Make it homemade while you’re at home
Let’s use this extra time at home to try something new! This 14-day list will not only spark your creativity, but will show you how to use simple ingredients around the house to help you save a little, too. You’ll be surprised at what you can create using common household items. From homemade dry shampoo to delicious no-bake cookies, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!
Day 1: Homemade Salad Dressing
Running low on your favorite salad dressings? Don’t worry–they’re simple to make. Give this citrus vinaigrette a try!
Ingredients:
- 1/4 tsp. Italian seasoning
- 3/4 cup Fresh orange juice
- 1/4 cup Extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 tsp. Sea salt
- 1/2 tsp. Orange zest
- 2 whole Garlic cloves, crushed or pressed
How to:
Combine all the ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid, shake well and pour over your favorite greens, or use as a zesty marinade for poultry and fish.
Day 2: DIY Play Dough
Keep the kids busy with simple, homemade play dough. Here’s how:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups All-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup Salt
- 4 tsp. Cream of tartar
- 2 Tbsp. Coconut oil
- Food coloring of choice
How to:
Combine ingredients in a large pot and cook over medium heat until dough has thickened. Remove from heat, placing the dough in a large bowl to cool slightly. Once cooled, knead dough until smooth and divide into six balls. Add food coloring of choice to each ball and store in a bag or jar.
Day 3: At-home Cleaning Spray
Freshen up your home with a natural, homemade cleaning spray. Not only is it free from harsh chemicals, the essential oils will leave your home smelling like a relaxing, spa retreat.
Ingredients:
- 1 Empty spray bottle
- 1/2 cup White vinegar
- 1/2 cup Rubbing alcohol (70% or more)
- 1 cup Distilled water
- 3-5 drops Essential oil or citrus rinds of choice
How to:
Combine all ingredients into an empty spray bottle and use to wipe down or freshen up surfaces around your home.
Day 4: Three Ingredient Pancakes
Tied for ingredients while you’re at home? No worries! This easy, kid-friendly pancake recipe only requires three ingredients: bananas, oats and eggs.
Ingredients:
- 2 Bananas, ripe
- 2 Eggs
- 1/2 cup Oats
How to:
Mash bananas thoroughly in a medium-sized bowl. Add the eggs and oats, stirring until the mixture is combined. Heat a medium skillet over medium heat, adding a non-stick cooking spray or coconut oil—whichever is available. Pour the mixture onto the skillet, letting cook until the sides are firm and golden (about four minutes), then flip the pancake, cooking until golden brown (about 2 minutes). Repeat with the remaining batter. Tip: If you have the ingredients, try serving with fresh fruit, creamy peanut butter or sweet-spicy cinnamon for a fun take!
Day 5: No-bake Cookies
Satisfy your sweet tooth cravings without the bake-time! No-bake cookies are a delicious blend of nutty peanut butter and rich cocoa—perfect for making your day a little better.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups Granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup Butter
- 1/2 cup Milk
- 1/4 cup Unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp. Vanilla extract
- 3 cups Quick oats
- 1/2 cup Peanut butter, creamy or crunchy
How to:
Combine the butter, sugar, cocoa powder and milk in a medium-sized saucepan. Cooking on medium heat, stir the mixture frequently until all ingredients are blended, bringing the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, let sit for seventy-five seconds, refraining from stirring. Remove from heat, adding in peanut butter, oats and vanilla extract, combining completely. On a baking sheet with parchment paper, drop two tablespoons of mixture at a time. Let cool until hardened (about 20-30 minutes).
Day 6: Essential Oil Bath Soak
Make the most of your time at home by investing in some R&R time. Using this DIY bath soak can give you some much-needed me-time before tackling the day–just use 2-3 scoops!
Ingredients:
For Lavender Bath Salts:
- 1/2–1 cup Kosher Salt
- 1/2 cup Baking soda
- 2 sprigs Fresh rosemary, minced
- 10 drops Lavender essential oil
For Lemon and Rosemary Bath Salts:
- 3/4 cup Coconut oil
- 2 cups Sprouts Epsom Salt
- 2 sprigs Fresh rosemary, minced
- 10 drops Lemon essential oil
How to:
Combine all ingredients in a medium sized mixing bowl. Blend well and store in an airtight container. Tip: a mason jar makes the perfect storage container for up to six months!
Day 7: Simple Lemonade
Spring is here and what better way to feel refreshed than with a tangy pitcher of lemonade made straight from the comfort of your home!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Lemon juice (about 6 lemons)
- 2 cups Sugar
- 1 Fresh lemon
- 3-4 cups Cold water
How to:
In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water. Heat, stirring frequently until sugar is completely dissolved to create a simple syrup. Let cool. In a large pitcher, combine simple syrup, lemon juice and water, until desired strength is achieved. Chill in the refrigerator for at least thirty minutes. Garnish with fresh lemon slices. Tip: To jazz up this simple lemonade, try adding apple and ginger, blackberry and basil, lavender and berry or fresh kale!
Day 8: Easy Overnight Oats
Breakfast is easy when you make it the night before! Simply combine oats, milk of choice and toppings for a quick breakfast or snack. Give this recipe a try or get creative with whatever you may have in your pantry.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 Banana, ripe
- 1/3 cup Rolled oats
- 2/3 cup Almond milk
- 1 Tbsp. Almond butter
- 1 tsp. Honey
- Fruit for topping
How to:
Mash the almond butter, honey and banana into a jar or bowl. Once combined, add the milk and oats. Stir well to combine. Cover your jar or bowl and refrigerate overnight. Tip: If you don’t like cold oats, you can still pop it in the microwave for a warm treat.
Day 9: DIY Dry Shampoo
One of the best self-care tips for when you’re staying home is to still get ready in the morning. It can help you feel refreshed and promote a daily routine. If you find yourself running low on your favorite beauty essentials, you may be able to create them from scratch–like this homemade dry shampoo!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup Cornstarch
- 1/2 cup Baking soda
- 1-2 drops Essential oil of choice
- Cocoa powder as needed to match your hair color
How to:
Combine ingredients in a bowl, slowly adding cocoa powder 1 Tablespoon at a time until the color begins to match your roots. Blonde hair without dark roots may not need any cocoa powder at all. Very dark hair, such as black, can forego the cornstarch and just use cocoa powder and baking soda. Apply mixture with an old makeup brush to your roots and brush through hair to blend.
Day 10: One-pan Trail Mix
Do you have a pantry full of half-used nuts, chocolate chips, or dried fruits leftover from other recipes? Well, you’re in luck! Create a trail mix choc-full of nutrients using a variety of items. No matter what you have, aim for a hearty variety of salty and sweet.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups Unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1 cup Raw or salted almonds
- 1 cup Raw or salted cashews
- 1 cup Raw or salted pecans
- 1 cup Dark chocolate chips
- 1 cup Dried cranberries
How to:
On a rimmed baking sheet, combine the coconut flakes, almonds, cashews and pecans. Toss to mix, then bake at 350°F for 15 minutes. Once cooled, add the dark chocolate chips and cranberries. Mix well and enjoy!
Day 11: DIY Tea Blend
Practice a little self-care and sip on a homemade tea. Your spice cabinet is full of aromatic ingredients to create the perfect drink for unwinding.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Boiling water
- 1 Tbsp. Dried peppermint leaves
- 1/2 Tbsp. Ground ginger
- Fresh lemon juice to taste
How to:
Combine the dried ingredients into a tea infuser or create your own using a paper coffee filter and string. Allow to steep in hot water for two-three minutes. Serve with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and enjoy!
Day 12: No-bake Energy Bites
Give yourself a boost of energy and nutrients with these tasty, no-bake energy bites!
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup Old fashioned oats
- 1/4 cup Nut butter of choice
- 1/4 cup Raisins or dried fruit of choice
- 1/8 tsp. Dried cinnamon
- 1/8 cup Maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp. Vanilla extract
How to:
Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl until well combined. Using a spoon, scoop 1 Tablespoon into your hands and roll into a ball. Place on a tray or plate and refrigerate for 30-45 minutes, then enjoy!
Day 13: One-pot Pasta
Calling all pasta-lovers! This one’s for you–make a simple one-pot pasta dish you and the whole family will love.
Ingredients:
- 16 oz. Spaghetti
- 1 tsp. Oregano
- 2 tsp. Salt
- 2 1/2 cups Sprouts Organic Vegetable Broth
- 4 Garlic cloves, sliced
- 1 tsp. Black pepper
- 1 14.5oz. can Muir Glen Organic Diced Tomatoes
- Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
- 1/2 lrg. Onion, chopped
- 20 Basil Leaves
How to:
Combine all ingredients except grated cheese into a large pot. Bring to a boil. When boiling, reduce to a simmer until pasta is fully cooked. You may need to drain some excess liquid and re-season to taste. Add grated cheese and serve.
Day 14: Yogurt Pizza Dough
Homemade pizza dough isn’t as hard as it may seem. Our friend, Danny Seo, gave us a simple, two-ingredient recipe that anyone can make!
Ingredients:
- 2 cups Self-rising flour
- 1 cup Organic Greek plain whole milk yogurt
- Pizza toppings of choice
How to:
Combine flour and yogurt on a cutting board or in a bowl, mix with hands until dough forms. Once dough is formed, sprinkle some flour on countertop or cutting board and roll dough into pizza shape with a rolling pin. Place dough on baking sheet. Add toppings of choice (Danny used tomato sauce, shredded mozzarella balls and added fresh basil once cooked). Fold in edges of dough to form a crust, cook 8 to 10 minutes or until crust is golden and cheese is melted at 450°F. Tip: If the dough feels too dry, add water a tablespoon at a time while pushing the dough down and out, stretching it flat in front of you with the heels of your hands.
No gym equipment? No problem. Put common household items to use and get moving with a simple fitness routine. This full-body routine will take 20-30 minutes and can be modified depending on your fitness level and experience. The endorphins released during physical activity can naturally boost your mood, increase your immunity and contribute to your general well-being.
