making it from scratch

[lrjohnson]

Re: making it from scratch

Currently:Muffins.
Cocoa mix (baking cocoa, sugar and/or Splenda, and powdered milk).
Jam.
Popcorn (microwave bulk stuff in a regular paper bag).
Granola (so so so much cheaper, and I control fat/sugar content).
Bath salts and bath oils (don't eat'em).
Anything with potatoes.
Applesauce.
Veggie burgers-TVP based.

Want to/Plan to:
Tortillas.
Bread (except that I'd eat way to much.......).
Yogurt (looking for a freecycle/hand me down/garage sale heating pad or broken crock pot).

It's funny what people consider either convenience or scratch....I've read where someone considers bread a convenience food-for some of us it's a basic staple. On the flip side, some people wouldn't even consider making soup from scratch as note-worthy; they haven't even considered not making it! They might even think the storebought boullion cubes were convenience food! I'm in-netween on the scale; I just find the different perceptions fascinating.

[tinapbeana]

Re: making it from scratch

It's funny what people consider either convenience or scratch....I've read where someone considers bread a convenience food-for some of us it's a basic staple. On the flip side, some people wouldn't even consider making soup from scratch as note-worthy; they haven't even considered not making it! They might even think the storebought boullion cubes were convenience food! I'm in-netween on the scale; I just find the different perceptions fascinating.

i completely agree!

for me a "convenience food" is one that i don't eat or use regularly but might be nice to have when the urge strikes: ice cream, chips, shake'n'bake. staples are those that i use regularly. for many of them, i either don't know how to make it myself, i don't care to put in the time/energy, or (biggie!) i don't have the space available to store it once i make it in bulk. tomato paste, butter, yogurt, sausage, canned beans all fall into this category.

other items move from staple to convenience, and back again. i'm not a bread person, so i usually don't get it unless i'm on a toast kick (then bread & jam for all!). same for potoatos: i normally buy 1 lb bags of alexia's frozen organic fries b/c it usually takes DH and me months to go through a 3 lb bag of taters. then the holidays hit and BAM: 5-10 lbs gone in a month.

[jodi]

Re: making it from scratch

i it usually takes DH and me months to go through a 3 lb bag of taters. then the holidays hit and BAM: 5-10 lbs gone in a month.

Totally off topic, but I just had to laugh - DH's (very Irish) family cooks a 10 pound bag of potatoes for Thanksgiving alone!

[tinapbeana]

Re: making it from scratch

Totally off topic, but I just had to laugh - DH's (very Irish) family cooks a 10 pound bag of potatoes for Thanksgiving alone!

yeah, my mom will cook the traditional holiday 4lb meatloaf (yup, that's my family, frugal till the end!) and a 5 lb batch of mashed potatoes, and there's nothing left after 2 parents, 2 daughters, and 2 SILs get done with it. sometimes it's 5lbs of meatloaf and 10 lbs of mash, and then it feels like more of a challenge. but, one must forge on and eat!

[PRICEPLUS]

Re: making it from scratch

Mashed potatos with cheese and scallions and a bit of milk(whole) MMMmmmmm! My mother makes mashed potatos that are to die for! Coming from an Irish background the spud takes center stage as "comfort food". It was our primary starch growing up!

[tinapbeana]

Re: making it from scratch

i'm a bigger fan of potatoes now that i no longer peeeeeeeeeeel them. bah, i hate peeling potatoes, the ultimate exercise in futility!

[PRICEPLUS]

Re: making it from scratch

While peeling is not fun the end product is well worth the effort! MAshed potatos....insert the Homer Simpson drooling sound here.......

[tinapbeana]

Re: making it from scratch

While peeling is not fun the end product is well worth the effort! MAshed potatos....insert the Homer Simpson drooling sound here.......

hehehe! "mmmmmmmmm, floor pie..........." yes, homer has actually said that!

i make mashed taters skin & all: less work and more nutritious all at once.

[lynclarke]

Re: making it from scratch

I found the dehydrator trays this year while I was in OK. I think I was at Sportmans Warehouse. Fruit leather is easier to make with the trays but I have made it with just using plastic wrap on the dehydrator trays. lynclarke