Comments on: Don’t buy it. Make it.

By: Don’t buy it. Make it. Part 2 | Rapid Eye Reality

Don’t buy it. Make it. Part 2 | Rapid Eye Reality — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:06:00 +0000

[...] posting about the food you should make at home rather than buying it at a store, my wife and a friend reminded me of a couple I forgot to put on [...]

By: squeaky wheel

squeaky wheel — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 19:03:06 +0000

I’m with you on the evils of microwave popcorn. Ma taught me how to make it when I was a kid, in a pan with a splash of oil, nothing fancy but it’s SO much better than that crap in a bag.

I’ve also become something of a snob when it comes to hummus. We always made our own at home, and whenever I taste store-bought hummus it’s just never quite right.

By: Da Goddess

Da Goddess — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 03:38:26 +0000

The best salsa sits for at least a day and microwave popcorn was created by the devil himself.

In our house, Little Dude refuses to touch microwave popcorn, preferring the hot air popper kind. And if I refuse to make that, he’ll happily eat stove top popped, which is my favorite. Have an old Revere Ware pot that’s perfectly seasoned for it.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:05:37 +0000

No mention of DIY poker tables, for shame!

By: Maudie

Maudie — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:23:00 +0000

PS: as to popcorn. I’ve been making mine in my dutch oven. Buy a jar of Orville Redenbocker and follow the instructions. Dead easy.

By: Maudie

Maudie — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:18:23 +0000

Having just reached a mind boggling personal mile-stone, namely, more than two weeks with only two meals (other than saturday brunch)consumed elsewhere than my home, I’m all over the “make your own” bandwagon. This is new territory for me and I have to say, I’m having a blast. Like any good do-it-yourselfer would tell you – it’s all in the tools you have at your disposal. For the cook, it’s ingredients, first, utensils, second.

I’ve been able to put together spur of the moment meals by the stock of ingredients that now occupy my pantry, freezer and spice cabinet.

My homemade mainstays:

Chicken Stock – the canned or boxed does not compare
Tomato Sauce – I was surprised at how easy it is to make and can
Dressings – no unpronounceable crap, easy and far more economical

The internet is my recipe box. Try this site out when you are perplexed as to what you can do with the ingredients on hand – I found it a couple of days ago: http://www.supercook.com

You inspire me!

By: Astin

Astin — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:58:11 +0000

Yah, fudge is super easy.

Anybody who buys a spice rub is throwing away money.

In fact, with just about sauce, rub, or the like, you can usually read the ingredients, get rid of the strange chemicals, and replicate it yourself easily.

Pancake and Waffle mix has always mystified me. There can’t be anything simpler to assemble than pancake mix. Ditto biscuits, etc..

I have a hard time buying caesar dressing these days to. Although to make my own, I do need to have a supply of anchovies and capers handy.

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:46:57 +0000

Thanks for the reminders! I made my own chicken fingers for dinner last night. It took longer than I expected (not having any bread crumbs on hand…) but the result was totally worth it.

Also, the link to the popcorn site is bad, there is an errant double quote at the end. Correct link is http://blog.ruhlman.com/ruhlmancom/2009/01/popcorn.html

By: StB

StB — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:33:44 +0000

No fudge? I stopped on Good Eats last night and watched Alton make fudge on the stove. I pictured you watching as you copied every thing he did.