
Unless you've just survived the Trader Joe's checkout line at 8:30 PM on a Sunday, do not expect to be congratulated on your trip to the grocery store. Unlike your parents and your parents' parents — those brave souls who harnessed the dinosaurs and rode them to the spice bazaar — it's easy for you to zip to the supermarket and pick up everything you need.
But if you're in that mid-summer slump and looking for a reason to self-congratulate, try making a few of the items that normally end up on your ever-growing grocery list from scratch. Not only will the homemade versions save you money, but they'll taste better and be better for you, too.
We know that at this time of year, you'd rather be in the pool than the kitchen, so we've gathered our most hands-off DIY recipes. You'll still feel the thrill of having accomplished something, and you can even add your own fancy labels.

Sweetened condensed milk by stephanie le

Barbecue sauce by PhoebeLapine

Chocolate syrup by Cara Eisenpress


Pizza dough by amber wilson | for the love of the south

Homemade nutella by Carey Nershi


Vanilla and lavender extracts by Trisha Jones

French onion dip by Sarah Coates


This article originally appeared on Food52.com: 11 grocery store items you could be making at home
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