[cocotbo]

Does anybody else cook from scratch anymore or does every recipe begin with a prepared box or package of something? I actually enjoy cooking from scratch and my friends seem to think it is really odd that I don't use shortcuts.

What do you do? Cook from scratch or from a package?

[Angeljoe]

I love cooking from scratch also.. I work full time but still enjoy making my recipes from scratch. I just had a conversation with my neighbor about it yesterday.. She came over and I was making homemade banana nut bread. She couldn't believe I didn't buy the boxed mix for it. I love to cook but doing homemade just gives me personal fullfillment. I also involve my children with cooking. They love to measure out the ingredients, pour, and mix everything together.. This is certainly a messy task but they can also enjoy cleaning up.. Just make it fun and homemade..

[cocotbo]

Originally Posted by Angeljoe

I also involve my children with cooking. They love to measure out the ingredients, pour, and mix everything together.. This is certainly a messy task but they can also enjoy cleaning up.. Just make it fun and homemade..

Kids really do enjoy cooking.
I always plan to make cookies when I babysit for friends. Depending on the children's ages, I may or may not pre-measure the ingredients. It is usually a big hit with the kids and I like the fact that they are doing something they don't usually do, they are enjoying it, they are learning and they are pretty happy with the whole outcome!

[irishgal63]

seem to master, is making a meringue for lemon pie---
the pie, itself, turns out okay---just not the meringue !

[cocotbo]

Originally Posted by irishgal63

seem to master, is making a meringue for lemon pie---the pie, itself, turns out okay---just not the meringue !

When I was about 15, I decided that I wanted to learn how to make Lemon Meringue Pie. It took a whole summer for me to master the meringue. Since we only had one pie pan, my father was kind enough to eat the not-so-perfect pies. I'm not so proud of the fact that he gained 30 pounds, but I was pretty pleased with the fact that I had finally mastered the meringue!

[craftymom]

I love cooking from scratch! Everything tastes better homemade (unless you really mess it up!). If I ever use a mix, I always add things to it like spices or more veggies. I've been cooking a lot in my new wok lately. I'd like to get a crock pot. Somehow I managed not to get one as a wedding or housewarming gift.

[cocotbo]

Originally Posted by craftymom

I'd like to get a crock pot. Somehow I managed not to get one as a wedding or housewarming gift.

Crock pots are excellent! Some companies sell them in pairs now. One large 4-6 quart pot and one small 1-2 quart pot. Look for one of those deals on sale. You can make your main dish in the large pot and a dessert in the small pot.

Another great use for the smaller pot is single serving meals or even simmering potpourri. (My favorite for a simmering potpourri is adding a sliced orange to a pot of water and then adding about 4 whole cloves or about 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves.) Just add water as it evaporates.

A great new product to use with crock pots is the Slow Cooker Liner. Now, not only is there little to no work involved in meal preparation, but with these babies there isn't any work involved in cleanup either! Check them out here.

[Samual]

We always cook from scratch, but sometimes we make sauces and freeze them as we don't always have time to make them in the evening.

[cocotbo]

Originally Posted by Samual

We always cook from scratch, but sometimes we make sauces and freeze them as we don't always have time to make them in the evening.

Making big batches of sauces and freezing is definitely the way to go. I do that with my spaghetti sauce, marinara sauce, and gravies. It makes meal prep a snap!

[twinzplus3]

Ditto. . .I actually don't know anyone that doesn't. . .or at least not anyone whose food I think is worth eating!