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Discussion Boards => Off-Topic => Topic started by: newmom2814 on December 05, 2014, 08:43:30 pm

Title: Cooking Everything Homemade
Post by: newmom2814 on December 05, 2014, 08:43:30 pm
Just curious if anyone cooks everything from scratch? Like no boxes, no frozen foods, no cans?
Title: Re: Cooking Everything Homemade
Post by: dreamyxo on December 06, 2014, 12:11:44 am
No but I'd like to.  Trying to get away from processed foods.  Cooking from scratch can be expensive.
Title: Re: Cooking Everything Homemade
Post by: SherylsShado on December 11, 2014, 06:39:45 pm
I have started trying.  I still get canned beans & canned fruit.   I don't have much in boxes-- have been making any cakes, cookies, pancakes, Spanish Rice, Mac n Cheese, and seasoning combo's  from scratch instead of buying the mixes/dough.  The only frozen food I buy now is frozen vegetables (no added sauces in bag).  Everything tastes so much better made from scratch!
Title: Re: Cooking Everything Homemade
Post by: Penwoir on December 11, 2014, 07:42:49 pm
I pretty much make everything from scratch. Christmas dinner, mac and cheese, pancakes, pizza dough, spaghetti etc. I realize that it's not always cheaper to make things from scratch but I like the thought that there are no preservatives or unnecessary salt, no artificial flavors. I don't want you to think I'm a saint so I must let you know that every now and then, say once at a weekend, I like to get takeout because it's nice to sit down and have no washing up to do!
Title: Re: Cooking Everything Homemade
Post by: kapeh12 on December 11, 2014, 10:42:47 pm
I make most of my food from scratch, but I still use things like store bought canned soups as ingredients vs making the creamed sauce by hand.

Regarding not using "frozen" or "canned" items - I started canning and freezing my own grown food or live food on sale at the store.  I made myself several "crock pot" bags of veggies/potatoes from fresh veggies from my garden or the store, and am eating my canned beans.  I count these as part of my cooking from scratch, even though they are frozen or canned to preserve them.

I've been making my own bread for about 2 years now, and make my own cereal (basically homemade granola using quick oats as the base).  I found some good homemade noodle recipes, now searching a more efficient way to get the dough cut, then I probably won't buy that at the store (which I don't buy very often anyway).
Title: Re: Cooking Everything Homemade
Post by: kingozzy on December 12, 2014, 06:57:44 am
I wish I knew how to cook that well, but I am a guy and haven't been taught how to do that so I really don't know how
Title: Re: Cooking Everything Homemade
Post by: bremer51 on December 12, 2014, 07:19:17 am
We do a lot of "from scratch" cooking on the weekends.  During the week, we're just too busy.
Title: Re: Cooking Everything Homemade
Post by: Skyisbluetoday on December 12, 2014, 07:21:56 am
I don't make to much from scratch!
Title: Re: Cooking Everything Homemade
Post by: Lindaroof on December 12, 2014, 07:50:04 am
I love to cook from scratch! I get a lot of satisfaction knowing what is in what we are eating, and my family loves it!
Title: Re: Cooking Everything Homemade
Post by: lvstephanie on December 12, 2014, 08:07:58 am
I like making things from scratch, although there are some things that I'll still use that aren't exactly "from scratch"... I'll sometimes buy frozen veggies (but like SherylsShado mentioned, without any sauce or flavoring added). I also tend to buy canned beans (the red / kidney kind, not green beans). I also like getting my bread from a bakery. I also use boxed pasta, canned tomato paste, and cartons of stock.

Perhaps it's just where I live (being close to farm-country), but I still don't understand why people think fresh, from scratch is more expensive than processed foods... There's this ad on the radio from an insurance company where they interview people about ways the community can aid in healthy living, and one of the comments is about this. The woman says that a pot-pie costs about a dollar whereas a pound of grapes costs about $5. Even given that her prices were correct, the problem is that she is just comparing the food costs in terms of price per quantity, but doesn't consider price per dish... Even if a pound of grapes costs $5, people don't eat a full pound of grapes in one sitting whereas they are more likely to eat a whole pot-pie in one sitting. Were you to break apart the ingredients used to make a pot-pie and make them yourself, it actually is cheaper per serving than getting a frozen one from the store. The problem is that to make a pot pie the cheapest way possible means buying a whole chicken to butcher yourself, a bag of carrots, a gallon of milk (or even a pint of cream), a bag of flour, a carton of eggs, etc. all of which is way more than is necessary to make a pot pie. So you either have to make many pies, or you have to use the excess ingredients in other dishes. For example, when I make pot pies, it is after I've already make a roasted chicken dinner where I then use the leftovers in the pot-pie. And I tend to make several of them, and freeze the ones I don't eat right away.
Title: Re: Cooking Everything Homemade
Post by: ricdsm on December 12, 2014, 08:58:41 am
Cooking for me consists of boiling hot dogs.  My wife is a great cook and she sometimes cooks from scratch.
Title: Re: Cooking Everything Homemade
Post by: haimsterette on December 12, 2014, 10:52:39 am
Just curious if anyone cooks everything from scratch? Like no boxes, no frozen foods, no cans?

I wish!!! I would love to be able to make several different meals from scratch instead of relying on boxed foods and microwave dinners. I have 2 cookbooks that have been sitting on my bookshelf for quite a while and haven't been able to be put to use yet. :(
Title: Re: Cooking Everything Homemade
Post by: hicaniplay on December 16, 2014, 06:13:21 pm
Sometimes. Most times not. I prefer the convenience of having more time to do other things. I like cooking, but not so much I want to do *everything* "from scratch" every night. I really like living in this century, in this country, with all these ready made foods :P

By the way Kapeh, noodles are super easy, but you really need a pasta maker if you want something better than flat or fat spaghetti lol Just don't get a cheap plastic one (unless you happen to find it super cheap at Goodwills or a garage sale to play with).
Title: Re: Cooking Everything Homemade
Post by: marciaenglish on December 16, 2014, 06:45:34 pm
I would love to cook everything from scratch!  But; who has the time?
Title: Re: Cooking Everything Homemade
Post by: plennis on December 16, 2014, 09:55:27 pm
Anything or time I can I love to do from scratch.  I do a lot of cooking on Saturday for the week ahead.  We always have a big garden and I freeze or can lots of the vegetables from there.  Since I do it myself, I consider it from scratch.  LOL   I make us a lot of TV dinners from left overs.  They also make great lunches, just microwave at work.  After having 4 teenagers, it is hard to cook for just two.   
Title: Re: Cooking Everything Homemade
Post by: bretay on December 17, 2014, 05:40:06 am
i love making things from scratch...i do still use some box items,but i doctor them up some...scratch is first as long as i have the ingredients on hand..
Title: Re: Cooking Everything Homemade
Post by: dancer139 on December 17, 2014, 05:50:05 am
ha ha  homemade cooking.  i'm not a cook especially from scratch.   my other half does most of the cooking.  i will cook but it has to be simple things or in a crockpot  lol
Title: Re: Cooking Everything Homemade
Post by: Terryltemple on December 17, 2014, 07:31:09 am
 :silly:Oh no.  I don't have time.  However, I love to cook from scratch a few days a week.  Baking is my favorite way to cook.  Crockpots are wonderful also.  I like to prep ahead as much as possible.  As far as healthy and easy, fresh fruits and veggies are ideal.  I just hosted a Christmas party on Sunday.  Baking cookies took longer than the entrees and appetizers.  It was challenging but delicious.  I like to make the dough ahead of time.  Wrap up in plastic wrap and refrigerate.  Then I create *bleep* or shapes.  Put on the cookie sheets and bake whenever I need them.  Semi-homemade is another way to go.  But as far as cooking everything homemade or from scratch.  I just don't have time.  Happy holidays and good eats, everyone.  Love any suggestions for cooking good food as easy as possible.
Title: Re: Cooking Everything Homemade
Post by: gbabesmom on December 17, 2014, 07:44:53 am
I make my own taco seasoning and shake n bake. I like to make bread, bagels and desserts. I try to find simple recipes and work from there.
Title: Re: Cooking Everything Homemade
Post by: ladavia89 on December 17, 2014, 09:43:08 am
I don't have the patience to do it or have the money to keep all the ingredients on hand for all the foods I like to eat. I like such a variety of foods and usually don't like the eat the same thing very often so food gets wasted
Title: Re: Cooking Everything Homemade
Post by: Shandara09 on December 17, 2014, 10:10:19 am
I eat less processed foods than I used to, but I still do a lot.  I'm slowly trying to lower the amount that I have, and have homemade meals.
Title: Re: Cooking Everything Homemade
Post by: moonangel on December 17, 2014, 11:05:17 am
love cooking from scratch but not always feasible
Title: Re: Cooking Everything Homemade
Post by: lucky382001 on December 17, 2014, 01:52:59 pm
I try to but there are still some things I buy in cans and certain favorite condiments. I make most of my own bulk mixes myself. It isn't as expensive as you might think especially considering that you usually get more in your own package than the ones at the store.
Title: Re: Cooking Everything Homemade
Post by: vickysue on December 17, 2014, 02:50:50 pm
Since I no longer have a big yard for growing veggies, I have to buy from the farmers market and buy a lot of canned and frozen veggies. But other then  that almost every thing I make is from scratch. rarely do I use a boxed mix as they have way too much salt in them. I miss not having a large garden and canning all of my home grown food, but such is life and I guess am getting too old for it anymore.
Title: Re: Cooking Everything Homemade
Post by: CharmedPhoenix on December 17, 2014, 04:02:31 pm
I do not believe in processed foods so I cook from scratch all the time.  I do use frozen veggies and a few canned ingredients (i.e. olives, fish, pickles).  I grow a little garden in the summer, but I don't have much space.  I make my own bread and pizza crust, but use store-bought condiments.
Title: Re: Cooking Everything Homemade
Post by: braggin on December 19, 2014, 06:50:32 am
My husband usually cooks our dinner meal in the evening from scratch. He always has a freshly made salad, a fresh cooked veggie like broccoli or cauliflower and some kind of meat to serve which is always wholesome and fresh.

:silly:
Title: Re: Cooking Everything Homemade
Post by: pwvogt on December 19, 2014, 08:30:52 am
As much as would like to there is no way this is possible for me.  I just don't seem to have the time to prepare everything "fresh".  I try to stay away from "fully" prepared foods (e.g. like frozen dinners, etc.) but adding a can of tomato sauce to something or buying canned soup or sometimes canned vegetables just makes life easier and I hope isn't going to have a huge impact on my health.
Title: Re: Cooking Everything Homemade
Post by: yikes77 on December 19, 2014, 11:31:39 am
Trying to do that more.  Been baking a lot of muffins and breads this year.  Lots of stuff in the crock pot as well.