making things from scratch?

[TupperMom7]

But by the time you buy all the ingredients for the marshmallows, pay the electricity to cook the ingredients and the value of your time - how do you justify that against the low cost of a bag of marshmallows which goes for what - $1.00 a bag?

 

[nairv]

I would love the recipe for the marshmallows and the ketchup. If you would be willing to share. OR a website with these recipes? Thanks!

Of course I will share the recipe.....I have gotten so many wonderful recipes from here!!

1 cup cold water
3 envelopes of unflavored gelatin (1/4 oz size)
2 cups sugar
2/3 cup light corn syrup
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup corn starch/potato starch
1/2 cup powdered sugar

Line 13x9x2 metal baking pan with foil and spray with Pam. Pour 1/2 cup of the cold water into mixer bowl and sprinkle gelatin over it. Allow to stand until gelatin absorbs water, at least 15 mts
Combine 2 cups sugar, corn syrup, salt and remaining 1/2 cup of cold water in a saucepan. Stir over medium heat until mixture dissolves. Turn up heat and boil mixture without stirring about 8-10 mts. If you have a candy thermometer, temperature of mixture should reach 240 degrees F. Now, start mixer at low speed and pour hot sugar mixture VERY SLOWLY into the gelatin. Be very careful not to pour hot liquid onto the mixing blades! Turn up the speed to high and continue to beat until mixture turns into thick marshmallow consistency, about 15 mts. Add vanilla and beat into mixture thoroughly. Pour mixture into prepared pan and let stand uncovered for 2-4 hours, until firm. You can smooth out the top with a wet spatula.
Mix starch and sugar. Spread some on your flat work surface and turn over pan onto this. Remove foil from top and dust the top with more sugar-starch. Cut into desired shapes and dust pieces with remaining sugar and starch mixture.
ENJOY!


As for the ketchup, I am still looking for an easy recipe...will let you know when I get one!

 

[Teresa Pitman]

I always make pizza dough from scratch, in my bread machine. It takes very little time to put the ingredients in the machine and turn it on, and two hours later it's ready to put in the pan and add the toppings. I make enough for two crusts at a time, then freeze one for later. Oh, and I make them with 2/3 whole wheat flour, 1/3 white flour to add a little more nutrition.

I don't make all my bread (I used to) but I do bake some. I like to make rolls, flatbreads, cinnamon buns, etc. rather than plain loaves of bread.

Any baked goods I make, I made from scratch: cookies, muffins, cakes, pies, brownies, etc. Sometimes it would probably be cheaper from a mix, but I like having control of the ingredients that go into the food and I think the taste is much, much better. I certainly don't make these all the time but they are good when I make them!

Teresa

 

[nairv]

But by the time you buy all the ingredients for the marshmallows, pay the electricity to cook the ingredients and the value of your time - how do you justify that against the low cost of a bag of marshmallows which goes for what - $1.00 a bag?

The marshmallows, for me, were more of a taste issue. They taste sooooooooooo much better than the store bought ones. Marshmallows are not exactly health food either, though they are fat-free

 

[Karenj2]

I'm showing my ignorance here, but what is HFCS?

And do they have organic gelatin? I was wondering about that recently...

 

[Chicklogic]

I used to have a yummy fresh salsa recipe and can't locate it. The store brands taste TOO salty for me. Anyone have a good recipe to share?

Yesterday my DS(18) called me and said "Mom......you know how you make the world's greatest salsa......?" ( I KNEW I was in trouble.....) I said "yes......"

he said "well Danny thinks HIS Mom's salsa is the best so we are going to have a taste-test" "Can you have it ready tomorrow night so we can swap?"

Needless to say....IT WAS ON!

I basically use tomatoes(seeded and as ripe as I can get 'em)
cilantro
lime juice
onion
garlic
salt&pepper
jalapeno pepper

let macerate(my favorite word.... ) for 30 minutes and serve!

 

[jamesmommy]

I'm showing my ignorance here, but what is HFCS?

And do they have organic gelatin? I was wondering about that recently...

High fructose corn syrup, not sure about organice gelatin, since it is an animal product, could it even be deemed organic?

 

[jamesmommy]

OP, thank you for the marshmallow recipe, sounds yummy.

I don't have an easy ketchup recipe, but wanted to mention that BJ's wholesale carries 2 packs of the big bottles of Heinz organic ketchup. It is a staple in our house.

 

[TwistofLemon]

I just made a big crock pot of black beans today, they were yummy...if I say so myself.

Two bags of black beans were 89 cents each at the grocery. Soaked them overnight. Drained this morning and covered with fresh water. Added 2 strips of bacon that were partially cooked to get some of the fat out, and salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion granules, cumin and chili pepper, all to taste.

Cooked on high til they were boiling, then turned to low. I let them cook about 4 to 5 hours, but you really can't over-cook them.

Served with organic brown rice I had from yesterday. Mmmm!

ps...I think the pre-soaking beans overnight reduces whatever it is that causes gas in our digestive tracts??

 

[Nik's Mom]

I always make pizza dough from scratch, in my bread machine. It takes very little time to put the ingredients in the machine and turn it on, and two hours later it's ready to put in the pan and add the toppings. I make enough for two crusts at a time, then freeze one for later. Oh, and I make them with 2/3 whole wheat flour, 1/3 white flour to add a little more nutrition.

I don't make all my bread (I used to) but I do bake some. I like to make rolls, flatbreads, cinnamon buns, etc. rather than plain loaves of bread.

Any baked goods I make, I made from scratch: cookies, muffins, cakes, pies, brownies, etc. Sometimes it would probably be cheaper from a mix, but I like having control of the ingredients that go into the food and I think the taste is much, much better. I certainly don't make these all the time but they are good when I make them!

Teresa

Can you recommend a good bread machine?
Thanks!

 

[wowsmom]

Wholesome sweeteners makes an organic corn syrup that's HFCS free and not too expensive. I found it at Target. Incidentally I was surprised to find agave nectar by the same brand, also at Target. I thought that was something that could only be found on the internet or in natural food stores!

I don't think I would have ever thought to check Target...I'll have to look next time I'm there. Thanks!

 

[clarabelle]

I'm confused. (really I am not being sarcastic)
HFCS is High Fructose Corn Syrup and karo syrup is Corn syrup right?
So isn't that like looking for sugar without sugar in it?

 

[Jsme]

Yesterday my DS(18) called me and said "Mom......you know how you make the world's greatest salsa......?" ( I KNEW I was in trouble.....) I said "yes......"

he said "well Danny thinks HIS Mom's salsa is the best so we are going to have a taste-test" "Can you have it ready tomorrow night so we can swap?"

Needless to say....IT WAS ON!

I basically use tomatoes(seeded and as ripe as I can get 'em)
cilantro
lime juice
onion
garlic
salt&pepper
jalapeno pepper

let macerate(my favorite word.... ) for 30 minutes and serve!

Oh thanks. I have a garden and need to do something with my tomatoes. I do not have enough to can this year but have enough that I need to do something with them. I have already made brushetta.

 

[zazu1971]

I forgot, I also make pesto. I love to make pesto, and I grow my basil for it.

 

[tonilea]

I was making my own bread, but now my elbows hurt so much I can't. I think making bread gave me tennis elbow!!! How crazy is that?

 

[Scrapfriend]

I'm confused. (really I am not being sarcastic)
HFCS is High Fructose Corn Syrup and karo syrup is Corn syrup right?
So isn't that like looking for sugar without sugar in it?

HFCS is made differently than plain corn syrup, I don't have any technical data to provide, but corn syrup will not effect blood sugar as much as HFCS and data has shown that there may be a link between HFCS and obesity. I am sure someone else on her can provide more, or you could search the net for more. The two are different.

 

[Mommy2cody]

Yesterday my DS(18) called me and said "Mom......you know how you make the world's greatest salsa......?" ( I KNEW I was in trouble.....) I said "yes......"

he said "well Danny thinks HIS Mom's salsa is the best so we are going to have a taste-test" "Can you have it ready tomorrow night so we can swap?"

Needless to say....IT WAS ON!

I basically use tomatoes(seeded and as ripe as I can get 'em)
cilantro
lime juice
onion
garlic
salt&pepper
jalapeno pepper

let macerate(my favorite word.... ) for 30 minutes and serve!

Who won?

 

[Kycha]

Oh thanks. I have a garden and need to do something with my tomatoes. I do not have enough to can this year but have enough that I need to do something with them. I have already made brushetta.

Ooohhh! Would you like to share your brushetta recipe?

 

[pajules]

Hi,
Can you walk me through this one. Do you dice up the tomato before you put it in the pot? How much of each ingredient.

Thanks!

I'd be happy to help, although I don't have a recipe per se, just a matter of "a little bit of this, a little bit of that."

If you're just making some for one meal, I would use 4-5 good size tomatos depending on their size. I do cut them up first into a dice or you can throw them into the food processor....

I coat pan with about 2 tbls of olive oil ( 2 turns around the pan)
then I add 1 medium onion chopped....cook until soft
1 tsp of red pepper flakes
then add 2 garlic cloves, chopped
next add chopped tomato
salt and pepper to taste
let simmer on low and add water as it cooks to "make saucy"
I add fresh basil near the end.....just take a couple of leaves, roll them up and slice into ribbons

By the way, I had to laugh when I saw where you were from...from brother and sil live in topeka and we drive through your area on the way to and from the airport. I really like "Legends". On our last visit we took DS to the T-Rex restaurant...very cool for an 8-year old boy! He also got his first pair of "chucks" like his uncle at the Converse store.

 

[Jennifer823]

but use the fast rising yeast - and you can buy a HUGE bag of it for $5 whereas the stores sell it for $5 for 3 pkgs!

If you keep the yeast in the freezer (don't have to let it thaw when you use it, just measure it out frozen and use it) it will keep pretty much forever. I have yeast in the freezer that's been there since 2005, and I used it today! Still works fine