Twelve 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.