What things do you make from scratch, to be more wholesome for you and your family?

Kantankrus_Mare

The only thing I can suggest re courgettes is that when you first plant them out........give them an initial bit of protection by placing a cut down plastic juice bottle around them.

Forgot to do this myself last year and lost several plants.

Not put mine out yet......think next weekend I will plant them along with my mange tout plants that are thriving in the greenhouse.

Good luck.

VJsmum

Good thread - kind of surprised there hasn't been one like this before!

I make

Sourdough bread
All the biscuits and cake - favourites are lemon drizzle, banana bread, tea loaf, flapjack. I tend to cut the sugar right down, which is one reason I make it myself. I also make sugar free wheat free cakes also. Someone mentioned Deliciously Ella, her sweet potato brownies are amazing
Soups
Nearly all food is made from scratch, I say nearly cos I don't make pizza or fish fingers (though I can and have)
I use vinegar as fabric softener and dont tumble dry

We also rarely drive anywhere - preferring to walk, cycle or use the train but we get free train travel as OH works for the railways so I realise that isn't possible for everybody.
I do grow stuff -runner beans seem to be best. But I do grow salads and some soft fruit. I also have only ever managed one courgette.

missymoo81

Hey VJsmum, Maybe we should both take Kantankrus's advice, maybe we would have more luck! Ah sourdough! That popped into my head earlier, fantastic, saves on yeast and you know whats in it, I love the tangy taste too. Going to get my paul hollywood book out in a bit and read up on how to make the starter! Oh would you mind posting your banana bread recipe, I have more bananas than I know what to do with as they were all 20p a bunch.
Does the vinegar as fabric softener, make your clothes smell vinegary? I really love the smell of fabric softener, hence why i use it, but really need to find an alternative, if its making my machine go moldy!!!!

Has anyone got any good, morning type biscuits, as the littlies have one with their milk in the morning, and I don't want to keep buying them, when I have a glut of ingredients to make them with.

I feel like I have made huge inroads today, and have made lots of list and gained lots of advice. Thank you everyone for posting. Keep up the suggestions, have a feeling this thread will be the pathway to mine and hopefully others' more simpler, healthier life.

Tomorrow, I will endeavour to make some more bread, make some 'healthy' jam, bake some cakes and biscuits, as a start.

missymoo81

oh Kantankrus, is it too late to plant courgettes by seed now? Don't really want to be spending stupid money on plants....

fuddle

It's been years since I made my own yoghurt. Inspired and reminded to do it again as soon as the tub is near the bottom. I must remember to leave some for a starter.

Im looking to scale back myself as I'm not happy at developing old habits again due to being time poor at the moment. Will be following the thread

missymoo81

Hey fuddle, so glad you've been inspired. you've reminded me too that that was another thing I was hoping to try tomorrow. Right need to write a very small shopping list. The starter yoghurt, does it need to be probiotic or anything special? And it can be any sort of milk can't it. You just heat it to hand hot and put it in the flask over night?

Kantankrus_Mare

missymoo81 wrote: »

oh Kantankrus, is it too late to plant courgettes by seed now? Don't really want to be spending stupid money on plants....

Erm there is no harm in trying. Nothing to lose.

Mr_Singleton

Can't really add much to the food front but I have to say that its very easy to get pressured/sleep walk into buying more than you need in life generally which just ends up doing nothing more than causing clutter and gathering dust.

Decided to replace my cutlery last week and was down in John Lewis about to buy an 8 place setting box. Thought that its just me and the odd house guest so why buy 8 place settings? Ended up actually spending a bit more money but only bought 4 place setting but of much higher quality.

Happiness!

missymoo81

MrSingleton, it is so easy to get drawn in by products we don't need or are essentially bad for us. This is what I'm trying to stop doing and in the process feeding my family better things!

Have contacted a local dairy to see if i can buy straight from them.

I'm going to try and plant some things again today, but on the kitchen windowsill to help with germination, then put them in the green house, I really hope this works. I think long term I would really love to be able to grow most of our fruit and veg and figure out a way to keep them through the winter. And even further into the future I would really like more land to tend to, and maybe a small holding, but that is way off into the distance!

Concentrating on now, I need to find a recipe for oatcakes, as my kiddies love these, and I've run out of cereal, need to find/make a healthy replacement to $hreddies!!

Tillytrotter1

Regarding yogurt making, make sure your starter contains live cultures, sainsburys do a lovely thick Greek style which I use and the kiddies love. Great thread, good luck.