Spill the beans... what's better when homemade

patm_2

Dog treats
I make liver cake for my dogs, it's really cheap and they love it. I cut it into thin strips, freeze it, take out a few strips at a time and break off really small pieces; it's important not to overfeed liver as they can get a buildup of vitiamin A which is bad for them. One batch lasts for ages.
350g12oz/1 pack pig's liver
3 eggs
250g/12oz flour - any sort, use spelt flour if you are worried about your dog being sensitive to gluten
Splash of milk or water
1tsp garlic powder - optional, I don't use it
Put the liver into a food processor or stick blender. When blended, add the eggs and milk, then mix in the flour.
Turn out into a baking tin - 8" round cake tin, traybake tin or bigger, lined with baking parchment or greaseproof paper.
Bake at 180C/gas mark 6 for 30 mins, check it is completely set.
Mixture too thin or thick, cake underdone or overdone, spread too thin or thick? No problem, the dogs won't notice.

You can make similar cake with really smelly leftover cheese eg camembert which is ready to get up and walk out of the fridge

Mayonnaise
Once you have got the hang of it it's really easy to make and tastes 100 times better than bought mayonnaise. Be prepared to waste up to 6 eggs the first time while practising, after that you should be OK as long as you make it regularly. If it splits (the oil separates out) and you can't be bothered to rescue it with another yolk, you can still eat it, it's good with warm potatoes. I use an electric beater, a mixture of sunflower and olive oil, salt, mustard. The egg yolks must be at room temperature. I don't use the squeezy bottle as described in this illustrated guide: [search for Justhungry Mayonnaise]

rj1p

To make a 'southern fried' coating for chicken etc.

In a bowl mix the following - exact quantities don't matter, add more or less of stuff to taste and depending on how much chicken you have to coat. All ingredients are dry.

- 1 or 2 packets of tomato or vegetable soup mix. Croutons or not - it'll get pulverized. Tomato soup mix makes it taste Kentucky-y
- whatever spices you have.
I like a couple of spoonfuls each of mixed herbs, paprika (a lot of this makes it barbecuey), less of mustard powder, pepper, garlic powder.
- 2 bread crusts you would otherwise have discarded.

Wizz this all into crumbs using a mixer with a blade.

Get the chicken, shake all flour over it to dry it. Get rid of excess flour. Don't leave this bit out, the egg won't stick properly.

Beat 1 or 2 eggs - one to start with and see if it's enough - and coat chicken in it.

Dunk each eggy chicken piece in the breadcrumb / spice mix, coat well shaking it around/rolling it.
Place on baking tray.
Cook well. The coating slows it down.

thriftychick

Pizza bases
Bread
Jam
Soup
Pasta
Rice pudding
Cake

rj1p

Vegetable soup. Feeds 5.
Fry one onion in oil in a big pan
Add contents of one kettle.
Peel 1 kilo of carrots / other veg and add to water.
Add 2 or 3 stock cubes - veg or chicken.
Boil til veg is soft.
Remove from heat and blast with hand mixer til all the lumps go.

Eat / drink. Dilute if necessary.

pineapple

patm wrote: »

Dog treats
I make liver cake for my dogs, it's really cheap and they love it.

My goodness that sounds like a lot of trouble! Maybe I'm just lazy. I simmer or fry pig or ox liver and cut it into small pieces. She has a piece now and then as a treat or 2 or 3 bits mixed in with her dinner. I keep any liquid as 'gravy' for her meals. I just do it now and then as like you say, too much is not good.

andygb

Home baked bread is better than any shop bought, and a lot cheaper - 35p per medium loaf.
Jam - we made a load of damson jam last year, and cannot wait to return to the local golf course this year for another go.
Home made curries taste good, but are lacking something, probably ghee.
Chicken tikka is great and often better than restaurant food, and is so easy to make - chicken breast, low fat Greek style yoghurt, crushed garlic, lemon juice, tandoori masala powder, chilli powder, salt and pepper. When you have cut the chicken into 2" lumps, then put in a bowl with the marinade ingredients and leave overnight. Then grill for about 20 minutes turning every five minutes. Serve with naan and mango chutney (Sharwoods - I can't make chutney).

Chia

Any kind of tomato-based sauce - can't go back to using jarred sauces for Italian foods etc. So easy to make your own with passata and so much tastier.

calicocat

Anything foodwise HM is better.

Homemade facial scrub......small jar magnesium sulphate,about £1.20,mix small amout with usual cleanser.....skin lovely and soft,and feels really clean.

I made nettle hair conditioner once,bit smelly.

HM quilts,cushion covers,throws all much nicer,and unique!

HM xmas tree decorations.

HM candles from left over wax.

Buying old mirrors and picture frames and spray painting to own colour etc. (If that counts)

Nik777

craigywv wrote: »

:j:j:j:j:jI MUST BE TOLD HOW YOU MAKE THEM PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE:)

I took a while sorry - had to go dig out the old recipe book!

80 ml gelatine
125 ml cold water
375 ml boiling water
800 g caster sugar
2 egg whites
2 ml cream of tartar OPTIONAL
5 ml vanilla essence OPTIONAL
food colouring OPTIONAL
dessicated coconut to coat (DEFINITELY NOT OPTIONAL!)

You also need electric beater & greased tray ready.

Soak gelatine in cold water, add boiling water to dissolve. Add sugar, egg whites & optional ingredients. Mix with electric beater 15-20 mins. Pour into greased tray. Put into fridge to set overnight. When set cut into blocks and roll in coconut.

I think I found I had to reduce the caster sugar as I found it a little sweet for my taste.

Let me know how it turns out, I need to make some again, it's been too long

[Deleted User]

Homemade Jam and Chutney , pickled onions and if you use the tinned 'Marmade' oranges Homemade Marmalade too! If you make your own bread as well it's a cheap breakfast. It's all cheaper too if you are able to grow your own fruit and veg and putting some in the freezer saves cash as well.