We all want to use less plastic in our lives, but visit any grocery store and you will quickly realize that even the simple act of feeding our families is difficult to do without plastic. To help you in your sustainability endeavors, we’ve got a guide to making kitchen staples at home and avoid waste.
Alternative milk
You’ll be shocked at how easy it is to make alternative milk at home. Almond milk, for example, simply requires soaking one cup of almonds in four cups of water overnight. Then, blend the entire mixture and strain through a cheesecloth for delicious homemade milk. You can add dates, vanilla, or cinnamon to add some flavor to your home blend.
Nut butter
No need to buy nut butter in plastic jars (but glass is a good grocery-friendly option). Buy nuts from the bulk bins (bonus points for using your own container), roast them until golden brown, and rub them in a folded towel to remove skins. Finish your nut butter by blending in a high-power mixer for 10 to 15 minutes until they go from powder to butter.
Bread
Use this beginner sourdough recipe or try a yeasted version and discover how easy it is to make bread at home. Plus, it will be the freshest loaf you’ve ever tried!
Jam
All you need to do to make jam is cook down fruit and sugar, then jar to preserve. Get started with this easy recipe.
Pickles
You can pickle anything you’d like by boiling equal parts of water and vinegar. Let cool slightly, and pour the hot mixture over jars filled with veggies, fill sprigs, and peppercorns. Let sit for a few days and you’ll have pickled veggies to enjoy in salads, tacos, and even on their own!
Hummus
Like nut butter, hummus is easy if you have a high-powered blender. Combine 2 cups chickpeas, 2 tablespoons tahini, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, a pinch of paprika, and blend until smooth.
