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Original poster

Do your "people" cook from scratch?

360 replies

JohnSmithDrive · 26/12/2021 15:35

My mum did and I do mostly. If I have people round for a buffet, things like quiche and sausage rolls, cake are homemade. If it's for dinner it won't be particularly exciting, but I'd do a homemade chilli or lasagne, something easy to prep ahead and feed lots of people..

Among my friends no one cooks, to the extent that it feels pretentious to do so. They are all generous hosts, but everything will be from a packet or they'll suggest takeaway pizza or similar.

I worry that my cooking seems like showing off and also (sometimes) wonder why I bother!

OP posts:
icedcoffees · 26/12/2021 16:21

Surely it’s a lifestyle choice. Cooking from scratch is expensive and time consuming but so much better from a health point of view.

Surely that depends on what you're cooking @Molly499?

CaMePlaitPas · 26/12/2021 16:24

The pre prepped foods you can get in the UK are fantastic. Quite often they represent value that you couldn't replicate at home for cheaper so I understand why people buy into it, and contrary to popular belief on Mumsnet, ingredients have got much better over the years. I also totally get why people buy their buffet food and pigs in blankets etc from M&S and Waitrose. In the past I've bought buffet food from Tesco and really enjoyed it.

Nowadays I spend a lot of time in France, and there just isn't the same culture around pre prepped food, the UK are far ahead of the French in terms of convenience foods. It's very difficult to get any decent quality buffet food and you're basically forced to make everything from scratch. Which is fine, but I do miss the convenience of UK supermarket offerings.

Helpstopthepain · 26/12/2021 16:24

‘Do your people..’

What a bizarre thing to say!

I can’t say that we always cook from scratch because we are time poor but we certainly don’t live on microwave meals! I would make my own lasagne but wouldn’t waste time trying to make sausage rolls (wouldn’t eat sausage rolls or serve them to guests but it’s your example) etc.

I wouldn’t think it’s pretentious to serve home cooked home but I would think you were a bit of a knob for going on about it. It’s just food.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General food
CheshireKitten123 · 26/12/2021 16:24

It depends.

I cook from scratch if I'm not working but will pick up something from the supermarket on the way home from work.

When I have time I batch cook for the freezer.

I can't make puff pastry or yorkies so I buy that in.

Molly499 · 26/12/2021 16:27

@icedcoffees

Surely it’s a lifestyle choice. Cooking from scratch is expensive and time consuming but so much better from a health point of view.

Surely that depends on what you're cooking @Molly499?

Not sure which part you were referring to but let’s take Lasagne as an example.
  1. Takes a long time to make
  2. Costs a lot for ingredients compared to a ready meal.
  3. Has to be healthier because it is chemical and additive free except
maybe for tomato purée.
SallyWD · 26/12/2021 16:28

Yes I cook from scratch and a lot of my friends do too. We all love food and cooking so it's normal for us. Obviously I'm aware that a lot of people do buy ready meals etc. I think it's why we're an unhealthy and overweight nation.

ISpyCobraKai · 26/12/2021 16:29

My Parents did.
I can, and I'm a brilliant cook, though don't bother as much now since it's just me.

LostForIdeas · 26/12/2021 16:30

Cooking from scratch here, all the time.
It’s very rare when I don’t, even more so if I am hosting!!

As for it ‘being pretentious’, how can it be pretentious to do something you do everyday? Confused

Original poster
JohnSmithDrive · 26/12/2021 16:30

"Your people" is an expression in common usage, really not that bizarre.

Or inthiguht it was before this thread pounced on it so I checked:

Your People defn: family or close friends who you identify with and who typically have your best interests

OP posts:
AllKnowingGerbil · 26/12/2021 16:31

Not really. Growing up we had things from tins and packets. I'm mostly the same, I do have phases where I will try to make an effort but it always feels like the end result wasnt really worth it!

I have a resolution to find 10 dishes I can do on rotation. Gousto and Hello Fresh inspired me a bit.

Parker231 · 26/12/2021 16:31

Cooking from scratch does not necessarily make your meals healthy.

Juanbablo · 26/12/2021 16:32

I cook most things from scratch as did my mum I think. My Nan is a fantastic cook and baker and makes everything from scratch.

RampantIvy · 26/12/2021 16:32

@Claudethecat

I don't know anyone who doesn't cook from scratch most of the time.
Neither do I. We all enjoy the odd takeaway, but being rural we don't have a lot of choice.

I wouldn't insult my friends by inviting them round to dinner then giving them a ready meal.

LostForIdeas · 26/12/2021 16:32

@CaMePlaitPas

The pre prepped foods you can get in the UK are fantastic. Quite often they represent value that you couldn't replicate at home for cheaper so I understand why people buy into it, and contrary to popular belief on Mumsnet, ingredients have got much better over the years. I also totally get why people buy their buffet food and pigs in blankets etc from M&S and Waitrose. In the past I've bought buffet food from Tesco and really enjoyed it.

Nowadays I spend a lot of time in France, and there just isn't the same culture around pre prepped food, the UK are far ahead of the French in terms of convenience foods. It's very difficult to get any decent quality buffet food and you're basically forced to make everything from scratch. Which is fine, but I do miss the convenience of UK supermarket offerings.

You see Id say the U.K. is behind because it values to quick and easy instead of tasty and nutritious.

I have yet to find ANY pre cooked food that tastes as nice as something cooked at home. I can’t even say it’s taking much more time, unless you only use the microwave to warm stuff up.

Itsnotdeep · 26/12/2021 16:33

Yes everything really. I don't know anyone that doesn't cook from scratch. I don't think it's pretentious either. It's just the way I've always done it.

TreborBore · 26/12/2021 16:33

Good quality ready made food that will support your health is expensive! Cheap ready made food can be really unhealthy.

When I am time poor I cook simple things from scratch. Have a look at Real fast food by Nigel Slater for examples. Or get a freezer and some takeaway containers and freeze some each time you cook for those times when you don’t have time.

LuchiMangsho · 26/12/2021 16:34

DH and I cook ‘from scratch’ almost everyday. I mentioned this to my Indian mother and she raised her eyebrow and said: I just call it cooking! We both work FT. But we are both good cooks, efficient cooks and we batch cook. We have a takeaway/eat out once a week and that’s about it. It’s possible to do it. It’s a habit. You just have to do it regularly and get good at it and be disciplined about it.
It’s a bit like exercise, which neither DH nor I are that disciplined about.

But it’s true that very few of my friends ‘cook from scratch.’

LostForIdeas · 26/12/2021 16:34

@Parker231

Cooking from scratch does not necessarily make your meals healthy.
No that’s totally right.

But you are more likely to eat some healthy if you prepare it than if you buy pre prepared food.

Just look at microwaved meals. There are always plenty on offer but you’d struggle to find a portion of vegetable in them. At least if you prepare the meal, you can ensure vegs are part of the meal.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 26/12/2021 16:35

Everyone I know cooks.

Nellodee · 26/12/2021 16:36

50/50 We can and do cook from scratch a lot of the time, but there's nothing wrong with a fishfinger sandwich or beans on toast either.

LostForIdeas · 26/12/2021 16:36

@TreborBore I agree.

My lunches are all ‘cooked form scratch’.
They are basically left overs from dinner that have been frozen in single portion. I’ve also often made more (esp in the slow cooker) just to be able to do that.
Then I just have to take one out and wam it up. Just as easy as a pre prep meal.

TreborBore · 26/12/2021 16:36

To answer your question, every day meals are mostly cooked from scratch by me and in my wider family and it would feel strange to do anything else, but if there is a special occasion like Christmas, home made food is supplemented with M&S.

hivemindneeded · 26/12/2021 16:38

I cook from scratch, my mum always did. My brother always does (he is a good cook) So does DH (also a good cook.) One of my aunties does, the other tends to buy most things. My DSis and her husband usually do too. So do my friends.

NotSoNewAndShiny · 26/12/2021 16:39

Mumsnetters call everything pretentious, if it's something they don't do. The word has lost its meaning.

OP, I got what you meant by "your people". It's a well-known expression for what you wrote, as well as for people who think alike or have similar interests, etc. It's even used here on MN: "I've found my people".

HardbackWriter · 26/12/2021 16:39

I think most of my friends are like me - do a mix, so might make the sausage rolls but use bought puff pastry, for some social occasions would order in pizzas for others would crack out the ottolenghi and make an elaborate home-made feast. I'm always a bit dubious about the term 'from scratch' - most people would describe my lasagna as home-made, but it isn't really 'from scratch' because I buy the pasta sheets and the mozzarella.