleaners are notorious for having harsh chemicals that damage a home’s indoor air quality. The simplest way to avoid this is by making your own. Typical DIY all-purpose cleaners use vinegar, baking soda, rubbing alcohol, or some combination of the three. And since you’ve just made your own essential oils, adding a few drops will make your home smell even fresher.
Salad Dressing
If you like saving money and adding your own spin on salad, this is one store-bought item you should make yourself. Vinaigrette salad dressings only require three ingredients—vinegar, oil, and seasonings— and chances are you already have them in your home. From here, you can personalize the recipe to your own liking with Dijon mustard, garlic, parmesan cheese, or even CBD oil.
