Cooking From Scratch Success

**McD** · 02-23-2011, 12:25 PM

A few nights ago, we wanted to have chicken alfredo for dinner.

As the water was boiling to cook our box of Smart Taste pasta ($1 sale), and our pre-seasoned garlic butter chicken breast (purchased on quick sale for $1 a breast), was cooking, I made my very first homemade white sauce.

And you know what....it was easy. Butter, Flour, Milk, salt and pepper and a dash of parmesan. My mom was blabbering about how much easier it was to buy a jar. Yep. Have fun paying for all the nastiness in it as well.

So what have you made from scratch that was surprisingly simpler than you thought?

**HappyMama** · 02-23-2011, 12:26 PM

Good job, your dinner sounds like it was delicious.

ETA: I love making sauces from scratch, and cakes and pies are so much easier then people think. I started on this road for health but saves me a ton of money and time. I am so glad you enjoy making things. Your Mom sounds like mine...lol

**MsMarieH** · 02-23-2011, 12:35 PM

Pudding is way easier than people would think to make from scratch.

Truthfully, I think most food is. I never got in the habit in the first place of using most mixes. I've always baked brownies, cakes, etc. from scratch.

The one I need to make is pie crust. I'm really bad about just buying those.

I did use to buy corn bread mixes, but that was because I hadn't found a recipe I liked. Now that I have, I don't need the mixes.

**Darlene** · 02-23-2011, 01:20 PM

Way to go Nichole!
I remember one of my biggest,"Oh my gosh I can't believe I made that & it was easy!" was a was a gingerbread roll cake similar to this one: Gingerbread Cake Roll Recipe - TheBakingPan.com - How to Make Gingerbread Cake Roll

**moasmom** · 02-23-2011, 01:21 PM

I agree that lots of things are easier to cook from scratch than most people think. Too many people just don't have the confidence in themselves and think they can't make a cake, or mac & cheese (it's a white sauce, with cheese!), or cookies, or cornbread, or pancakes, or....

We all grew up in an age when mixes and convenience foods abound, and marketing companies are very good at convincing people that it takes too much time and it's too hard to make food from scratch. Time to fight back!

Kara

**Ceashels** · 02-23-2011, 03:16 PM

White sauce and cheese sauces are definitely on my list as well. The one thing that really surprised me was homemade noodles! Even without a pasta roller and just using my heavy rolling pin... it was way easier than I ever imagined!

**Rhayne** · 02-23-2011, 03:33 PM

Today i made a simple lentil soup and it is the tastiest ever. I didn't have any onion, garlic cloves, carrots or celery on hand so it was very basic. I soaked 2 cups of dry (goya) lentil beans for about 2 hours then rinsed. I brought a pot of 8 cups of water to a boil and then threw them into a pot with 1 tablespoon of onion powder, 2 tablespoons of garlic salt, 4 chicken boulon cubes, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a dash of pepper. I let that cook for about 10 minutes and added about 1/2-1 teaspoon chili pepper and 3 tablespoons of tomato paste. I let it continue to simmer for 25 minutes (total time cooking, not including boiling, 35 minutes). It is so good. Can't wait to make more.

**savvy_sniper** · 02-23-2011, 03:44 PM

Cooking from scratch does NOT have to be hard and time consuming. There are lots of easy recipes.

We as a society have become accustomed to fast food and food from a box. Cooking from scratch is better for you, generally less expensive, and has no preservatives/additives. You KNOW what you put in to the dish.

Many women refused to learn to cook from their mothers. I have several family members that don't cook. They eat lots of junk and fast food on a regular basis. It is time to get back to basics and the old way of doing things!

There are lots of casseroles and one dish meals that are quick and easy. You can also go the semi-homemade route. It will still be better for you.

Since changing my eating habits and getting exercise, I have found that I can make small changes to many of my tried and true recipes to make them lower in calories and fat; thus making them better for me.

I am NOT on a diet!

**pollypurebred39** · 02-23-2011, 03:46 PM

I remember when I learned how to cook the French way I was so surprised at just how easy it was.

Reduced wine sauces, butter enriched at the end.
Bearnaise
Hollandaise
Bechamel
Veloute
Mornay
Bercy
Poulette
mayonnaise

Or stocks

French cooking is not nearly as complicated as it seems, despite those fancy names.

**frugalfoster** · 02-23-2011, 04:03 PM

A birthday ice cream cake...it wasn't hard at all and saved me about $25 bucks!!

And Nichole....KopyKat recipe ...olive garden alfredo....even easier and fantastic

**Judi Dial** · 02-23-2011, 04:10 PM

btw, in the Make A Mix Cookbook, there's a recipe for "white sauce balls" which are premeasured flour, s & p, and butter you keep in the freezer. Take 'em out, melt em, and add the right amount of milk, that's it.

When I used a lot of white sauce, I used them, very handy!

Judi

**larabelle** · 02-23-2011, 04:11 PM

Great Job!!!

I got tired of paying $4.50 per loaf of gluten free bread and the loaves were small.
I found a easy recipe on the net and made Boston Brown Gluten free bread and it was sooooooo good and easy until I made not one but three loaves. No more super expensive bread for me.

**McD** · 02-23-2011, 04:20 PM

Originally Posted by savvy_sniper

Many women refused to learn to cook from their mothers. I have several family members that don't cook. They eat lots of junk and fast food on a regular basis. It is time to get back to basics and the old way of doing things!

What irritates me about the whole deal with my mother is that 1.she is acting as if I am 'snooty' for wanting to cook from scratch, 2. she knows how to cook from scratch and 3. she acts as if I am completely making it up about how bad the chemicals, the preservatives, the sodium, etc. is for you. She says, "I fed all of you kids that and we all turned out fine."

Yep. I am 25 and high cholesterol-totally fine. She is in her late 40s and has high blood pressure and high cholesterol-totally fine. My dad is in his 50's and has high cholesterol, high blood pressure-totally fine.

I abhor willfull ignorance.

**HappyMama** · 02-23-2011, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by McD

I abhor willfull ignorance.

Yes, I see it everyday when it comes to nutrition because it is "easier" to pretend otherwise....LOL Pretend it is cheaper to go out, pretend it is too hard or expensive to cook, pretend those who buy better ingredients must be rich or have more time..... the list and beat goes on....lol I have certain people that I know that go out all the time, never cook from scratch, never eat veggies or fruit, never look into nutrition or health and are always sick and broke. But it is never the food , junk food or choices , it is always the "flu". But I hope they will feel better soon and make better choices but well you know....

Congrats to you on seeking knowledge and health that will benefit your family and pocketbook in the long run.

**frugalfranny** · 02-23-2011, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by Judi Dial

btw, in the Make A Mix Cookbook, there's a recipe for "white sauce balls" which are premeasured flour, s & p, and butter you keep in the freezer. Take 'em out, melt em, and add the right amount of milk, that's it.

When I used a lot of white sauce, I used them, very handy!

Judi

Would love it if you would share the recipe judi.........that would be sooo handy. PLEASE!!

Lots of my friends just love the Bear Creek soup mixes..........that sell for about $3.50 a package.........and have MSG in everyone of them.........and I can't understand it..........as most are BLAND and some are, to me, even tasteless!

The same goes for any 'helper'......(hamburger, tuna, etc.).....almost all have MSG.........though I DID find out that is now whole wheat and no MSG...........maybe the companies are FINALLY getting wise.

Always better when homemade.........and 'hold the chemicals'!!

ANY soup tastes better homemade........and is soooo easy!!