What is worth making instead of buying?

ness_w

I already make my own bread and am thinking about hoummous, but not sure if this is cost-effective. Does anyone know? I am too short of time for some things (six kids, three not at school yet) but wondered what things really are and aren't worth making from scratch.

Ness.

(I'm really talking about food here)

destiny_star2006

would love to make my own bread is it easy?

kippers

Bread is easy to make if you have a breadmaker. I reckon a loaf costs approx 40p to make.

Farway

destiny_star2006 wrote: »

would love to make my own bread is it easy?

It is easy, but by hand it can be time consuming, including waiting for it to rise

Hence a breadmaker takes the effort and time factor out of it, just load the ingredients in and leave the machine to do the rest

A good food mixer would help, like a Kenwood chef for inastance

Atalanta

[quote=ness w;discussion/683185]I already make my own bread and am thinking about hoummous, but not sure if this is cost-effective. Does anyone know? I am too short of time for some things (six kids, three not at school yet) but wondered what things really are and aren't worth making from scratch.

I find home made hummus tastes quite different to shop-bought - so I don't think my kids would like it as they even notice the difference between different brands of shop hummus!
I recently got a yohurt maker though and I would really recommend it - it's SO easy. You just put a spoonfull of the last batch in with most of a carton of UHT milk, and then leave it on for 8 hours. And the resulting yoghurt is delicious - really mild and creamy. So if your family like yoghurt then it might be worth considering (the yoghurt maker came from Lakeland and cost £20 so I guess it would take a while to recoup the cost - but I asked for it for Xmas so it didn't cost me! ) I use organic UHT milk - I used to buy Yeo Valley organic natural yoghurt, and I reckon that making it works out about half the price, or less - and it's much nicer than Yeo Valley. I don't know how much cheaper it would be if you didn't use organic - but I'm sure it would be cheaper, if you think that the yoghurt you make has all the beneficial cultures, so is equivalent to the more expensive brands.

Penelope_Penguin

I make hummous and it's really easy, and is definitely cheaper than shop bought. I'm having some in a pitta with sliced olive and chilli sauce for lunch tomorrow.

I'd rephrase the question in the OP - what things are not worth making yourself? Filo, pasta for everyday. Bet there are a few more, but I can't think atm.

Penny. x

purpleivy

I make houmous, though in the past I have used canned chickpeas, loads cheaper than bought and nice as well, You can control how much oil goes in it too. HM guacomole is vastly superior to shop.

Sharra

Pizza - I make a few at a time - very easy to do - then freeze before cooking and cook straight from frozen when you need them - you can even get the kids involved in making them.
Soup - again make loads and freeze - very cheap n easy.
Quiches - so much nicer than shop bought ones.

kethry

Bread is only really time consuming if you're busy and out of the house. the actual time spent on bread, once you're used to it, is probably 20 minutes, maximum. Bread is - in my experience - very forgiving, i make it up, go away and do something else. couple hours later i go back into the kitchen to make a cuppa, oops! forgot the bread, and knock it back. LOL. about the only time you really have to clock watch is when its in the oven. It really wouldn't be a problem to someone who is home all the time (although i can see where it would be difficult for a harrassed stay at home mom of 4 under 7 children.. !).

the recipe i use - for handmade bread - is listed here if you like

keth
xx

lil_me

Maybe give examples of what you buy and see if people can suggest HM alternatives which hopefilly won't take a long time to make

I've just got back into OS ways as when my boys were little I baked and cooked loads from scratch aswell as them being in terries, they're only 9 and 7, everyone thought I was mad but like I said I was home all day so making me work for my money or savings as it was.

Mostly I cooked on a night or when they had naps. If I was going it now it'd be the same. I'd have something in the SC all day, a large batch cook, prepared the night before so just had to throw it in when doing breakfast. Ok I only had 2 of my own but I also usually had 2 of someone elses children aswell.

lindab15

Last summer I regularly made pesto with a handful of herbs from the garden - rocket was gorgeous -and then just stuck in garlic / pine nuts and olive oil to taste, zizzed up with the hand blender to a smooth-ish paste. Fantastic - didn't used to like it out of a jar, but fresh is really zingy and tasty.

I was very cautious at first and followed a recipe, but after a few goes became very casual about amounts, and it always seemed to come out great. Brilliant with a spoonful stirred through hot pasta. Good way to use up bought fresh herbs, too - I always seem to have some left over if I buy a bundle for a recipe, and you can use quite a mix, don't have to stick to a single type.

Also really nice over a chicken breast / salmon fillet ain a tinfoil parcel in the oven.