If you've ever gone to the grocery store to buy those tiny little packets of dried marinade mixes, you know how costly they can be. Here are a few inexpensive homemade marinade mixes to use on your beef, chicken, and pork.

Beef Marinade 

• 2-1/2 cups vinegar 
• 12 whole cloves 
• 2-1/2 cups water 
• 2 or 3 bay leaves 
• 3 onions, sliced 
• 1-1/2 tablespoon salt 
• 1 lemon, sliced 
• 3 tablespoon black pepper

Combine ingredients; let stand at room temperature for 24 hours. Add meat and put in the refrigerator. For mild flavor, leave meat in mixture for 24 hours. For tendering action and more flavor, refrigerate in marinate for 2 days. Cook as usual.

Italian Marinade 

• 1/2 cup Italian salad dressing 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 
• 1/4 cup lemon juice 
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper 
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

Thoroughly combine all ingredients. Use as a marinade and basting sauce while the meat is cooking. Makes about 2/4 cup of marinade. Great for all meats.

Tangy Marinade 

• 1/3 cup soy sauce 
• 2 tablespoons of vinegar 
• 1/3 cup catsup 
• 1 teaspoon thyme 
• 1/4 cup salad oil 
• 1 teaspoon mustard

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Pour over meat to be marinated. Marinate for 24 hours in the refrigerator and cook as usual.

Patricia Chadwick is a freelance writer and has been a stay-at-home mom for 15 years. She is currently a columnist in several online publications as well as editor of two newsletters. Parents & Teens is a biweekly newsletter geared to help parents connect with their teens. Subscribe at www.parentsandteens.com. History's Women is weekly online magazine highlighting the extraordinary achievements of women. Subscribe at www.historyswomen.com/subscribe.html.

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