Hunger invades me as I recall my mother in her kitchen preparing a huge vat of chicken stock in her pressure cooker. Left-over chicken bones, vegetables, even onion skins, were tossed into the concoction to produce the fabulous stock she often froze for future use. Nothing beats homemade chicken stock, but I admit mine often comes out of a box from the grocery store. I buy the organic variety without added sugar, but it can’t hold a candle to my mother’s. I dice up a plethora of veggies (Mom would sauté them but I usually don’t bother), toss in sliced left-over chicken, season with salt to taste, heat until the vegetables are cooked, and voila: my husband’s favorite meal. Especially today, when he’s battling a cold. Doesn’t chicken soup cure about everything?
In most of Mom’s cooking extravaganzas, she started from scratch. Her home-canned peaches from our tree were to die for as were her dolmades, wrapped in leaves from my parent’s grape vine.
Adventurous as my mother was, she did not make her own pasta nor bread, something that many of you might do. And she served Campbell’s tomato soup with toasted cheese sandwiches for lunch for us kids.
When visiting, our son is welcome to cook in our kitchen.
What comes to mind when you hear the term Starting from Scratch? These days, is it the same as homemade? I think of the Amish who grow many of their own crops and can their produce up for winter. I love their pickled beets, applesauce, and chow-chow. Yum! These tasty treats remind me of sitting at an Old Order Amish friend’s table for dinner after bowing our heads in silent prayer.
What a delight to find these Amish-made jams and jellies for sale at the side of the road.
All this talking about food is making me hungry. What is your favorite food item to prepare from scratch? At this moment popcorn sounds good.
A charming Amish-made apron from Lancaster County, and a towel and dish-rag.
Leave a comment to enter to win this charming Amish-made apron, towel, and washrag from Lancaster County, plus a signed copy of A Letter from Lancaster County, or one book from The Legacy of Lancaster County Trilogy: either Leaving Lancaster, Pennsylvania Patchwork, or Forever Amish. Winner has three days to respond. USA and Canada only.
PS: On a serious note, if you preorder a copy of Starting from Scratch from an online vendor, such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BAM, or Christianbooks.com, you will qualify for an extra entry in an upcoming giveaway.
Important: Please save your receipt! If you use the preorder as an extra entry and win the fabulous prize (still a secret), you will be asked to produce a copy of the receipt.
Any type of baked good is always better from scratch
I agree, Michelle. Thanks for entering the giveaway!
Kate
To me, starting from scratch means no mixes, as in preboxed items. However, nowadays many things like stock and sauce mixes are almost as good as you can make at home!
Almost is good enough for me, in most cases, Connie. Particularly when you’re low on time. Thanks for leaving your comment and entering the giveaway!
Kate
Starting from Scratch sounds like a wondetful book. Think of how many things we start from scratch!
I can’t remember the time I last had fast food, Pamela. Well, except for desserts … Thanks for leaving your comment and entering the giveaway!
Kate
Homemade bread is my favorite “from scratch” food. Nothing like the smell of bread baking on a cold winter day!
I totally agree, Joy. Not to mention the melting butter … Yummy. Good luck in the giveaway!
Kate
I love homemade!! If it’s noodles or something handmade. This is beautiful. I think of homemade when I see made from scratch. Your books are wonderful also. If someone hasn’t read them they need too.
Blessings
Diana
Thanks for leaving your encouraging comment, Diana. Good luck in the giveaway!
Kate
Starting from scratch makes me think of starting over after a fire or flood. As for food, I usually use some premade things to make the whole process faster. I love cooking from scratch, it’s the clean-up that gets me!
I’m looking forward to reading the book!
The cleanup is definitely the downside of cooking anything, Gina. If you discover a way to bypass that gruesome process let me know. Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway!
Kate
Pickled beets are a favorite for me also. You can use canned beets and they’re very good. I’ve only had fresh ones once and that was so long ago it’s hard to remember if they were better (I’m sure they were!). Nthank you for the giveaway opportunity.
Thanks for writing, Perrianne. Diced fresh beets are also easy to roast in a hot oven, and good for you. Good luck in the giveaway!
Kate
I make everything from scratch. I was raised that way. Grow my own produce. Canning and freezing. I made bread pudding this morning, so good. Dinners have been chilli, pasties (not dessert) the last two nights. Might be a good night for roasted chicken.
You must be a fabulous cook, Chrissy. If I made bread pudding in the morning it would be gone by noon. Yummy. That sounds delish as do all your other items. Thanks for leaving your comment and entering the giveaway!
Kate
Made from scratch always reminds me of my Grandmother, she made biscuits from scratch everyday, and she always had some sort of concoction on the back burner of the stove for stock.
Me too, Dawana. My grandmother, whom I spent much time with in CT, had a veggie garden much like Aunt Silvia’s in mo book A Letter from Lancaster County … Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway!
Kate
Chicken pot pie. The Pioneer Woman has a great recipe and once you try homemade you will never go back!
Oh, my, that sounds tasty, Chastity. Thanks for making my mouth water and for entering the giveaway!
Kate
I would love to be entered to win anything that has been made by the Amish. The apron is really cuThankdfor offering your readers a chance to win Amish made items
I love items sown by the Amish too, Connie. They are meticulous. And I’d love you to read one of my books. Thanks for entering the giveaway!
Kate
I’m not huge on baking. I personally would rather cook meals. I’ve made cookies from scratch and I’ve helped make pasta from scratch. I think food made from scratch tastes better.
I prefer cooking meals too, Shannon. I highly respect those who bake, but no I am putting myself in the way of temptation … How impressive that you’ve made pasta from scratch. Thanks for your comment and for entering the giveaway!
Kate
I love baked good from scratch. I enjoyed a lot of really good cooking on my recent trip to visit my daughter in Sugar Creek, Ohio.
Your visit to your daughter sounds fun, J.E., Especially the part about the good cooking. Thanks for leaving your comment and entering the giveaway!
Kate
Cooking from scratch is the best.. I make a carrot cake from scratch that is delicious.Thank you for the chance to win..
I bet that’s delicious, Carol, and aren’t carrots good for you? I haven’t had carrot cake in ages and it sounds so yummy. Thanks for entering the giveaway!
Kate
I love to make my own bone broth, which is what your mom was making. Smelling it simmer all day….mmmmmm
I do love the smell of broth simmering all day, Vicky. Thinks for bringing back that memory and for entering the giveaway!
Kate
Its very rare nowadays to find anyone who cooks from scratch , however I have three grand kids and I make sure they learn from me how much healthier it is for them to cook most things from scratch. I love making homemade double chocolate cake and Potato soup & Chicken & Dumplings. Blessings to you Kate.
How wonderful that your teaching your grandchildren how to really cook, Kim. They will pass that on to the next generation … Thanks for your mouth-watering comment and for entering the giveaway!
Kate
For the first time the other day I made from scratch Chicken Stew… Very very good… Everyone loved it.
Yum, yum, yummy, Rose. Glad everyone loved it! Good luck in the giveaway!
Kate
I love canning pickles, all different kinds, dills, sweet , bread and butter pickles…
Karla, I had no idea. You are a woman of many talents. Thanks for sharing another fascinating tidbit about yourself and for entering the giveaway!
Kate
Anything from scratch screams mamaw. Especiall her homemade biscuits. Nothing better than homemade biscuits. Love the Amish and how they do everything the simple way. We could learn a lot from them.
The thought of warm homemade biscuits makes my mouth water, Joney. I assume there would be butter nearby … I agree, we could learn a lot from the Amish. Thanks for entering the giveaway!
Kate
I love making dishes from scratch it’s so much more interesting in flavor. Plus I know for sure what is in it. Leary of things in the stores these days. I love going to Amish grocery stores and buying all my spices and homemade goods. Yum!
It’s amazing when you read the labels at the multitude of mystery ingredients in most canned or already prepared food, Lana. What fun that you can go into Amish grocery stores for spices and homemade goods. Thanks for visiting my blog and entering the giveaway!
Kate
I always make baked goods from scratch. My family loves the hot fudge pudding cake that I make. Thanks for the chance to win. I love your books.
I can’t even imagine how good your hot fudge pudding cake tastes, Debbie. I’d probably eat the whole thing before my family got home … Thanks for entering the giveaway!
Kate
When I think of starting from scratch I think of slow simmered soups and homemade bread and baked desserts. I love the smell of slow cooked soups, just one of the ways I take care of my family. I do use prepared stock though. As much as I love baking my kitchen is to small so usually we buy from a bakery or use prepared mixes for that. I am looking forward to reading this new book!
I used to make my own soup stock, but my husband actually prefers what we buy more, Tracie. Since we both avoid sugar, we must read the label carefully … Thanks for entering the giveaway and good luck!
Kate
I love making things from scratch. They have such a better taste to them. Plus their are no preservatives, artificial flavors or chemicals in it.
You sound like me, Barb. I also avoid preservatives, artificial flavors, and chemicals whenever possible. Thanks for leaving your comment and for entering the giveaway!
Kate
“From scratch’ is what I learned from my mother and grandmother. The un-mentioned understood ingredient was love. The extra efforts you make for your loved ones are seeds planted for a future you can’t even dream of!
Those seeds will sprout and hopefully go on to the next generations, Kathleen. Sounds as if you come from a wonderful family. Good luck in the giveaway!
Kate
I have a husband that loves to eat and hates to eat out. So 99% of my cooking is from scratch. I make sourdough bread, rolls, tortillas, spaghetti sauce, salsa, cakes,cookies pies,pizza etc–no box mixes allowed. I do not can but try to use fresh or frozen.
I am so impressed by the multitude of wonderful items you cook from scratch, Cheryl. Wow! Your husband is a lucky man, and I’ll bet he knows it. Good luck in the giveaway!
Kate
Would love to spend time learning to bake with the Amish.
That would be fun, wouldn’t it? Thanks for visiting my blog and entering the giveaway, Jennifer. Good luck!
Kate
Starting from scratch brings images from high summer when I tote a bushel of tomatoes into the house and look for the sauce recipe that begins, Peel and core 40 pounds of tomatoes. ” I do a lot of canning. Starting from scratch can mean hand chopping cucumbers, onions and peppers for a relish batch or baking beans in the Dutch oven to be pressure canned later. Starting from scratch is always a phrase that ends in abundance.
Your description is absolutely delightful, Judy. Thank you so much for putting your experiences into words. Good luck in the giveaway!
Kate.
Starting from scratch makes me think of my mothers homemade noodles. In another way, after my divorce my life was starting over or “starting from scratch”.
An insightful thought, Marilyn. Hold onto it as I hope to talk about that in next blog post. Good luck in the giveaway!
Kate
Starting from scratch is the way my Great-grandmother baked. Most of her recipes used a blue cup for measuring dry ingredients. That cup had been handed down with a cook book for four generations. Unfortunately lost in a kitchen fire, we managed to reinvent a few of the most popular items.
Losing a family cookbook would be a heartbreak, Cathy. I had never thought of that incident happening in a kitchen fire. Glad you have managed to reinvent the most popular items. Thanks for leaving your comment and entering the giveaway!
Kate
I like to make chili, macaroni and cheese, broccoli casserole and all sorts of things from scratch. It tastes so much better, you know what’s in it and you get so much more for your money.
Your menu sounds divine, Karen. it’s best to know what’s in your food as opposed to mystery items that you’ve never heard of … Good for you. Thanks for entering the giveaway!
Kate
The dish towel, dish cloth, and apron are absolutely beautiful. Any cook would feel beautiful wearing that apron. Most everything I cook is from scratch . I grew up where premade things were becomming opular and my mother took good advantage of it but my dad would often cook from scratch. He is where I learned alot of my little tricks.
What fun that your dad passed on his cooking knowledge, Paula. I’ll bet you many men cook as well as their wives. Several I’ve known have. Thanks for leaving your comment in entering the giveaway!
Kate
My mom will be gone 10 years in September. My mom would bring me and my co workers biscuits from scratch and potato soup in the colder months. Really miss that.
I miss my mother too, Lisa. Yours sounds like she was a very generous woman as well as being a fabulous cook. Thanks for sharing that. Good luck in the giveaway!
Kate
Banana Pudding and potatoe salad were my favorite my mom made!
Who could resist either one, Charlotte? Thanks for entering the giveaway!
Kate
Cooking from scratch is fun. Reminds me of good times.
Yes, it is fun Doris. Thanks for entering the giveaway!
Kate
I prepare much of food from scratch. Biscuits, cornbread, and most of our main dishes and desserts. I made bread pudding last night to finish off our supper of goulash and green beans that came from our garden. Yes, I also can and freeze and I am so glad that I can do this! Thanks for your giveaway.
Blessings!
Connie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Connie, you sound like a fabulous cook. Your family is indeed blessed. And your veggies came from your garden? Wow, very impressive. Thanks for leaving your splendid comment and entering the giveaway!
Kate
I feel like I’m always starting parts of my life over from scratch – then I can make it the way I want – can’t wait to read your new book
Good to hear you’re making your life the way you want it, Heidi. Thanks for entering the giveaway!
Kate
Starting from scratch is the same as homemade to me.
Unfortunately, living alone, I do not cook or bake from scratch. Today, there are too many “convenience” foods. I know… I really should take the time to make more homemade dishes. Maybe, I will again one of these days.
Since my husband and I steer clear of sugar, he and I avoid convenience foods. For the most part, that is. There is even sugar in ketchup … and practically everything else too. Thanks for entering the giveaway and wishing you good luck!
Kate
Anything made from scratch is always the best . I try to do a lot of baking from scratch. Love this giveaway.
You sound way more proficient in the kitchen than I am, Regina. I used to bake, but my husband won’t eat it, which leaves just me … Thanks for entering the giveaway!
Kate
Being on a fixed income, we can not afford to eat out alot. So I cook mostly from scratch. From making Pancakes & waffles, baking homemade bread & soups to preparing main meals. During the summer I Can and go to Bellevile, PA for all my produce & canning supplies. I prefer cooking to eating out. On our Orthodox Christmas (Jan. 6th & 7th) I made 30 loaves of Syrian Bread from scratch. So yes I love to cook & can for my husband and families.
Your family and friends are very fortunate, Billee! Sounds as if you are proficient and productive. Well, 30 loaves of Syrian bread! You are amazing. Thanks for leaving your inspiring comment and for entering the giveaway!
Kate
You did make me hungrey with that blog post Kate! Yum! I love baking and cooking, homemade chicken pot pie is a fav, also we love all Persian dishes as my husband is Persian. Grape leaves is one of his fav’s as well. Homemade Amish bread how can you go wrong? And Amish fry pies what can I say about that? Do they get any better. Then Roasted veggies on top of a wonderful salad, yum yum.
You’re making my mouth water, Cherese! I also roast many veggies in the oven, drizzled in olive oil. They come in so handy for salads and soups. Thanks for your enthusiastic comment and for entering the giveaway. Good luck!
Kate
I like making pies from scratch but they just don’t seem to be so tasty !! Any suggestions on what I could be doing wrong !! Thank You ,Judy
I will have to let one of the other readers help you because I have never been a great pie maker, Judy. Is it the crust or the filling that’s the problem? Thanks for entering the giveaway!
Kate
I love cooking from scratch!!! I make a lot of banana bread(add the butter melted at the end from really moist bread!)and love to make homemade soup!!!! I was just home in Michigan and my sister stopped at the Amish bakery on her way by!!! Her impulse stop fed us for several breakfasts!!!!Thanx for the giveaway!!!
You sound like a wonderful cook, Jennifer. Yummy, I love banana bread … and of course the melted butter at the end, not to mention your homemade soup. Thanks for visiting my blog and entering the giveaway!
Kate
Baking from scratch is so good. Much better than store bought.
I agree, Juanita. Wishing you good luck in the giveaway!
Kate
I love to cook and bake! I usually do a lot of semi homemade when baking! I love to make different things just by trying new things together! Cream pies, stir fry, etc! Some are good, others I need not try again! Even when I use a cook book, I add a little more or little less of some of the ingredients! Love to do my one thing!
You sound very creative in the kitchen, Sandy. I do the same thing … rarely use a teaspoon, toss in a little bit of this and that. Martha Stewart would not approve. I appreciate your fun comment. Good luck in the giveaway!
Kate
I make my pie crust from scratch and also the fillings for the pies. I also fix a lot of recipes from scratch. Thanks for the awesome giveaway. I still wear aprons like my mother did.
I still wear aprons too, Shirley. Well, I pay for it if I don’t since I do all the laundry. Your pies sound scrumptious. Thanks for entering the giveaway!
Kate
I make most things from scratch. It tastes better than store bought. I usec to sell my baked goods at a local farmers market but I dont have the time to do that now that I homeschool my children. You said you love the pickled beets. My whole family loves them. We plant a large garden every year and we can or freeze the produce.
Marvelous that you plant a large garden each year and then can or freeze the produce, Bobbi! You must be a proficient cook to sell your baked goods at a local farmers market. Thanks so much for writing and for entering the giveaway!
Kate
Hi Kate I lived in sale creek Tennessee in the country in a old farm built in 1912 with chickens ,bunny’s and our kids the dogs anytime I can good from starch I will bread, our eggs from the chickens like cake from starch,and gardening especially my favorite time .love to have anything from you your books because I loved the Amish the way they lived been upper Tennessee to a Amish community was in loved the way they lived
Your lifestyle sounds wonderful, Karen. My mother used to cook rabbit stew, but I won’t even ask you … How wonderful to have fresh eggs and a garden waiting to be planted in the spring. Glad to hear you love the Amish. Good luck in the giveaway!
Kate
Starting From Scratch. Homemade beef stew is what’s cooking today.
Yummy, that sounds good, Betsy. I bet your whole house smells divine. Good luck in the giveaway!
Kate
I would like to be entered. I love homemade bread. Making things from scratch means the person took time in to making it. I always think food that’s make from scratch is better.
You are officially entered in the giveaway, Ashley. I agree, cooking from scratch says a lot about the cook and the food. Good luck in the giveaway!
Kate
If we are talking desserts, then six flavor pound cake. For a main course, homemade pizza because I can’t stand it any other way, but everything is better from scratch.
I absolutely adore pound cake and would love to see a slice of yours, Cecilia. I wouldn’t mind tasting your homemade pizza either. Thanks for entering the giveaway!
Kate