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

lavenderlass

My friend's son and his girlfriend made Truffles for pressies. I'm not sure of the recipie, I'm sure there are plenty on the internet, but they dusted them with cocoa powder, put about half a dozen on a square of cardboard, wrapped them in scrunchy cellophane and tied them with a pretty ribbon.
They were fantastic & I really admire their enterprise!

MandM90

CURRY!

I blitz my own curry paste in the blender, and store it in the fridge. The home blend of spices, tailored to suit our tastes, fried in oil and then simmered in the sauce is one hundred times better than those bland jarred ready made pastes you can buy from the supermarket. And, if you buy spices from an ethnic shop (or even ethnic aisle) cheaper, too.

Smoothies; I don't know why anyone would buy a ready made smoothie. We chuck some fruit in, in the morning and have breakfast in a glass. We even add spinach, flax seeds, ginger, mint, cucumber or kale for extra healthful 'oomph' and every time it is different and tastes oh so fresh. We freeze chopped bananas and chuck them in to act as the 'ice'. Very good way to use up overripe fruit and if the fruit is in season, or frozen, it is better value than the prepackaged sludgy stuff with unimaginative combinations.

katieowl_2

Can't beat a pair of hand knitted socks

All food tastes better home made.

Kate

BitterAndTwisted

No, not all food. Most especially if it's cooked at my sister's house. Any idiot can buy first-class ingredients if they have the means but turning them into decent and appealing dishes requires proper cooking-skills. And not everyone has those, as I can testify.

My Number One candidates for things that are better, if in the hands of someone competent are cakes and biscuits.

katieowl_2

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

No, not all food. Most especially if it's cooked at my sister's house. Any idiot can buy first-class ingredients if they have the means but turning them into decent and appealing dishes requires proper cooking-skills. And not everyone has those, as I can testify.

My Number One candidates for things that are better, if in the hands of someone competent are cakes and biscuits.

LOL that's a very good point...We used to get invited to mums for sunday lunch when the kids were little, I'd forgotten how relived we all were when she discovered M&S!!!

Kate

BitterAndTwisted

Hehe. My sister is rather fond of M&S when feeding herself and family. Even better is when her daughter takes over the kitchen-duties like at Christmas. I dunno where she got it from but she loves cooking and is very accomplished, if a tiny bit ambitious and very ready to get all stressed out and ratty. We're only family so why should it matter if it's not four-star restaurant standard?

Anyway, my mention of cake and biscuits has reminded me that the tins are all currently empty so I must get on and bake something nice for myself.

VfM4meplse

Hanging baskets are much better if you plant them yourself - you get several year's use out of each basket, you get exactly what you want, and it is a lot cheaper. Unlike the skimpy articles you get made up, my baskets are always bountiful.

I made hay whilst the sun shone yesterday evening and sorted my garden out. Both plants and made-up baskets in B&Q were extortionate, but I found a few trays of trailers alive and well for £1 each, reduced from over £5. I ended up with 36 plants (petunias, geraniums and lobelias) in red white and blue for the grand sum of £4. Plenty left over to donate to my parent's garden.

dawn1980

most foods are better if you can work them out.

I adore home made spotted !!!!!!!

Can't seem to get my yorkshires like aunt bessies batters but my hubby prefers mine.

Sulevia

rj1p wrote: »

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

I discovered a great coating for roasting / baking meats. Yoghurt with herbs and things in. For turkey leg the other night, I did sage and orange peel chopped fine; and for lamb I have done thyme and garlic. It makes a nice crispy crust and does something with the fat so it seems to disappear but leaves a nice crispy coat on the top. Just spoon it on and smooth it over pretty much as thick or thin as you like.

vcb1981

turbokez wrote: »

Beer!!!

40 pints for £15 is great value - and very easy to make.

I know that the supermarkets do great deals, but homemade tastes much better (because you choose the recipe), and very satisfying.

I tried to ake my own cider once forma kit....tasted "odd". went our and b rought some old rosie to mix with it it did the trick!