Cooking from scratch always seemed super intimidating to me at first. But trust me, it's actually way easier than you think – and so rewarding! You'll save money, eat healthier, and honestly, the food just tastes better when you make it yourself. Scratch cooking is a fun hobby that both helps satisfy my creativity while also feeding my family.
Jump to:
When I was in college, I really wanted to learn to make tiramisu. I found a recipe and went and bought the ingredients for the creme and premade lady fingers. The cake turned out amazing. A friend who also loves to cook saw my attempt and also wanted to try making it, but she wanted to make her own ladyfingers. Now, ladyfingers can be hard to make, especially when you want them to stable under layers of heavy cream, and her cake ended up collapsing. At the time, I really couldn't understand why she would make her own ladyfingers and have a collapsed cake when she could just get them from the store.
As I've grown in the kitchen and the garden, I get it now. There is something so satisfying about the process of making everything- even if the final product isn't perfect! When I was chatting with my friend, I think I even asked her at which point does it stop for making your own food, should we make our own mascarpone too? (Reader, I think you and I both know what my answer would be now).
So, in the spirit of scratch cooking, here's five things that have helped me get started.
Start Small with Simple Recipes
You don’t need to make a five-course meal or bake bread on your first try. Start with something simple that you like and requires minimal ingredients and effort, like a basic marinara sauce, roasted vegetables, or a simple vinaigrette for lunch. Pick one thing you normally buy pre-made and challenge yourself to create it or create one of the ingredients that goes into that recipe. Check out this beginner-friendly spaghetti squash recipe or our suggestions for quick and easy cookbooks to get started.
Stock Your Pantry with Essentials
Having staples on hand makes cooking way less stressful. Stock up on basics like olive oil, flour, spices, and canned tomatoes. These ingredients are cheap, last forever, and let you throw together meals without constant grocery runs. You can use so many internet tools to put in a list of ingredients in your pantry and pop out a well-tested recipe. If you do want to take it one step further, check out The Homemade Pantry for how to make all the pantry staples you used to buy at the store.
Plan Your Meals (But Stay Flexible)
Sketch out a rough meal plan for the week, but don't stress if things change. Look for recipes that use similar ingredients to minimize waste and save money. Check what's already in your fridge before shopping. Got squishy tomatoes? They're perfect for soup! Wilting herbs? Chop them into a pesto. From scratch cooking is all about creativity and reducing waste. If you’re looking for guidance on meal prep staples, my review of the Easy Meal Prep Cookbook is a great resource.
Invest in Time-Saving Tools
While from scratch cooking does require effort, the right tools can streamline the process. A good chef’s knife, a sturdy cutting board, and a high-quality blender or food processor can make chopping, blending, and prepping faster and easier. Tools like slow cookers or instant pots can also help you cook meals with minimal hands-on time.
Embrace the Learning Process
Seriously, everyone burns something or creates a weird-tasting dish sometimes. Each "failure" is just a chance to learn. Laugh it off and keep trying. Mistakes are part of the journey! Don’t get discouraged if a recipe doesn’t turn out perfectly the first time. Each attempt teaches you something new, and with practice, you’ll develop skills that make from scratch cooking second nature. Celebrate your progress, and remember that even a less-than-perfect meal is still an accomplishment. If you’re ready to dive into a fun and rewarding cooking project, try my recipe for Homemade Granola or learn How to Spatchcock a Chicken.
Conclusion
The best part? Cooking gets easier and more fun with practice. Before you know it, you'll be whipping up meals that make you proud – and taste amazing. Who's ready to give it a shot? Check out our full collection of recipes and let us know your favorite from scratch meals in the comments below!
Leave a Reply