Twelve Things You Should Be Making From Scratch

Twelve Things You Should Be Making From Scratch

 12 Things You Should Be Making From Scratch

The more time I spend as a wife and mother who is trying to watch out for the health of my family, the more meals I make from scratch. My mom made most of her meals from scratch when I was a child and I grew up spoiled by her Southern-style cooking skills. My mom is actually English, but her mother-in-law was a Southern cook who showed her around in the kitchen a bit. Cooking from scratch is often looked at as difficult and old-fashioned, but it doesn’t have to be.  You might be surprised at just how easy it can be. Here are twelve things you should be making from scratch, and trust me, you can totally do this. 

  1. Cakes – Making a cake from scratch is so easy that I was surprised the first time I succeeded at it. Now I can barely eat a box mix cake because they just taste so artificial to me. I have a few recipes for scratch cakes here on Celebrating Family so search the site or click on the link to go to my most popular cake post.
  2. Frosting – Super easy and worth it! Here is a yummy recipe for white chocolate buttercream frosting.
  3. Salsa – I never buy salsa anymore. Never! A few choice ingredients and a blender can help you create a most amazing salsa that will have you eating too many tortilla chips.
  4. Gravy – Do yourself a favor and stop buying jarred or packet gravy. Those are so full of garbage and they do not even taste good. Check out my recipe for vegetarian biscuits and gravy, search the web, ask your grandma, do whatever you have to do, but start making your gravy from scratch. It is so easy.
  5. Cookies – This is a recipe for three ingredient, flourless, peanut butter cookies, but there are so many cookie recipes out there that do not require a culinary degree so make whatever pleases you. When you make your own cookies you control the ingredients.
  6. Pudding – This one takes a little time, but the reward is an all natural, creamy delight.
  7. Guacamole – I did not even like guacamole until about 2 years ago. I found it bland and disgusting – until I had it freshly made. Now I find it bright and flavorful. Try making guacamole yourself and see how easy it is.
  8. Brownies – Try this delicious vegan brownie recipe or even a traditional recipe like this one from Around My Family Table. Why buy a box mix when homemade is so much better?
  9. Soup – I love soup and you probably do as well.  But have you looked at the nutrition labels on soup cans? Those babies can be chock full of sodium and other nastiness. Making your own soup means controlling what goes in.
  10. Cinnamon Rolls – I love orange cinnamon rolls and this recipe is worth the time investment.  Make them with your kiddos and turn it into a family tradition.
  11. Refried Beans – This slow cooker recipe involves no grease, lard, or even any frying. These are my favorite beans for burritos.
  12. Pasta Sauce – This recipe is not a traditional marinara sauce but it is a nice sweet sauce your kids will love that is full of healthy vegetables. If you prefer a more traditional pasta sauce there are hundreds of choices on the Internet.

 

Now get busy and whip up some food from scratch this week. While you are in the kitchen get the slow cooker out and visit my friend Wendy’s site because today she has a post with 16 surprising foods you can make in a slow cooker.
About Janice

I am so glad you stopped by. Kick your shoes off and hang with me a while. I am an Arizona native, wife to a hard-working hubby, mom of two, and daughter of the King. I love sharing recipes, crafts, and family activities that any mom can do. Life is complicated enough, right? When I am not up to my ears in laundry, dishes, and creating for Celebrating Family, you will also find me at East Valley Mom Guide. Come follow me on Google +, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.

Comments

  1. Thanks for the recipes. I’d add pancakes to the list.

  2. Debra Wagner says

    Great ideas! I would add a baking mix to that list like (bisquick or jiffy)but homemade of course! We made one way back when I was in Home Ec class

  3. Wendy Price says

    Honestly everything should be home made if possible.

  4. Lisa Marie Gibson says

    Great blog. I love to cook and did not realize that making things from scratch really isn’t that big of a deal. It seems to be an ease of mind as well since I know what the ingredients are. Thank you so much!

  5. Katheryne says

    I’m a culinary student (and soon to be grandmother) and I agree TOTALLY that all of these things and more are soooo easy to make from scratch. We have our own garden and spend twice a year canning our own salsa (among other things). I use my salsa in my guacamole adding loads of flavor.

    • I have never canned my salsa but I need to. I usually make enough to last for a week but that is all. It would be nice to pull some out of the cupboard when I want it!

  6. I couldn’t agree more! In fact I made both Guac and Salsa yesterday! 🙂

  7. Kimberly says

    I’m happy to say that I make many of these from scratch. I’ve never tried making my own salsa or cinnamon rolls and I really need to try them.

  8. I would much rather make everything from scratch when I can. Homemade salsa is the best with just picked tomatoes and peppers from my garden. Most favorite homemade thing that I make here at my house is my homemade
    pot pie dough. Everyone loves it.

    • Fresh tomatoes are the best! They are hard to grow here in the desert without a ton of work, though. Peppers, however, grow great here!

  9. LOVE this post! And I totally agree, we don’t cook enough from scratch anymore.

  10. Love this list. I am still ‘in training’ with cooking from scratch. It really is so much better for you.

  11. Heather Diotte says

    I totally put this list in my favorites… it really makes you think of all of the cash one can really save with simple ingredients that you already have at home!

  12. Thanks for the list! I love making everything from scratch and was delighted to see that I already do everything on this list!
    Once you make it from scratch, you find your food taste a Lot better!

  13. Chrystal D says

    Thanks for all the recipes. I love making my own salsas!

  14. lots of great idea here. so many people now are making laundry detergent and other things to at home and really saving money and that is what I like
    thanks

Trackbacks

  1. […] Last year when Celebrating Family was still in its infancy, I shared my favorite homemade salsa and guacamole recipes. That was well over a year ago and I think this salsa is so good that it deserves its own post. This homemade salsa recipe is very easy to make and is a crowd pleaser. I honestly cannot stand to eat store-bought salsa anymore. Salsa is so easy to make that it is on my list of 12 things you should be making from scratch. […]

  2. […] good friend Janice at Celebrating Family wrote a post today about all the foods that you should be making from scratch….you should go check it out. She’s got some great recipes and […]