WFMW: dry milk

One of the best money saving tips I ever received was to use dry milk in all my baking and cooking. I use it is muffins, pancakes, waffles, soups, breads, desserts, gravy, hot chocolate, etc. With regular milk at over $3 a gallon, who can afford to cook with it? And it really isn't that much less convenient than pouring from the carton.

But it can save you in other areas as well. For instance, instead of buying canned evaporated milk, try this tip that I use frequently:

mix equal parts dry milk and water; stir or shake vigorously. Use in any recipe calling for evaporated milk.

Costs just pennies! Did I ever mention I love dry milk? Not to drink of course, but if you use milk for cooking and baking, you can bring down the milk bill using the dry stuff. I even use dry buttermilk for all my buttermilk baking - yum!

I also have a recipe for sweetened condensed milk, but I have never personally used it, so I cannot vouch for it, nor have I figured out the cost versus buying a can. But I figure anything that saves me a trip to the grocery store is a money saver right there.

1 C instant non fat dry milk solids
2/3 C sugar
1/3 C boiling water
3T butter

Combine all ingredients in an electric blender (or pour in a bowl and use an electric mixer). Process until smooth. Store in refrigerator until needed (and refrigerate any leftovers as well).

If you've ever used this one, please comment and let us know how it works.