Was watching yet another episode of 'Come dine with me' - which, IMO is
one of those cooking shows that's a real train-wreck, but I just can't
help watching it....

It's a British show, so for those of you who've never heard of it might
want to take a look he http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Come_Dine_with_Me


As usual, one of the contestants was moaning because one of the others had
bought some ingredient instead of making it from scratch (in this case
hummus). I've had store-bought hummus and it was pretty good, but it's
simple enough to make, so if I was hosting a 'fancy' dinner party, I'd
make my own...

Anyway, my question is this:

Which store-bought ingredients are acceptable to use that still entitles
one to call a dish 'homemade'?

--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

"ChattyCathy" > wrote in message
news
> Was watching yet another episode of 'Come dine with me' - which, IMO is
> one of those cooking shows that's a real train-wreck, but I just can't
> help watching it....
>
> It's a British show, so for those of you who've never heard of it might
> want to take a look he http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Come_Dine_with_Me
>
>
> As usual, one of the contestants was moaning because one of the others had
> bought some ingredient instead of making it from scratch (in this case
> hummus). I've had store-bought hummus and it was pretty good, but it's
> simple enough to make, so if I was hosting a 'fancy' dinner party, I'd
> make my own...
>
> Anyway, my question is this:
>
> Which store-bought ingredients are acceptable to use that still entitles
> one to call a dish 'homemade'?

I think you need to raise your own fodder to feed the animals you bring to
you backyard abattoir, and grind your own grain. You also need to press
your own oil.

ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz

"ChattyCathy" > wrote in message
news
> Was watching yet another episode of 'Come dine with me' - which, IMO is
> one of those cooking shows that's a real train-wreck, but I just can't
> help watching it....
>
> It's a British show, so for those of you who've never heard of it might
> want to take a look he http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Come_Dine_with_Me
>
>
> As usual, one of the contestants was moaning because one of the others had
> bought some ingredient instead of making it from scratch (in this case
> hummus). I've had store-bought hummus and it was pretty good, but it's
> simple enough to make, so if I was hosting a 'fancy' dinner party, I'd
> make my own...
>
> Anyway, my question is this:
>
> Which store-bought ingredients are acceptable to use that still entitles
> one to call a dish 'homemade'?

I wouldn't buy hummus and call it homemade. OTOH I have had homemade that
was inedible. I think the tahini was rancid or something. Or maybe the
proportions were off.

I would use something like pickle relish or ketchup in a dish. Would even
use purchased tomato juice and call it homemade. Heck, my Italian MIL even
used canned tomato sauce and dried pasta. Hard to know where to draw the
line.

On Thu, 02 Jan 2014 05:44:37 -0800, Pico Rico wrote:


> "ChattyCathy" > wrote in message
> news


>> Anyway, my question is this:
>>
>> Which store-bought ingredients are acceptable to use that still
>> entitles one to call a dish 'homemade'?
>
> I think you need to raise your own fodder to feed the animals you bring
> to you backyard abattoir, and grind your own grain. You also need to
> press your own oil.
>
> ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz

Heh, think I might have hit a nerve?

FWIW, we have our own chickens in the back yard, ergo I haven't bought a
store-bought egg in 6 or 7 years, and the gammon we cooked for Christmas
Eve dinner was given to me by a neighbor who owns a piggery and
slaughtered/smoked the joint herself. My daughter is also quite good at
growing things; we have 'mielies' (a.k.a corn), potatoes, tomatoes, onions
etc. growing on our property too... not to mention herbs such as mint,
French Tarragon, etc.

We also have some grape vines, but I still buy wine from the local liquor
stores - sosueme

--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

On Thu, 02 Jan 2014 05:51:05 -0800, Julie Bove wrote:

>
> "ChattyCathy" > wrote in message
> news

>>
>> Anyway, my question is this:
>>
>> Which store-bought ingredients are acceptable to use that still entitles
>> one to call a dish 'homemade'?

> I would use something like pickle relish or ketchup in a dish. Would even
> use purchased tomato juice and call it homemade. Heck, my Italian MIL even
> used canned tomato sauce and dried pasta. Hard to know where to draw the
> line.

I often buy ready-made tomato juice, but I wouldn't call it homemade.

However, found a recipe for tomato and vodka soup somewhere on the net,
and I used fresh (store-bought) tomatoes for that (and used my blender)
but husband and son enjoyed it. Would it qualify as homemade? I dunno...

So yes, it is hard to know where to draw the line; that's why I asked ;-)

--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

In article >, cathy1234
@mailinator.com says...

>
> Anyway, my question is this:
>
> Which store-bought ingredients are acceptable to use that still entitles
> one to call a dish 'homemade'?

anything alcoholic
butter cream and cheese
honey and sugar
flour and cereals

Janet UK

On Thu, 02 Jan 2014 15:42:15 +0200, ChattyCathy wrote:

> Which store-bought ingredients are acceptable to use that still entitles
> one to call a dish 'homemade'?

I'm sure I'll think of mo

noodles, pasta, couscous, alcohol, juice, cheese, butter, yogurt, sour
cream, broth, canned or frozen produce, spice mixes like curry powder,
Old Bay, Italian seasoning, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, teriyaki
sauce, hot sauce, ketchup, mustard, vinegar, crackers

Tara

Adding on:

cured and smoked meat and fish, olives, pickled vegetables, dried fruit

On Thu, 02 Jan 2014 09:44:22 -0600, Tara wrote:

> Adding on:
>
> cured and smoked meat and fish, olives, pickled vegetables, dried fruit

Although I mostly agree with you, some of us are lucky enough to have
access to 'smoked meat' without having to make a trip to the supermarket
;-)

Furthermore, my dad used to be a dab hand at pickling vegetables - as
is Barb S. (a.k.a. the Pickle Queen).

We have one olive tree left in our garden, but alas, no olives yet. (and
yes, it is almost 10 years old; guess it wasn't meant to be) - however,
Jack managed to coax an avocado pip into producing roots/shoots, so maybe
we'll have some avos in 7 or 8 years

--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

On Thursday, January 2, 2014 9:16:22 AM UTC-6, Tara wrote:
> On Thu, 02 Jan 2014 15:42:15 +0200, ChattyCathy wrote:
>
>
>
> > Which store-bought ingredients are acceptable to use that still entitles
>
> > one to call a dish 'homemade'?
>
>
>
> I'm sure I'll think of mo
>
>
>
> noodles
>
Egg noodles are iffy. They're awfully easy, and so much better that the dried ones.
>
> Tara

--B

On Thursday, January 2, 2014 7:51:05 AM UTC-6, Julie Bove wrote:
>
>
> I wouldn't buy hummus and call it homemade. OTOH I have had homemade that
>
> was inedible. I think the tahini was rancid or something. Or maybe the
>
> proportions were off.
>
I'm not a hummus eater, but those whom I know who are say that ALDI's
Grandessa Original Tahini Hummus is as good as any they've ever had.
>
> I would use something like pickle relish or ketchup in a dish.

You would.

--Bryan

On Thu, 02 Jan 2014 17:57:40 +0200, ChattyCathy wrote:

> however,
> Jack managed to coax an avocado pip into producing roots/shoots, so
> maybe we'll have some avos in 7 or 8 years

I have a little avocado tree I started from the pit about two and a half
years ago. It's a pretty little tree.

Tara

On Thu, 02 Jan 2014 15:42:15 +0200, ChattyCathy
> wrote:

>Was watching yet another episode of 'Come dine with me' - which, IMO is
>one of those cooking shows that's a real train-wreck, but I just can't
>help watching it....
>
>It's a British show, so for those of you who've never heard of it might
>want to take a look he http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Come_Dine_with_Me
>
>
>As usual, one of the contestants was moaning because one of the others had
>bought some ingredient instead of making it from scratch (in this case
>hummus). I've had store-bought hummus and it was pretty good, but it's
>simple enough to make, so if I was hosting a 'fancy' dinner party, I'd
>make my own...
>
>Anyway, my question is this:
>
>Which store-bought ingredients are acceptable to use that still entitles
>one to call a dish 'homemade'?

Pretty much everything in the produce, dairy, and fresh meeats
section.

On Thu, 2 Jan 2014 05:44:37 -0800, "Pico Rico" >
wrote:

>
>"ChattyCathy" > wrote in message
>news
>> Was watching yet another episode of 'Come dine with me' - which, IMO is
>> one of those cooking shows that's a real train-wreck, but I just can't
>> help watching it....
>>
>> It's a British show, so for those of you who've never heard of it might
>> want to take a look he http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Come_Dine_with_Me
>>
>>
>> As usual, one of the contestants was moaning because one of the others had
>> bought some ingredient instead of making it from scratch (in this case
>> hummus). I've had store-bought hummus and it was pretty good, but it's
>> simple enough to make, so if I was hosting a 'fancy' dinner party, I'd
>> make my own...
>>
>> Anyway, my question is this:
>>
>> Which store-bought ingredients are acceptable to use that still entitles
>> one to call a dish 'homemade'?
>
>I think you need to raise your own fodder to feed the animals you bring to
>you backyard abattoir, and grind your own grain. You also need to press
>your own oil.

I think by "dish" she's talking homemade cooking, not homemade
ingredients.

On Thu, 2 Jan 2014 07:57:42 -0800 (PST), Bryan-TGWWW
> wrote:

>On Thursday, January 2, 2014 9:16:22 AM UTC-6, Tara wrote:
>> On Thu, 02 Jan 2014 15:42:15 +0200, ChattyCathy wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> > Which store-bought ingredients are acceptable to use that still entitles
>>
>> > one to call a_dish_'homemade'?
>>
>>
>>
>> I'm sure I'll think of mo
>>
>>
>>
>> noodles
>>
>Egg noodles are iffy. They're awfully easy, and so much better that the dried ones.

People are not comprehending the question, you functionally
illiterate/UNeducated faggot puke, its about calling a *dish*
homemade, NOT the individual ingredients. Noodles are NOT a dish,
they are an ingredient... so (according to you) unless you grow and
mill your own wheat the noodles you make from scratch are NOT
homemade.

And WTF are you to talk homemade when you can't even use a proper
newsreader that doesn't quadruple space, NEWBIE *******.

On Thu, 02 Jan 2014 13:09:52 -0500, Brooklyn1 wrote:


> People are not comprehending the question, [...] Noodles are NOT a dish,
> they are an ingredient...

Maybe I should have used the word 'meal' instead - but I am happy you know
what I was on about <hehe>


--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

On Thu, 02 Jan 2014 15:42:15 +0200, ChattyCathy
> wrote:

> Was watching yet another episode of 'Come dine with me' - which, IMO is
> one of those cooking shows that's a real train-wreck, but I just can't
> help watching it....
>
> It's a British show, so for those of you who've never heard of it might
> want to take a look he http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Come_Dine_with_Me
>
>
> As usual, one of the contestants was moaning because one of the others had
> bought some ingredient instead of making it from scratch (in this case
> hummus). I've had store-bought hummus and it was pretty good, but it's
> simple enough to make, so if I was hosting a 'fancy' dinner party, I'd
> make my own...
>
> Anyway, my question is this:
>
> Which store-bought ingredients are acceptable to use that still entitles
> one to call a dish 'homemade'?

I've said many times that I have no problem with store bought hummus,
but unless it was part of a larger dish - I wouldn't try to pass it
off as homemade. I don't cook Middle Eastern or Indian dishes very
much, but I wouldn't hesitate to use prepared harissa, ras al hanout
or garham masala... going into Thai, I'd use the various curry pastes
before I tried making my own. I just plain never made those dishes
before I found the simmer sauces (like butter chicken) and curry
pastes (like green or Panang). So shoot me. <shrug> I even buy
prepared (basil) pesto from a local Italian deli and no one has
declared the end of the world yet.

--
I take life with a grain of salt, a slice of lemon and a shot of tequila

On Thu, 02 Jan 2014 16:43:55 +0200, ChattyCathy
> wrote:

> However, found a recipe for tomato and vodka soup somewhere on the net,
> and I used fresh (store-bought) tomatoes for that (and used my blender)
> but husband and son enjoyed it. Would it qualify as homemade? I dunno...
>
> So yes, it is hard to know where to draw the line; that's why I asked ;-)

I found a tomato soup recipe that uses canned tomatoes, but I still
call it "homemade". I don't call anything that I reheat homemade,
but if I use something prepared that's one of many other ingredients -
it's home made. I'm not a big stickler on using only fresh herbs
either... some are better tasting when fresh, like basil and rosemary
- but others are easier when dried, like thyme.

--
I take life with a grain of salt, a slice of lemon and a shot of tequila

On Thu, 02 Jan 2014 17:57:40 +0200, ChattyCathy
> wrote:

> We have one olive tree left in our garden, but alas, no olives yet. (and
> yes, it is almost 10 years old; guess it wasn't meant to be)

I have never given it a second thought, but maybe olives are one of
those trees that needs be in pairs for cross pollination. We had two
olive trees at this house when we moved in and I couldn't wait to get
rid of those things because they dropped so much fruit.

--
I take life with a grain of salt, a slice of lemon and a shot of tequila

Pasta, for sure. Not a complete pasta dish, but the "raw" ingredient.

N.

This is a very complex question and I doubt anyone could give a definitive 'list' of ingredients which would obviate the term 'homemade.' e.g. I might make a wonderful potato salad, but if I use boughten mayo, would that disqualify it? Where to draw the line?
If a food goes from box or can thru some heat source and then into the mouth, that would sort of be my definition of non-homemade. Let the cook do a little mixing here, a little sauteing there.....now we're getting somewhere close to homemade vs. ready-to-eat. Not to say that the homemade might taste necessarily better than the ready-to-eat stuff. I've had some pretty rotten homemade stuff at potlucks.

On Fri, 03 Jan 2014 17:32:21 -0600, DreadfulBitch
> wrote:

> Now that we're retired and our son is grown and out of the
> house I want to start cooking things, mostly things *I* want. If I ask
> for too many recipes please tell me!

I'd love to see more recipes, even if they were found online and tried
with great success.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On Sat, 04 Jan 2014 00:13:28 -0600, DreadfulBitch
> wrote:

> On 1/3/2014 7:29 PM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
> >
> > A little late to learn how to cook... you have a far better chance to
> > become a prima ballerina.
> >
> Don't lose any sleep over my travails in the kitchen, jackass. I know
> my way around and I'm willing to learn more. I've never started a
> kitchen fire and I've never ruined a cooking pot so I'm not as bad as
> some.
>
> You know, I've never wanted to be a prima ballerina. I would much
> rather have played in the pit, but, alas... I didn't have quite enough
> talent for that. Thanks for the good wishes, though!

Heh! "Jackass" is spot on. I know how I felt after I retired... and
I felt like I was learning how to cook all over again because I'd
taken too many shortcuts for too long and wanted to get back to
basics. It took me a good year to feel like I was back in the groove,
but that's about the same amount of time it takes to wake up and
really feel retired, so in retrospect - it all makes sense.

I will be happy to share anything I can with you and it won't be a one
pot makes 1000 portions type recipe like Sheldon (the TITterer who
giggles like a little girl) seems most comfortable with.

PS: The internet is a wonderful place and Pinterest is a great way to
save recipes that appeal.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

sf wrote:
>
> PS: The internet is a wonderful place and Pinterest is a great way to
> save recipes that appeal.

I'll have to check out Pinterest again soon. I looked at it once a
long time ago when you mentioned it. One thing I like about it is that
most (or all?) showed a picture of the finished dish. I do like that.
Even though I can read a recipe and get an idea of whether I would
like it or not, it's the picture that catches my eye first.

Two of my better cookbooks are "The Joy of Cooking" and "The New York
Times Cookbook." I've used them for looking up specific recipes but
have never just gone though them to get some new ideas. No pictures =
boring.

And I agree, the internet is a wonderful place - especially Usenet.
Remember the old "pen pal" ads in magazines back in the 60's? Usenet
is "pen pals" taken to the extreme and if you let your guard down a
little bit, you can actually make some good new friends. We are not
just fake characters in an RFC video game.

G.

On Sat, 04 Jan 2014 06:13:51 -0500, Gary > wrote:

> sf wrote:
> >
> > PS: The internet is a wonderful place and Pinterest is a great way to
> > save recipes that appeal.
>
> I'll have to check out Pinterest again soon. I looked at it once a
> long time ago when you mentioned it. One thing I like about it is that
> most (or all?) showed a picture of the finished dish. I do like that.

Yes, that's why I like Pinterest. I can save a recipe directly from
the internet with a picture. I'd been doing that via M$ Word before,
but you have to remember key words to find it again. Saves a lot of
effort on my part, because I can either visually scan a "board" for it
or do a key word search confined to my own titles.

> Even though I can read a recipe and get an idea of whether I would
> like it or not, it's the picture that catches my eye first.

I'm that way too and we're not alone. Thank goodness cookbooks have
changed a lot since I first started cooking. Betty Crocker grudgingly
included a few black and white photos here and there... but now we
have full color, food styled, photos to illustrate each and every
recipe.
>
> Two of my better cookbooks are "The Joy of Cooking" and "The New York
> Times Cookbook." I've used them for looking up specific recipes but
> have never just gone though them to get some new ideas. No pictures =
> boring.

I don't have the NYT cookbook, but JoC is simply a reference tool for
me when I'm looking up something specific, like a mother sauce
recipe... but I don't use it for inspiration.



--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On 1/4/2014 12:37 AM, sf wrote:

> PS: The internet is a wonderful place and Pinterest is a great way to
> save recipes that appeal.
>
I'm registered with Pinterest, just have spent almost zero time there.
I'll have to check out the saving recipes thing there.

I've been all over the internets since the mid 1990s and using usenet
for almost as long. I was very happy to find this group because the
subject interests me and it's a busy group with posts that mostly seem
to be well worth my time. (I sure hope that doesn't sound too awfully
pompous! :-)

--
DreadfulBitch

I intend to live forever....so far, so good.
......Steven Wright

On 1/4/2014 5:13 AM, Gary wrote:

> And I agree, the internet is a wonderful place - especially Usenet.
> Remember the old "pen pal" ads in magazines back in the 60's? Usenet
> is "pen pals" taken to the extreme and if you let your guard down a
> little bit, you can actually make some good new friends. We are not
> just fake characters in an RFC video game.

+1

--
DreadfulBitch

I intend to live forever....so far, so good.
......Steven Wright

On 1/2/2014 8:42 AM, ChattyCathy wrote:
> Was watching yet another episode of 'Come dine with me' - which, IMO is
> one of those cooking shows that's a real train-wreck, but I just can't
> help watching it....
>
> It's a British show, so for those of you who've never heard of it might
> want to take a look he http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Come_Dine_with_Me
>
>

There's a Canadian version of the show. I don't watch teevee except
for sports or maybe business news, but my co-worker watches it regulary
and fills me in on it.

To me it sounds like a fake show or very doctored but aren't all reality
shows like that?

My co-worker always wonders why there are so many drunk people on it?

On Sat, 04 Jan 2014 19:21:54 -0600, DreadfulBitch
> wrote:

> On 1/4/2014 12:37 AM, sf wrote:
>
> > PS: The internet is a wonderful place and Pinterest is a great way to
> > save recipes that appeal.
> >
> I'm registered with Pinterest, just have spent almost zero time there.
> I'll have to check out the saving recipes thing there.
>
> I've been all over the internets since the mid 1990s and using usenet
> for almost as long. I was very happy to find this group because the
> subject interests me and it's a busy group with posts that mostly seem
> to be well worth my time. (I sure hope that doesn't sound too awfully
> pompous! :-)

If you save recipes to your computer, you'll love Pinterest because
you'll be able to save a recipe url with an image and a synopsis of
the ingredients. So, basically - you can save a recipe and not make a
commitment to it.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On Sat, 04 Jan 2014 20:54:01 -0500, Hench wrote:

> On 1/2/2014 8:42 AM, ChattyCathy wrote:
>> Was watching yet another episode of 'Come dine with me' - which, IMO is
>> one of those cooking shows that's a real train-wreck, but I just can't
>> help watching it....
>>
>> It's a British show, so for those of you who've never heard of it might
>> want to take a look he
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Come_Dine_with_Me
>>
>>
>>
> There's a Canadian version of the show. I don't watch teevee except
> for sports or maybe business news, but my co-worker watches it regulary
> and fills me in on it.
>
> To me it sounds like a fake show or very doctored but aren't all reality
> shows like that?

I agree. That's why I seldom watch other 'reality shows' and why I said
it's a bit like a train-wreck...
>
> My co-worker always wonders why there are so many drunk people on it?

Haven't seen the Canadian version, but the British shows I've watched have
only had one or two 'drunk' contestants...

They made a local version of 'Come dine with me' here (South Africa) but I
thought it was such rubbish that I only watched one or two episodes and
haven't bothered since.

I do like some of Gordon Ramsay's cooking shows - he's grown on me. The
one I like the most is 'Gordon Ramsay's Ultimate Cookery Course'; have
also watched a few of the (USA) 'Hell's Kitchen' series, but got bored
with it...

--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

On Sun, 05 Jan 2014 09:39:22 +0200, ChattyCathy
> wrote:

> I do like some of Gordon Ramsay's cooking shows - he's grown on me. The
> one I like the most is 'Gordon Ramsay's Ultimate Cookery Course'

Thanks. I see Youtube has at least two full episodes.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On 1/4/2014 10:33 PM, Sqwertz wrote:
> I guess I'm old fashioned and gullible, eh?
>
> -sw

Among other traits...