Things you didnt believe were so easy to make from scratch

[Unorganisedchaos2]

After saving for ages I finally own a kitchen aid stand mixer and Im living my middle ages dreams 😆

Had a go at making butter at the weekend and I cant believe how quick and easy it was, Im not sure I'll buy it again.

Going to give Mayonnaise a try tonight as we also get through loads of that.

Im trying to reduce our UPF's - has anyone started making things from scratch that they were surprised how easy it was?

Very specific but focaccia, I'd always been lead to believe it's a really complicated finicky bread but it's piss easy once you get the hang of it and makes the most banging sandwiches.

Pickles and preserves, since I started growing my own veg I've also been making my own pickles, jams, condiments and chutneys. It's time consuming yes, but very easy.

I make vegetable stock.

I have a carrier bag in the freezer and lob in onion, garlic and carrot peel, tough broccoli and asparagus stems, wilted herbs, pepper cores, the bases of celery plus anything else that's not going to be eaten.

Then I put it in a pan, add a few peppercorns and cover with water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes or so.

I use it straight away in soup, risotto etc, or freeze in small tupperware containers or ice cube trays.

Agree with pickles, jam etc. Easy and they don't even take that long to make.

Choux pastry. Well, not me but my mum always thought that was the height of culinary challenge. So I taught myself when I was 14.
Small portions of jam. I always thought you had to make gallons of it, then I had some strawberries needing to be used so made two jars.(one with black pepper one with vanilla) then I did the same with a punnet of plums.

Lemon curd. Whisk the ingredients together and then just let them gently cook in a bain-marie. I've heard you can make it in the microwave too but not dared to try that yet. It's so good. Way nicer than any shop-bought.

https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/bread/easy-flatbreads/

Hollandaise sauce and baked Alaska. Both look or sound complicated, but as super straightforward if you follow a recipe. And I’m not really a recipe follower!

@Unorganisedchaos2 This is Maura Laverty’s recipe for soda bread from her excellent book “Full and Plenty”.

Elderflower cordial.

Make a batch every summer and save a fortune.

Vanilla ice cream! Just made a no-churn one and can’t believe how easy and quick it was.

Paella.

I always enjoy this when I’m in Spain, so when I saw a proper paella pan in the middle of Lidl I had to grab one. When I got it home I realised it was absolutely massive, but it was a bit late by then… I looked up a few recipes & YouTube videos, bought pimenton, saffron & the proper rice and had a go. It was much easier than I expected and it tasted fantastic. Now, I make it for family gatherings, barbecues etc and it is always a massive hit with everyone.

Clafoutis - French fruity pudding.
Okonomiyaki - Japanese vegetable filled pancake type speciality.

It's going back a bit, I know, but cave paintings.
They didn't have a Rowney paint box, they had to make do with flowers and blood and stuff.
It certainly puts my Potato Prints into prospective, I must say.😞

I’m completely lost

Never thought of doing that! What a great idea .

I have tried to make stock from chicken carcasses but it’s never worked for me. How long do you cook it for?

Please post recipes for all these lovely things!

Shortbread.

My grandmother used to make it but I never realised how easy it was until I did it myself for the first time. Easiest 'biscuit' ever. And delicious!

Curry, once you've measured out a teaspoon of this and that it's very easy.

About 3 hours on a low heat. With veg.

Naan bread and houmous. And guacamole. My home cooked ones beat the supermarket version every time 🤣

I make butter when I come across cream that has been reduced. It makes real butter really cheap!

Would love the recipes for Focaccia bread and Naan bread.

Chia strawberry jam

Tzatsiki (spelling?). I couldn't fine one that didn't contain rapeseed oil last week, so made it, and it was Divine!
Greek yoghurt, olive oil, salt, a little garlic, fresh thyme and lots of grate (drained) cucumber. Soooo good.

Hummus

Flatbread

Fairy cakes

I just use veg in mine rather than bones or carcasses so it only needs boiling for a short time, 10 mins or so.

Pizza. Base is just flour, oil, salt, water, sugar and a bit of yeast mixed up into dough. Then just a couple of spoonfuls of chopped tomatoes and oregano for the sauce, grated cheese and whatever toppings I'm in the mood for. 10-15 mins in oven. Start to finish takes about half an hour. I never buy ready made pizzas anymore.

Tomato soup. Half an onion, butter, two tins of chopped tomatoes and some vege stock. Delicious! I usually throw in a half cup of lentils and any vege I need used up for extra nutrition.

Garlic bread. Melt butter on pan, crush some garlic, mix it up til it smells nice and garlicy, then throw in the bread and cook until golden on each side.