homemade v store bought

VfM4meplse

splishsplash wrote: »

ETA: I'm Irish, so I'm not going to mess about with ready made spuds, am I?!

Lol brilliant comment, I love it!

YORKSHIRELASS

It's all about convenience for me, not always having the time to make things from scratch despite being really organised and using the slow cooker a lot.

I always keep things like a jar of pasta sauce and a bag of oven chips in for ease. I wouldnt make jam, mayo or puff pastry, just don't have time.

The deli near work does lovely pasta salads which I am trying to stay away from because a) they are expensive b) they come in a disposable plastic tray and c) it's lazy not to just make my own. The thing is that no matter how I try my salads brought from home in a tupperware container are never as nice!

Grumpygit

I am in the minority as I make my own shortcrust and puff pastry.

I use a Delia Smith recipe and it doesn't take long at all and is a lot easier than shortcrust (doing it by hand and not in a processor)

Whilst quicker and easier, I just couldn't bring myself to buy any pastry

RicardaRacoon

Making ketchup or mayo from scratch is too much to bother for me...

Pesto, gnocchi and pizza dough are things I sometimes buy, sometimes make from scratch. When I plan it in advance I'll make it from scratch but when I decide on my way home that I want pizza for tea I get the dough.

I make jam once or twice a year but mainly to give away and keep a glass for myself.

Potato things are made from scratch, but I do have some hash browns in for when I can't be bothered to cook.... I have to say though that I like the taste of instant mash....

I normally make dough myself but buy puff pastry as it is too fiddly. My quiche base by the way contains grated potatos...

Oh and brownie mix is my guilty pleasure as it turns out far nicer than hm...

JIL

I have made my own puff pastry, for a special meal, it was not too difficult.
I always make my own shortcrust, it's quick and easy. I really don't like shop bought quiche, so always make my own.

I do use curry pastes, sometimes jars (favourite it the Aldi range with spices in the top)
I use jars of tomatoe pasta sauce as a base to home made lasagne. However I make my own white sauce.
I buy oven chips but no other frozen potato product. I do buy tinned new potatoes which make a fantastic Spanish omelette.
I have made mayonnaise, but only when I didn't have any in the cupboard. I used the recipe from mfin3 which was very quick and easy.
I make cakes and cereal bars at the weekend, sometimes I make my own bread but we don't eat much bread anyway.
For me it's about what works best and how much time I have and of course if I can be bothered.

Valli

I make jam - because I enjoy making it. I grow blackcurrants and rhubarb and that's what I make jam with. I also forage blackberries and make bramble jelly. I also make marmalade but that is the only preserve I buy the fruit for...if I wanted apricot jam I would buy the jam.

Pollycat

Interesting replies.

I think the OP is trying to tick boxes and conform but imho there is no norm. Just what suits each person best, based on their taste preferences, interests and lifestyle.

pipkin71

Cost can be an issue when making from scratch as it can be much more expensive than shop bought products. That said, home made often tastes much better.

splishsplash

timehastoldme wrote: »

Ooh, would you share the recipe for this please?

Just mix self raising flour with Greek yoghurt. Good for pizza dough, garlic bread, flatbreads, bagels, dough balls, any number of things.

Usually 2 cups flour to one cup yoghurt. I usually only have 0% fat yoghurt which makes for a good thin crispy crust, if I want a fluffier crust, I add some milk and lemon juice and hold back some of the yoghurt. If you had wholemilk Greek yogurt you wouldn't have to do this.

Just mix the ingredients, knead for a couple of minutes then roll out. No proving or raising time, you're good to go.

LameWolf

tiredwithtwins wrote: »

hi
just wondered what everyone thought about homemade foods vs store bought foods?
I mean along the lines of ketchup, mayonnaise, pastry, jam etc ..
ive had some success with making my own ketchup and mayo, but don't have much luck with making my own pastry.
Potato foods - things like mash, chips, roast potatoes .. I find it tends to be a bit hit and miss as to whether they come out nice or rubbish, so tend to stick to frozen which can be a bit more expensive than making from scratch.
Has anyone successfully made the swap to making their own and moving away from buying store bought, and what sort of things have you had success with?


S x

Potato - I've never used frozen potato products; I don't have enough freezer space spare to store them, and I can make whatever we want from proper spuds easily enough.

Ketchup - don't use it.

Mayo - shop bought, as we don't use enough to make it worthwhile doing myself.

Jam - all home made, including marmalade (I use whatever citrus fruit is going for £1 for a huge bowlful at the market - currently eating "St Clements" ie orange + lemon); can't remember buying jam in the 16 years Mr LW and I have been together.

Pastry - I make shortcrust in the food processor. If I needed puff pastry for anything I'd probably have a go at doing it myself and if it wasn't up to scratch, buy it thereafter; but it's not really something I use.

Pizza - home made; I make the base in the breadmaker.