What do you make from scratch?

[Anonymous]

After reading the mashed potatoes thread, I got to thinking about all the stuff that I make from scratch; don't even consider the convenience version because the homemade version is superior and easy enough.

And this is only since the kids have gotten pretty independent that I have time... but now we make:

Yogurt. We have to plan because it takes 10 hours of cook time in the instantpot and another day of straining, but that's all passive time. Bought a yogurt strainer which is worth the storage space.

Granola. Takes 10 minutes to pull out, mix up, and put away the oats, nuts, seeds, binder, and about 20 minutes to bake.

Pizza and other tomato sauce: 5-8 ingredients. 10 minutes to get everything into the pot. 30 minutes to cook. Freezes like a dream.

I've dabbled with bread, but we don't eat enough to make it worth the effort. Also I have friends who bake and share

There's probably more, and again, freeing up the headspace occupied by little kids was essential for me. How about you?

[Anonymous]

Nothing on your list, LOL.

[Anonymous]

Good for you.

[Anonymous]

What recipe do you use that it only takes 10 minutes for granola? Mine is a long process. First, I have to toast the nuts for 15 minutes, then I have to mix it with the oats and other ingredients which is another 40 minutes. Maybe I’m slow, but it is very worth it.

I would venture to say that about 90 to 95% of my cooking is from scratch. That includes sauces. I have made pasta from scratch before, but I have to plan ahead for that.

I have never made yogurt or butter from scratch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What recipe do you use that it only takes 10 minutes for granola? Mine is a long process. First, I have to toast the nuts for 15 minutes, then I have to mix it with the oats and other ingredients which is another 40 minutes. Maybe I’m slow, but it is very worth it.

I would venture to say that about 90 to 95% of my cooking is from scratch. That includes sauces. I have made pasta from scratch before, but I have to plan ahead for that.

I have never made yogurt or butter from scratch.

OP here-- your granola is probably better than mine! I throw everything except fruit in a bowl, add olive oil and maple syrup and spices, mix, spread, bake. Fruit goes in when it comes out of the oven.

Pasta is another one like bread that, yeah, I CAN make from scratch, but I find it to be a lot of work, especially cleanup. I used to do it with the kids, for a combined activity/ meal.

[Anonymous]

The only thing I make from your list is pizza.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After reading the mashed potatoes thread, I got to thinking about all the stuff that I make from scratch; don't even consider the convenience version because the homemade version is superior and easy enough.

And this is only since the kids have gotten pretty independent that I have time... but now we make:

Yogurt. We have to plan because it takes 10 hours of cook time in the instantpot and another day of straining, but that's all passive time. Bought a yogurt strainer which is worth the storage space.

Granola. Takes 10 minutes to pull out, mix up, and put away the oats, nuts, seeds, binder, and about 20 minutes to bake.

Pizza and other tomato sauce: 5-8 ingredients. 10 minutes to get everything into the pot. 30 minutes to cook. Freezes like a dream.

I've dabbled with bread, but we don't eat enough to make it worth the effort. Also I have friends who bake and share

There's probably more, and again, freeing up the headspace occupied by little kids was essential for me. How about you?

You can make a thick yogurt without straining but you need a double boiler and Yogurt Maker. Just need to bring your milk to 180-190 degrees and let it cool to below 110 before adding starter yogurt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What recipe do you use that it only takes 10 minutes for granola? Mine is a long process. First, I have to toast the nuts for 15 minutes, then I have to mix it with the oats and other ingredients which is another 40 minutes. Maybe I’m slow, but it is very worth it.

I would venture to say that about 90 to 95% of my cooking is from scratch. That includes sauces. I have made pasta from scratch before, but I have to plan ahead for that.

I have never made yogurt or butter from scratch.

The nut don’t need to be toasted if you are baking your granola.

[Anonymous]

Always, like never buy from the store:
Bread
Pizza dough
Basically all baked goods
Salad dressings
Guacamole
Soup stock (save meat bones, carrot tops, onion peels, celery leaves, other peelings in a bag in the freezer and pressure cook in the instant pot when full)

Sometimes homemade, sometimes store:
Granola (takes a lot longer than yours, though)
Tomato sauce
Salsa
Apple sauce
Veggie burgers
Meatballs

Rarely now but have done more at various times of life:
Yogurt (never perfected this for some reason)
Pasta
Wontons/dumplings
Mayonnaise
Fruit leather
Maple syrup

[Anonymous]

What are your tips on homemade pizza
Kids enjoy making it but it always kind of bad

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are your tips on homemade pizza
Kids enjoy making it but it always kind of bad

With kids we always just use store-bought naan, and then top with homemade sauce. I don't like the commerical pre-made pizza crusts-- they seem to have a lot more sugar and other additives than naan.

Pizza dough is pretty easy, not as finicky as sourdough bread. But you do have to let it rise a bit, so plan at least 2 hours in advance.

[Anonymous]

I am not as fancy as the rest of you but here are things I make from scratch that my mom and MIL think are bizarre:
Waffles
Roux/bechamel(i.e no canned cream soup)
All pasta sauces
All sauces in general like gravy, curry
All baked goods (I.e. no canned frosting, no pillsbury cookies)
Mashed potatoes
Potato salad (not from the grocery store deli)
Pizza crust
Naan

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are your tips on homemade pizza
Kids enjoy making it but it always kind of bad

The NYTimes Roberta recipe is the best. Use 00 flour if you can. Get the oven wildly hot and use a pizza stone. I pre bake mine for a few minutes before adding sauce as I find it helps keep it from getting soggy on bottom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After reading the mashed potatoes thread, I got to thinking about all the stuff that I make from scratch; don't even consider the convenience version because the homemade version is superior and easy enough.

And this is only since the kids have gotten pretty independent that I have time... but now we make:

Yogurt. We have to plan because it takes 10 hours of cook time in the instantpot and another day of straining, but that's all passive time. Bought a yogurt strainer which is worth the storage space.

Granola. Takes 10 minutes to pull out, mix up, and put away the oats, nuts, seeds, binder, and about 20 minutes to bake.

Pizza and other tomato sauce: 5-8 ingredients. 10 minutes to get everything into the pot. 30 minutes to cook. Freezes like a dream.

I've dabbled with bread, but we don't eat enough to make it worth the effort. Also I have friends who bake and share

There's probably more, and again, freeing up the headspace occupied by little kids was essential for me. How about you?

Ha! This doesn't deter my DH who spends hours and hours on the perfect loaf of mixed grain and seed sour dough - while most all of it goes to waste or to "french toast" because nobody eats it! It's delicious, but how much bread can one eat? I gain weight on bread. I maintain on oatmeal.

I make a lot of oatmeal *from scratch*

[Anonymous]

The Michelle’s granola is so good I don’t want homemade.
And the Icelandic yogurt I get from the farm — or even better the stuff at the farmers market is so good that I don’t see it worth making at home. Maybe if I had more time and less cash like my 20-something relatives I would.
My retired siblings are always making stuff from scratch …. Because they have endless time. If I make scratch pasta that basically means the yard work will not get done or the house won’t get cleaned or whatever.