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Post by wilderness on Aug 26, 2016 10:22:15 GMT -5
I think when I first started on What's on your menu I made the statement that if they sell it in a box, I can make it. Starting Monday all meals need to be made without using those convenience items that we all take for granted. The there are a few things that I won't give up however like mayonnaise, tomato paste and tomato sauce. Any ideas on food that starts with a packaged product or is a complete dish in a box just add? I need to get back into cooking.
Bet
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Post by almonds on Aug 26, 2016 19:36:03 GMT -5
What about canned soups like tomato? Or canned tomatoes or assorted types of beans? I depend on those often.
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Post by carross on Aug 27, 2016 7:48:51 GMT -5
I think I could do this, I don't use many because of all the sodium in them. I know I didn't use any last week.
Good luck
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Post by wilderness on Aug 27, 2016 9:00:25 GMT -5
Almonds, at least one of the recipes I will be substituting homemade condensed soup for the canned that the recipe calls for.
Carol, I make almost everything from scratch which I find most times less costly then buying a convenience food. I just like to find copycat recipes to fill in for some of the things I like that come in a box like hamburger helper. I do use boxed cake mixes once in a will but not to make the cake as such but I like some of the bundt cakes you can make with them. The other prerequisite is all of the ingredients have to be in the house. No shopping.
I will post my menu on What's on your menu for next week.
Bet
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Post by annrms on Aug 27, 2016 15:14:32 GMT -5
I will look forward to your post; you are such a good cook!
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Post by almonds on Aug 27, 2016 18:30:48 GMT -5
Sounds like an interesting challenge. I seldom buy box cake mixes any longer mostly because they've been downsized. Now that I'm making favorites from 'mom's' recipe box the box mixes don't taste great any longer. Amazing how fast a scratch cake can be put together. Wish I had figured that out years ago because there aren't a lot of cakes made here now. It'll be interesting to follow your post and I'm sure it will give me a lot of good ideas.
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Post by wilderness on Aug 28, 2016 9:19:58 GMT -5
Almonds up until a year ago the only boxed cake I ever made was Angel Food. Then I found these recipes for bundt cakes made with a mix. They are to die for. I am on a mission to figure out how I can make a from scratch cake and do the same thing. A good winter project. One of my favor cakes I make is the chocolate cake my Mom made. No eggs and no milk. Makes an 8" pan. It is rich and moist.
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Post by almonds on Aug 28, 2016 10:13:58 GMT -5
Wilderness-I'm not sure but I thought any cake could be baked in a bundt pan. (?????) I know I've done it with carrot cakes when trying to cut back on the amount of frosting used vs. layer cake frosting amount. The baking time changes a bit though.
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Post by nybirder on Aug 28, 2016 10:41:40 GMT -5
Wilderness--I'm not sure if this falls in your guidelines, but I stumbled on this one day and it caught my attention. The recipes are for making seasonings and pasta packets for home-made hamburger helper. When it's time to make it, you add the packet to fresh meat and other fresh ingredients for a skillet meal. It seemed like a good idea because I could control the sodium and seasonings to my taste. I also use low-carb Dreamfield's pasta. I cut down the amounts to make packets for one serving since I cook for myself, then saved the recipes and promptly forgot about them until now. It seemed like a good idea for days when I'm just too tired to start from scratch for a meal for myself. The site: chickensintheroad.com/cooking/homemade-hamburger-helper/ |
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Post by wilderness on Aug 28, 2016 11:02:49 GMT -5
Birdy, I am familiar with that site. It may be where some of my recipes came from. I made them with 1/2# of ground beef and it gives me 2 meals. I don't bother with the packets just add everything as I am making it. I like a little more seasoning than most of them call for so use the amount for a full recipe rather than half.
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Post by nybirder on Aug 28, 2016 11:24:01 GMT -5
Wilderness--it's good to have feedback on the "hamburger helper" recipes. I am going to have to try a few of them. What appeals to me is the fact I don't have to measure out any seasonings if I'm in a hurry to eat. Otherwise, it's far too tempting to pick up takeout for myself--not a good habit. It's too available in my neighborhood! Have you run across this one on TOH? www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/dinner-in-a-bag By the way--what is it with the TOH recipes these days. Every single one has a video that starts automatically--really annoying--and it seems as though it's the same video on all of them. It's enough to turn me off. That recipe is very close to our family recipe for hamburger "goulash". It was the first thing I learned to make when my mother went to work full time. We always used her home-canned tomatoes, though. Half this recipe would be just enough for me for a couple of meals. Haven't tried it yet but the amounts seem correct. Isn't funny how a person can get nostalgic for those simple old recipes? |
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Post by nybirder on Aug 28, 2016 13:45:06 GMT -5
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Post by tasty on Aug 28, 2016 14:01:45 GMT -5
"Isn't funny how a person can get nostalgic for those simple old recipes?
"
Birdy, it's pure nostalgia that has me making shepherd's pie every winter. Didn't even like it as a kid but if I'm under the weather, or just am stumped for ideas for supper, shepherd's pie fills the bill. And definitely no corn or peas in it.
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Post by wilderness on Aug 28, 2016 14:18:18 GMT -5
Birdy, I read the article and the recipe. I have one that claims to be a copycat that my family actually like better than KFC but I am going to have to give this a try. However, I don't have a pressure cooker anymore and that is what they supposedly cook in thus retaining the moisture and tenderness. My was first brined in water, salt and MSG. This would definitely add to the moisture.
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Post by wilderness on Aug 28, 2016 14:19:44 GMT -5
Tasty, I am surprised with your comment no peas. When we were in England everything was served with peas including pizza.
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