'Home made' saves money, adds value to breakfast

By: Pat Koch Special to Star & Enterprise | SCNow
Published: May 16, 2009

With the price of everything in the supermarket so high, over the next few weeks, I am going to be printing recipes from a cookbook entitled: Miserly Moms.

We know that cooking from scratch is much cheaper and this book gives the cost comparison between homemade and store bought. If you have the time to spend, these recipes will help you save money and still eat well.

Even though the book was published in 2001, the prices will still be close. I’m starting with breakfast: Cinnamon Rolls and Nonfat Granola.

Cinnamon Rolls
“These taste like the famous cinnamon rolls sold in the malls”

Dough:
1 tablespoon dry yeast
1 cup warm milk
1/3 cup white sugar
1/2 cup soft butter
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
4 cups all-purpose flour

Dissolve yeast in warm milk. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Knead into a ball or put in a bread machine on the dough setting. Let rise until double in size. When ready, roll out to about 1/4-inch thick. Spread with filling as described next.

Filling:
1/4 cup soft butter
1 cup brown sugar, tightly packed
3 tablespoons cinnamon

Spread butter evenly on dough. Sprinkle sugar and cinnamon evenly over buttered dough. Roll up dough. Slice roll into 1-inch slices. Place on a greased pan. Let rise until double in size. Bake 10 minutes at 400 degrees.

Icing:
1/2 cup soft butter
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
Pinch of salt

Beat until fluffy. When rolls are hot, spread lots of icing on them.

Yield: 16 – 18 rolls
Cost analysis per roll: Homemade = $0.45 Store-bought = $2.99

Source: Miserly Moms

Nonfat Granola

3/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup concentrated apple juice
1/2 cup nonfat dry milk
1/3 cup honey
5 cups quick-cooking oats
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup dried fruit

Mix sugar, juice, dry milk and honey in saucepan and heat over medium heat only until sugar dissolves. Combine dry ingredients and fruit in mixing bowl. Pour sugar mixture slowly over dry mixture and blend well. Place on cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 10-20 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

Be creative by adding peanuts, sunflower seeds, coconut, sesame seeds, peanut butter or whatever else your family enjoys.

Cost analysis (1 pound): Homemade = $1; Store-bought = $2.39

Source: Miserly Moms