Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Am I "cooking from scratch".....

201 replies

Janeymoo50 · 25/07/2015 21:02

or not...

Curry - brown onion, garlic, chicken, add jar of paste/sauce?

Shep pie - brown mince, onions, carrots, add tomato paste, stock, flour, marmite, seasoning, herbs, etc

Fish pie - put frozen salmon and cod fillets (Iceland bargains) in bit of milk, butter and dried herbs, then make proper roux with the liquid, top with frozen mash (with added butter and good shake of black pepper)

My DP says I cheat, I might concur on the frozen mash (but it works better on fish pie).... But I've always thought this was ok....am I really cheating???

OP posts:
PotOfYoghurt · 25/07/2015 21:03

I would say only the shepherd's pie is from scratch, but does it really matter? If it's tasty and healthy what's the problem?

LashesandLipstick · 25/07/2015 21:04

Everything except frozen mash is fine. Why not mash your own potato and freeze it?

Wolfiefan · 25/07/2015 21:05

Agree with pot of yoghurt.

LadyFenring · 25/07/2015 21:05

Shepherd's pie, yes.

Curry, absolutely not.

Fish pie, no.

HicDraconis · 25/07/2015 21:06

You're cheating with the jar of paste/sauce (curry) and frozen mash (fish pie). I wouldn't say you were cooking from scratch if a meal uses a processed jar or packet.

But does it matter? All 3 sound like healthy-enough nutritious meals. And if your DP feels strongly enough to comment on cheating, there's nothing stopping him cooking!

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 25/07/2015 21:07

Shepherds pie yes, but the others no, I wouldn't claim them as cooking from scratch.

penny13610 · 25/07/2015 21:08

Sounds like normal cooking to me. If frozen mash works better and saves time, go for it.
I prefer pataks curry paste to the jars of sauce, better taste, texture and cheaper. Sometimes make from scratch, but life is short.
If DH would like to show you how it is done, let him. He could start by making his own tomato puree.

LadyFenring · 25/07/2015 21:08

Sorry my response was whether you were cooking from scratch as opposed to cheating.

HoneyDragon · 25/07/2015 21:08

I much prefer frozen mash as a topping to fish pie too Grin

Has to be Tescos own, or Aunt Bessie's. I don't like the Waitrose one.

I think the Curry is the only none from scratch.

LibrariesGaveUsPower · 25/07/2015 21:09

Cheating?

What does it matter? You are cooking for the family in a time efficient way. Nothing wrong with that. Sometimes it is nice to grind spices, sometimes to use a jar.

Frozen mash sounds yeek though. is it nice?

mrsmeerkat · 25/07/2015 21:09

I wouldn't say cooking from scratch but it is good old fashioned home cooking.

I don't know how you think cooking using a jar of sauce is from scratch - nothing wrong with it but why do you think that?

AuntyMag10 · 25/07/2015 21:09

The shepherds pie and fish pie sound fine but the curry definitely not. A curry made from a jar is not a curry.

HoneyDragon · 25/07/2015 21:10

I keep Pataks Balti paste in for quick curry nights ..... It's all the base spices I'd use anyway.

londonrach · 25/07/2015 21:10

Does it matter?

myluckystars · 25/07/2015 21:10

From scratch means no previously prepared food. Try it, you might like it.

roses2 · 25/07/2015 21:11

When you say curry paste/sauce do you mean a whole jar of curry sauce or something like the patak paste where you use a teaspoon or two?

Loafliner · 25/07/2015 21:15

I don't thing you can claim your curry or your fish pie as from scratch. Does it matter to you?

Marynary · 25/07/2015 21:15

Why does it matter? I have to "cook from scratch" on the whole because of a food allergy but I can't see what is so great about it. If you are eating a healthy balanced diet who cares?

Holidaysardonic · 25/07/2015 21:15

Frozen mash exists!

I've just added it to the shopping cart. Life's about to get easier again. Thanks Smile.

Loafliner · 25/07/2015 21:16

I cook from scratch most of the time but a jar of curry paste is a good cheat, better than a take away!

MumOfOne14 · 25/07/2015 21:17

Only the curry no, the others hell yeah from scratch! Tell ur hubby he's more than welcome to peal a load of potatoes if he prefers them fresh!!!

PerspicaciaTick · 25/07/2015 21:18

"From scratch" is to cooking as "attachment parenting" is to parenting - there is a tendency for one-upmanship and wedged judgy pants.
I've come across people who claim that using tinned chopped tomatoes is not cooking from scratch as they prefer to skin and chop their own tomatoes from fresh. And curry isn't cooked from scratch unless you've ground your own spices.

Stop looking at what other people do and just enjoy your cooking and food.

HighwayDragon · 25/07/2015 21:18

Curry definitely not, Shep pie is certainly from scratch, I'd say that the fish pie isn't though.

squoosh · 25/07/2015 21:19

I don't understand the concept of cheating in this scenario!

How far do you want to strip your 'scratch' back to? Growing your own veg?

tootiredtoknow · 25/07/2015 21:19

It really doesn't matter if you use frozen mash or not. Check the ingredients. It usually has the same potato, milk, butter and salt that you would use if you made it at home.