Cheaper and Tastier made at home?

katieowl_2

Interesting read for foodie OS'ers about what to buy and what to make at home:

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/the-diy-food-guide-which-foods-are-tastier-and-cheaper-made-at-home-and-which-should-we-buy-6260295.html

I must admit I've always wanted to have a go at making cheese. I've made tofu - years ago - which was fun, but I very much doubt it's cheaper than buying it.

Kate

adelight

Nice thought, wish there were a few more examples and not just a book plug!
Cheese is quite easy to make, well soft cheese like ricotta is(warmed like with a little vinegar, leave to settle then drain through muslin in the fridge- use the liquid whey for cooking/sauce/stock) and i'm going to try an easy mozzarella recipe when I have time as me and OH get through tonnes of the stuff.

Thing is, I bet the book uses expensive equipment and hard to find things. It probably uses a yogurt maker and maybe even powderstarters

katieowl_2

I'll have to see who's got the book cheapest and report back! LOL

Kate

mmmsnow

Wow, it must be at least £50 for the number of vanilla pods they feature in that slide show!

cooking-mama

Found it on American Amazon,but if you click on Look Inside, it gives an overview of the book and quite a few recipes...http://www.amazon.com/Make-Bread-Buy-Butter-ebook/dp/B004T4KXMS

it appears to be a book made up from the authors blog. Dont think were allowed blog links, but its by The Tipsy Baker,and is "One woman cooks through her collection of 1000 cookbooks and feeds the results to her family",,looks like an interseting read,very American tho,so im not familiar with some of her comparisons/products/terminology etc.

natlie

im off to make some vanilla extract - cant believe I have been buying it, recipe is just 3 pods and a cup of vodka

katieowl_2

natlie wrote: »

im off to make some vanilla extract - cant believe I have been buying it, recipe is just 3 pods and a cup of vodka

3 for 2 on those at the moment at Mr T (I just checked they were included in the baking offer) you get two in a pack for £4.29.

Pure vanilla extract being £5.51 for 110 ml....I should imagine even including the booze to soak it - it would work out much cheaper. You need not make a huge bottle either, you could use the rest for sloe voddie or something.

Kate

rachbc

I make vanilla extract and bought a huge bundle of pods online - were about 50p a pod

Jei70

rachbc wrote: »

I make vanilla extract and bought a huge bundle of pods online - were about 50p a pod

Where, please?


Back on topic, the slide show recommends to "make bread, buy butter" - but butter is so easy to make, and cheap if you get whoopsied cream!

adelight

Jei70 wrote: »

Where, please?


Back on topic, the slide show recommends to "make bread, buy butter" - but butter is so easy to make, and cheap if you get whoopsied cream!

whoopsies are unreliable and scarce though, you can't write a recipe using a whoopsie and expect others to be able to follow it.

katieowl_2

adelight wrote: »

whoopsies are unreliable and scarce though, you can't write a recipe using a whoopsie and expect others to be able to follow it.

LOL it's our own language isn't it? I know EXACTLY what you mean, but I'm having a Frank Spencer moment here!

Kate