It’s the most wonderful time of the year again. No, we’re not referring to Christmas (yet!), but rather that annual weekend when daylight savings ends and we fall back an hour to magically claim 60 additional minutes of time on Sunday.
What, then, to do with all those extra minutes? While you could sleep in (no judgement there), we have another suggestion: take up a special project in the kitchen. From compound butters to made-from-scratch marshmallows, here are five weekend projects to make great use of your extra our this weekend.
 DIY Your Own Pumpkin Spice Mix—Then Make Something Cool With It
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Mix is so absurdly easy to pull together, it really isn’t a project. But you’ll feel just as satisfied when you make the spice mix using ingredients you probably already have in your house, then use it for something creative like a recipe for granola or a topping for yogurt.
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| Make Strawberry Jam (No Specialty Ingredients Needed)
If you live in a place that’s lucky enough to still be getting decent-looking fresh strawberries, make your own strawberry jam. This version doesn’t even require special preserving ingredients like pectin!
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| From-Scratch Soda
Most people don’t think to ever make their own soda, but it’s actually easier than you might think. Start with a basic master soda recipe (you’ll need Champagne yeast), and let your imagination (and palate) lead you from there.
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| DIY Marshmallows
Homemade marshmallows are head and shoulders above the rest. They have an airiness and texture that’s undeniably superior to their store-bought counterparts. If you don’t mind a little bit of mess, they’re also a great weekend project to involve kids in.
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| Compound Butters
Compound butters, or savory butters that have had herbs and seasonings folded in, are simple to make as well as multipurpose and useful for everything from topping just-grilled steaks to spreading on toast to using as a dip for radishes.
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