To wonder who these wonder women are who 'cook from scratch' every day

[MGFM]

Following on from all the threads about supermarket shopping and how to make it cheaper etc, I just can't get me head around all of the families 'cooking from scratch' everyday.

Is it just me that thinks that cooking from scratch everyday is an absolute nightmare? Are people confused about what cooking from scratch actually means? Are all these people who do this SAHM/SAHDs? Are they getting up at 5 am to put the meal together to heat up in the evening. I just dont get it.

I am currently on Mat Leave but when I was working full time and getting home around 1645/1700 every night, the last thing I wanted to start doing was cooking from scratch.

And what does cooking from scratch even mean? I enjoy sausage, mash, peas and gravy. The mash is from scratch...does that count?

I tend to cook from scratch at the weekend....a big pan of chilli which can cook for a few hours, or spag bol and then will freeze the left overs but I dont start cooking this on a thursday night for example.

Anyway, If I am being unreasonable and it is actually pretty easy to be super mum/dad and cook from scratch, can I please have your recipes?

Thanks! -

Just to add I'm not a Wonder Woman - just a mum who enjoys cooking as a way of relaxing after work.

Cooking from scratch doesn't always mean slaving over a hot stove. I make a lot of Jamie Oliver quick pasta recipes along with traditional cottage pie and spag Bol type meals. I'm a full time working mum with a long commute and don't want to be cooking all night but getting into the habit of doing these types of meals regularly means you can switch into autopilot and switch off from work at the same time.

I have two children, a full-time job and still cook a 'proper' meal almost every night. Tonight we went straight from school to swim club to Beavers so the DC's had tuna sandwiches and veg sticks, but it's our only night where I don't cook. I've just put them to bed and made a batch of meatballs for tomorrow night's tea and a plate of crumpets for tomorrow's breakfast. It's simple if you have the energy and the desire to plan ahead (and enjoy cooking) which I do. I can knock up puff pastry or shortcrust faster than DH could get to the supermarket to buy it. I love being in the kitchen and preparing foods, reading recipe books and trying out new things. It's how I relax.

I don't judge parents for how they feed their DCs, though. Mine eat a huge variety of fruit, veg, protein and meats. They're not picky or fussy and have never messed about with children's menus in restaurants, they've always just eaten real meals. However, they also have McDonalds and KFC from time to time and I refuse to feel guilty for giving them balance and a bit of everything.

No, I'm certainly not Wonder Woman, I just enjoy cooking as its my way of switching off and diverting my mind away from work😀

Have you seen the Lean in 15 book? Gave me some quick easy ideas.

I'm the opposite to you Op - I cook from scratch in a very simple way but takeaway on a Friday or Saturday. Cooking from scratch for me means a chicken stew, shepherds pie, lasagne etc

BITCAT - thankyou.

I am def going to try the pulled pork recipe form earlier in the thread and use it over several meals and I have always been afraid of trying my own chicken pie but going to give that a crack as well.

For me cooking from scratch means I don't use packets/jars/processed food; it has nothing to do with the length of time something takes.

When I go shopping, 90% of my trolley is fruit/veg/meat/eggs/cheese/milk.

Tonight I'd say I 'cooked from scratch'. We had omelettes and salad. 2 minutes.

As others have pointed out, cooking from scratch just means not ready meals/not using too many processed ingredients. Batch cooking and then eating out of the freezer for nights on end still counts!

I think it does depend how much you enjoy cooking though. Even though my husband and I work long hours, we both love cooking so it doesn't feel like work.

Meal planning, and making sure you've bought your ingredients for the week at the weekend, rather than running around like a blue-arsed fly with screaming kids in the supermarket on a weekday evening, helps a lot.

Cooking from scratch can be quite easy. We bulk cook at weekends but also do fresh ad hoc meals in the evening such as mozzarella wrapped in panchetta on a bed of rocket with a balsamic vinegar dressing, pepper and pork kebabs with vegetables, pan fried chicken potatoe wedges and vegetables etc. We both work full time and I have a long commute. Every once in a while we break out the oven chips and sausages though.

My favourite easy meal is a salmon fillet, 2 tsps pesto, squeeze of lemon. Wrap in tin foil and cook in the oven for 20 or so mins. While it's cooking , steam some broccoli, chantenay carrots (no peeling) and frozen peas. In the water at the bottom of the steamer put some new potatoes (no peeling).

20 mins - salmon, new pots and veg with a sauce.

Apart from not making the pesto, I would consider this cooking from scratch, ie not using heavily processed or ready-made food.

Also works for chicken breast but takes a little longer.

I'm not working currently and cooking for 3 of us every day. I usually start at 5pm and we eat at 6pm. I divide it into 4 parts:
carbs (pasta, rice, bulgur, potatoes),
protein (fish, chicken, meat, beans),
vegs (either boiled or cooked with olive oil.. )
and a fix green salad (though it's still vegs actually)
I pick one from every category and sometimes combine them into one. I never go too complex. I use oven and pressure cooker a lot. Never tried slow cooker, planning everything in advance is not for me tbh.

So, it's doable, if you are not working of course.. I'll start working next month and I really don't know how I'm going to keep up then.

I cook from scratch for most meals and I don't spend hours in the kitchen. Even a Sunday roast type meal only takes 20 minutes if you use chicken breasts instead of a joint of meat. Even making your own coleslaw only takes a few minutes. I have to cook from scratch because of medical conditions in the family meaning certain foods can't be eaten by some. And have you seen how much sugar is added to preprepared food!
Chilli usually takes the longest to cook and I have to make 2 different pans because I cannot have tomato seeds or chilli seeds in mine and have to chop and de-seed by hand throwing the extra seeds into the other chilli pan. I know I could save myself time by using sieved tomatoes and chilli powder but I believe fresh is better than processed.

I agree with others who say its their hobby/ way to relax. It also helps if you get home early. I am never home before 7pm so for me to 'cook from scratch' every night is just not a good use of my time.

I also hate the term 'cook from scratch'. I always want to ask 'Does that mean you cook from whole ingredients rather than prepared items such as pasta, pesto, salad dressing etc?'

I actually enjoy cooking from scratch, but requires imagination not necessarily time. Also happy to enjoy the odd takeway or M&S offer. You should enjoy food and not feel guilty about it.

I cook from scratch most nights when I cook, my husband cooks too from scratch if he isn't off or finishes early. By scratch I mean I cook my own sauces and use as much fresh ingredients as i can. I make lasange completely from a scratch ( the tomato sauce with all the veg/mince ect and also make my own white sauce) only thing I don't make is he pasta sheets lol. I also make curry from scratch as well
With no jar sauces. I'm a SAHM but even if I worked I woikdntill cook from scratch. My husband is a better cook than me and is more creative but I try my best too. I was fed on crap growing up as a kid, my mum only cooked a decent meal now and a again, we ate tinned food and convenience foods most days so I think about that and it really makes me determined to give my children better foods so I think that's why I want to make sure wveyrbi g is cooked from Scratch. Like everyone has said, it doesn't have to take hours.

It depends on your definition of from scratch. I would class anything other than jars of sauces and ready meals from scratch. I get in about 530 and find it quite easy but stick to quick recipes. And a slow cooker is a god send. At a weekend I will try a new recipe that takes longer can't wait for my mat leave so I have a little more time to try diff things. I think if you are the type of person who enjoys cooking it's easy x

Borisjohnsonshair - try this pesto recipe: two big handfuls of fresh basil leaves, two garlic cloves, pinch sea salt, handful of sunflower seeds (cheaper than pine nuts, and I prefer the flavour), a big hunk of grana Padano/Parmesan, grated, and enough olive oil to make it pesto-consistency! Whizz it all up, takes five mins tops, and basil is really easy to grow! The colour, flavour and smell is a billion times better than shop bought pesto.

I don't cook (I can but I hate it), but I have a husband who cooks from scratch every single evening when he comes home from work. We've been doing the Jason Vale January detox / diet which is a right old faff, but we've both lost 9-10 lbs in 3 weeks! 😀

I think I might be a bit weird. I really enjoy cooking. DH tends to entertain the kids while I'm cooking, and I potter around the kitchen and play music. It takes me 20-60 min every evening to do and means I'm in control of what goes in my mouth and I can get the flavours right.

I guess if I'm feeling very lazy I might bung some jacket potatoes in the oven. But mostly I cook. I don't feel super guilty about the occasional takeout mind - I'm a sucker for posh sausages with chip shop chips.

I mostly cook pasta with a variety of toppings but no jars, sausage and mash, meat and 3 veg or various casserole things, mostly from Nigel Slater cookbooks. None take very long. I don't buy jars of sauce or ready meals.

I mix it up. Slow cooker is good. Sausage homemade mash and peas is from scratch. Fish boiled potatoes and veg all count. Simple and quick during week (cous cous takes 5mins great with casserole) more adventurous at weekends. Then there's the breaded cod and chips days cos life gets hectic days too! Chillax. Do your best. Tis ok.

I mostly cook from scratch. Pre dc worked full time, three horses too so didnt get home til 7ish.

Then mat leave, then part time work, and now on mat leave again.

Meals I cook often ; spag bol, chilli, cottage pie, fajitas, pork chops/salmon/chicken with new pots and veg.
Chicken and chorizo roast with salad.

I will have days where I don't cook from scratch. Chicken curry l, sweet and sour etc (nice jars of sauce) pizza.

I plan a weeks meals on a Friday night for Saturday shopping.
We'll tend to have either full roast or cheese and biscuits on a Sunday, leftovers or a pasta dish Monday, sausages, pasta or chicken dish Tuesday, Wednesday is always jacket potatoes or a slow cooker as we have an hour to eat and be back out for football practice. Thursday has turned into pie night - mash/pastry topping during term time (full on during hols) , Friday is burger or pizza, Saturday is cakey tea ( sandwiches & cake). DH and I work full time but I get home between 4-5 ( when I can get out of school) and I hate not cooking a meal from scratch. I will compromise with fish fingers and pizza (sometimes burgers) but everything else is from scratch. Tonight I made beef stew with mash and alongside tomorrow's chilli.
Slow cookers and oven timers are a god send!

It sounds very saintly to cook from scratch every evening but there are lots of simple recipes that don't equal slaving over a hot stove for hours.

One of my colleagues enjoys the process and it helps her to unwind after a full days work but obviously it doesn't suit all of us. I expect having a dish washer helps too.