Do you cook from scratch?

I cook everything from scratch, but if I can I make double and freeze half. We rarely buy ready meals, but they are always so disappointing if we do. A few weeks ago DBH bought some Sainsbury ready meals with prawns in them. There were four prawns in each dish and four mangetouts. I think there was an offer on, 4 for £10, and he bought one with chicken. It had four minute strips of chicken. The rest consisted of carbs and thick sludgy gloopy sauce full of cornflour. I was horrified, I had thought better of Sainsbury's. I told him not to buy them again. Then on our way back from a weekend away a couple of weeks ago, we decided to buy something from an M&S foodshop. I couldn't believe my eyes - they had exactly the same meals, but with their own labels on them.

If I have the ingredients in and if I have any energy left at the end of the day I will cook from scratch. If I am barely standing and reach for a the minute the last grandchild is bundled out the door, I open the freezer and grab whatever's handy. Or send for a takeaway..

I'd say I do 70/30 most being cooking from scratch. DH feels deprived if he doesn't have a roast on a Sunday, without Auntie Bessie's help !

Silverfish, I bought one of those for 3 quid from a charity shop this week, still in the box (Rachel Allen) and I've been having a lot of fun with it. It didn't come with any instructions but I googled some recipes.

i cooked spag bol from scratch this evening so that is me sorted for the next couple of days. Living in NW London there are pizza places, Chinese and Indian takeaways all eager to deliver but I personally do not like any of the food. To date I have been disappointed so I have given up.

(not sure what your post meant, Greenfinch - are you on the right thread? )

I cook form scratch lol. I open the freezer door, remove a packet and stick it in the microwave - isn't that cooking nowadays.

Joking apart Ive just bought one of those American cup cake makers so I can make little cakes for my DGD when she comes, given up on big cakes though and when theres just me I stew fuit for dessert and make veg bakes etc. Im glad I haven't a man to cook for.

I wonder if the other local sites fare any better ,*roses*? I think we need to arrange another meet-up fairly soon either in Abingdon or Oxford again. What do you think?

Ana 1001 ways with eggs.

Oh, merlot, what do you give him the rest of the time - gruel?

I never ask DH what he wants for supper. He'll often ask what he's having and his eyes light up when baked beans are mentioned which is about twice a year!

Poor deprived soul.

Though I do make an effort if we have guests.

yogagran you are dead right, it's the 40 odd years of cooking isn't it? Men always say 'oh anything' when you ask them what they want.So I rarely ask any more.As you say, they wolf it down anyway, so it may as well be just 'anything'.

yogagran - exactly!

Hi Greenfinch glad that I'm not the only one either!
Still looking lonely over at the Oxford local site, I don't understand it.I check it out a few times a week, but nobody on there.

I cook everything from scratch because I have homegrown produce and eggs coming out of my ears. I make chutney and jam but give a lot of it away to friends and family. When I'm feeling lazy we have sausage and chips!

We're too far off the beaten track for a take-away pizza

I cook most meals from scratch, husband complains bitterly if there is what he calls "packet food" (he cooks from scratch too).

My version of fast food is a salad, or egg on toast

I agree with you roses. I think the problem is that after 40 years or so of cooking meals, we all get a bit jaded with it all especially when it's just the two of us and perhaps the meal is not fully appreciated. What I hate is the planning of it all. Don't mind the shopping or the cooking, it's when you ask " what would you like for supper tonight" and the answer is "I don't mind, anything will do". Then the meal is eaten in just a few minutes. My mother often used to say " don't know why I bother when all you do is eat it". I think she was joking

I agree, whitewave - it is boring cooking from scratch every day, especially when one's DH has a penchant for oven chips and doesn't appreciate my lovingly prepared shepherd's pie or mixed veg soup!

I do tend to make a roasted chicken last for two or three days though, when it's just the two of us.

I can identify with everything you say roses.I was and now am exactly the same as you. I can't believe the variety of things I used to cook when younger compared to what I do now. Glad I am not the only one !

I try to use everything unprocessed, of course I do use sugar, flour etc which is processed but do try to keep it to a minimum. That means largely cooking from scratch, but I do get BORED with cooking every day and will opt out with a "pingy" from M&S or take-away so my halo is round about my ankles at the moment!

Same as kitty- although I'd love to get a take-away curry around here!

Funnily enough, I used to make more food items when I was younger and busier than I am now which doesn't make a lot of sense.I used to make; bread, jams, chutneys, cakes and biscuits as well as all meals for the five of us [and do a job as well.] I have turned into a lazy so-and -so over the years. I still make cakes [when visitors come to stay] and meals of course but that's about it.About twice a week we have 'easy' meals as well, not take away because we are too far from anything to go and get it[it would be cold] but just meals that are easy to prepare, cold meat sald and baked potaoto, or omelettes.

I cook all meals from scratch except when we have a take away curry. But I dont make jams etc! I often make double portions so we have easy meals when I'm busy.