Here are a couple of recipes for homemade items to put in your children’s, your husband’s, or your own lunch. Save money by making your own lunches from scratch. You can even get the kids involved as a fun and frugal family activity. These recipes were taken from the book, Frugal Families: Making the Most of Your Hard-Earned Money, by Jonni McCoy.
Chewy Granola Bars
After you make these granola bars so inexpensively, you’ll wonder how manufacturers get away with selling them at the prices that they do.
2 1/4 cups flour
1 cup oats
1/2 cup applesauce
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup oil
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, chopped apricots or apples, etc.)
1/2 cup peanuts (optional)
Blend the dry ingredients, then mix in the remaining ingredients. Spread in a greased 9×13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
Soft Pretzels
Your kids will have fun shaping their own pretzels. Instead of knots, they can be creative and come up with their own interesting shapes.
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 packages dry yeast
1 cup water
1 tablespoon shortening
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon water
Coarse salt
In a large bowl, heat 1 cup of water to 110 degrees. Add yeast. Add flour, sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt. Mix well and knead for 5 minutes. Place in a greased bowl and let rise until double in size.
Divide dough into 12 equal pieces, and roll each piece into long rope about 18-20 inches long. Tie into a loose knot and place onto a greased cookie sheet. Let sit for 5 minutes.
Mix egg yolk and 1 tablespoon water. Brush onto pretzels then sprinkle pretzels with coarse salt. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes.