Economical Substitutions/Changes

Tips to save money on specialty items and help make your grocery budget stretch.

Nowadays you can find bargain items at the market, but they are generally limited to the basic flavors/formulations.  Here are some ways to take the bargain items and turn them into a version of the more expensive items.

CAKE MIX
I like to stock up on the white and chocolate cake mixes when they are on special for $1 or less and use them as a base for other cakes.

Spice Cake
Spice cake mixes usually run about $5.  Add 2 1/2 tsp ginger, 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1/2 tsp ground cloves to a box mix of white cake.  Make as directed on box. 

Chocolate Chip Cake
To a chocolate cake mix, add chocolate chips.

Other Cakes
Add 1 capful of extract flavoring and a few drops of food color to a box of white cake or yellow cake mix to create a new cake:  banana, strawberry, orange, rum, etc.  Try a green colored cake for St Patrick’s Day with whatever flavoring you like. 

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