Better to make than buy... - Page 2

[cristeen]

Originally Posted by wholewheatchick

I like the flavor of homemade yogurt, but I can't get the consistency right without using gelatin, and I'm vegetarian, so don't like using that stuff

The consistency of your yogurt is dependent upon a couple things - the fat content of your milk, the protein content of your milk, whether the milk has been heated, and the strain of yogurt culture. If you're using raw whole milk, the best thing to do is strain your yogurt after you make it - it'll come out super thick. Then you can stir back in just the amount of whey you want to get the perfect consistency. If you're using pasteurized homogenized milk, I'd recommend switching to half & half - it turns out a beautifully thick yogurt consistently. Of you can stir dry milk powder into milk before adding the culture - that will also do it (and that's how many storebought brands do it). I've done all three, and they all turn out the beautiful thick consistency I want - you just have to be okay with the ingredients.

I totally forgot about granola! Excellent. I also make homemade pickles - pickled asparagus and pickled green beans canned at the height of the season are fabulous to be eaten in the winter doldrums.

I also just this week learned the secret to perfect beans... I was always over or under-cooking them - could never get it just right. But baking instead of boiling turned out perfectly done beans.

I've also made corned beef from brisket - without the nasty chemicals. Pesto from scratch (the storebought stuff always makes me sick). I stopped buying salad dressing years ago - it's a waste of money and most of them use ingredients I wouldn't consume otherwise.

I even blend my own spices - like Mexican, instead of buying a packet that lists "spices" which can include MSG, I blend it myself.

[425lisamarie]

I'm trying to think of anything I buy premade anymore! I used to think it was absolutely impossible to make a small portion of what I do now, but slowly you just starting doing one thing more at a time and pretty soon you just don't buy packaged stuff anymore.

I still buy a few asian condiments like fish sauce and tamari, etc. I make mustard now though and I like it much better. Oh and I buy horseradish from the Polish store because i'm afraid of grating myself Sometimes we splurge and buy pierogi pre made but they are homemade buy someone else so that doesn't really count

[Liquesce]

Speaking of cranberry sauce ..... put some cranberries in a food processor and finely chop. Stir in peeled, pureed orange sections, finely grated orange zest, finely chopped pecans, ground cinnamon or a garam masala blend, and a whole lot of sugar, and let it sit overnight. I love homemade cranberry sauce, but this one takes the cake for me and my family.

[isabchi]

Things we do from scratch...:

Apple sauce, salsa, guacamole, pizza,hummus, sushi,sashimi, soups and creams, lentils and beans, sometimes bread, pesto, mayo, ice tea,hamburgers, banana bread, pancakes, Popsicle, smoothies, meringues, maybe more things that I don't remember know..all this thanks of the ladies of MDC!!

[PaulaJoAnne]

You can literaly make everything that you find in a store from scratch.
We do not buy any prepackaged stuff anymore, unless its an emergency.
I make a mean ketchup, and am planning on making my own fermented mustard soon.

What is so nice about scratch cooking, is that you can very easily avoid GMOs, MSG, corn syrup, unfermented gmo soy and all other unpronouncables that wreak havoc upon our bodies:

I had heard through the grapevine that someone has a natural worcestershire recipe. I need to find it soon, because I refuse to the store bought one.

[bigeyes]

so true.

I do still buy nasty store bought ketchup though. Tomatoes are so expensive in Hawaii and I can't seem to grow them worth a darn. We use so little ketchup though I try not to worry about it. :

[cristeen]

Originally Posted by PaulaJoAnne

You can literaly make everything that you find in a store from scratch.

Actually, there are a few things you can't make at home... but generally speaking those are the things you would want to be avoiding anyway.

If anyone has a recipe for Worcestershire sauce, that's one I'd love to make - it's nearly impossible to find one that tastes good without corn syrup.

[lmk1]

I've always made salsa and tortillas at home...hate store bought. Last week, I made tamales for the first time...they turned out amazing! Dh is pretty awesome in the kitchen...he makes jams, breads, crackers, buffalo jerky, dried fruits...he tried once to cure olives that we bought fresh, but those didn't turn out! If anyone knows a good way to cure olives, let me know! Ds LOVES olives, but I hate giving him canned/bottled food.

[tjsmama]

I was going to say granola, too. I made it for the first time a couple of weeks ago and it was so quick, easy, and delicious that I will never pay $5+ for a small bag at the grocery store again!

I have to say, though, I think it's kind of weird to hear people say that guacamole is better to make than buy. I've never even *considered* buying guacamole. It's so simple to make!

I've been trying hard to decrease my reliance on prepared foods, for both healthy eating and budgetary reasons. There are definitely things that I don't think I'll ever give up entirely but for the most part, things are just better homemade. Jam, kombucha, bread, baked goods in general, frosting, pizza, tomato sauce, etc.

[YinYang]

Originally Posted by PaulaJoAnne

I make a mean ketchup, and am planning on making my own fermented mustard soon.

How do you make your mean ketchup??? I'm over store bought ketchup and would like to make my own... something where I could substitute or eliminate the sugar as well. Hmmm maybe I'll go google ketchup made with honey.....

I'm over that store stuff!

Thanks!

[Ducky5306]

just subbing

i loooveeee homemade honey wheat bread.. soo good and soo easy! (but not any cheaper then store bought)

[MayBaby2007]

This past Christmas, I made homemade chocolate covered cherries, complete with the creamy center. Oh my word! Heaven!

I don't like store bought chocolate covered cherries, but my grandma grabs up the dark chocolate ones. I made them for her but everyone including myself loved them. I also made a ton for real cheap, compared to the price of store bought.

They were amazing. Not so easy--but it was my first time trying. I will def make those again : Really nice and yummy Christmas gifts too

[Chakra]

ditto on the salsa and tortillas

[~Journey~]

Originally Posted by henny penny

Everything tastes better made from scratch!!!:

:

[savannah smiles]

It's amazing how many things you figure out how to make once you're on a roll! Last night I had some cake mix (in a box, true, because I need to buy more baking supplies!) but didn't have icing. I did, however, have confectioners sugar, cream cheese and butter. I tossed them all in a bowl, w/ a touch of pineapple jello for some tang, mixed it all together and - voila - I had yummy icing! So much better than what you would buy in a store!

[happy1nluv]

i totally agree that everything homemade is better!

Anyone want to post their recipes/routines on how you actually get the time to do this stuff? I REALLY want to start doing more of this, but with #3 due any day i doubt i'll get to it this year... LOVING the stories though!

And... for the jam/jelly makers - do you use sugar in your jellies, or make them without? How do they compare? My grandparents (both gone, and no one thought to save their recipe books - the HANDWRITTEN ones) made the BEST - i mean ABSOLUTE BEST jams and pickles! I've never found any that even compare, but I have no idea how/what/etc...