We love Homemade Ingredients here at Tasty Kitchen. Love. Not only because you have full control over what goes into your food but also because the flavors you get blow store-bought versions out the water. Plus there’s the street cred. Oh, the street cred.
We’ve had a few favorites here at the TK Blog. Like the homemade tortillas you see above. Or refried beans to go with those tortillas. Or impress everyone with homemade ricotta. Be prepared for the double takes and Elaine Benes-esqe “Shut up!” shoves when you tell them you make your own anything.
Homemade creations also gives us reason to buy more Mason jars. Because you really can never have too many Mason jars.
We’re always on the lookout for more ways to make stuff at home, so this is where you come in! Tell us:
What ingredients do you like to make at home?
I like making the basic condiments at home. I have a shelf of homemade mayo, mustard, ketchup, barbecue sauce, and hot sauce in my fridge. When friends see that, they first blink in disbelief and then they swoon. I think they do it to humor me, but I’ll take what I can get. I’ve also been making my own Greek yogurt for years now and wish I did it more often.
How about you? Do you make some on a fairly regular basis? Or less than you wish you could? Or maybe you’re looking for a homemade version of a favorite item. Whatever it is, let us know!
33 Comments
Comments are closed for this recipe.
Kitchen Bird - Jayme Muir on 9.24.2014
Adding veggies, olives, chives, and fruits to plain cream cheese always make a bagel exciting! Could also use as a dip for pita, pretzels, or veggies.
hardyS on 9.20.2014
Browned butter flax tortillas—they make soft tacos taste Sooo good. Also, mango pico de gallo. Also, I wanted to try the goldfish crackers recipe I found here even though I don’t have a food processor and they turned out Great! Everyone who has tasted them loved them!!
Kari Lindsay on 9.16.2014
Since I started making my own tortillas (super simple) store bought are a disappointment.
Karen E on 9.14.2014
I try to make everything from scratch. I can A LOT and so I always have all my tomato products, veggies, jams, pancake syrup, sauces, ketchup, pickled most anything.
I love homemade yogurt because it has so much less sugar. I make my own cheese (chevre & ricotta so far). I make my own soap which helps my youngest who has eczema. I prefer homemade salad dressing because I know what all the ingredients are. Homemade ice cream is a breeze. I love to can things like chili and spaghetti sauce, chicken and vegetable mix along with broth to make quick meals.
It matters to me what my family eats so if I can make it I usually do.
Rani on 9.12.2014
I make my own Paneer, the Indian cheese; more tender and tastes so much better than store-bought. I also make my own pizza dough (Bobby Flay’s recipe).
Another Dawn on 9.12.2014
Barbecue Sauce. Also, syrup from an old recipe.
kay43026 on 9.12.2014
I make almost everything from scratch…and always have. My (3) kids are in their early 30’s and that’s how I fed them. As adults, they all cook from scratch most of the time, too. Don’t get me wrong…we all LOVE going to a good restaurant.
My favorites would have to be different BBQ sauces, seasoning concoctions, salad dressings, jams, Mexican creations, any sweet baked goodie…and ice cream. Nothing better than homemade ice cream with fresh, all natural ingredients!
DebbieK on 9.12.2014
I do not buy jams or jelly – I make my own. I also make/can our tomato sauce, tomato-basil soup, chili coup base and salsa. I bake (most) of our bread from scratch. And, although just two ingredients vodka and vanilla beans, I also make my vanilla extract. I buy flour; I do not grind grain into flour/meal, but I have seriously looked at household size grain mills. Maybe some day……
Karen on 9.12.2014
I roast my own coffee beans! The coffee tastes SO much better. I buy the green coffee beans online and roast about a lb a week in my Behmor roaster. I have turned into such a coffee snob that every one else’s coffee tastes horrible!
Patty Paulsen on 9.12.2014
I have to tell you, I am almost embarrassed to post…I have swung the other way and have gone from homemade everything to making do with store-bought stuff…
However, since I smoke my own pork butt I could not consider adding a bottled BBQ sauce on the top, that would be sacreligious to the 12 hours I spent on the pork. I make a vinegar-based drizzle sauce that is out of this world, and it takes 2 minutes to put together. My family expects a squeeze bottle of it in the fridge door at all times…
Deeremama on 9.12.2014
I make my own cream of…soup The one I make the most of is cream of chicken. I do this by melting butter (couple tablespoons), then adding enough flour to soak up all the melted butter, then adding milk until its thick & smooth. Then I remove from the heat and add chicken boullion. Much tastier than what comes out of a can! I use this in any casserole that calls for cream of chicken soup.
I also make my own taco seasoning with chili powder, cumin, salt, red pepper flakes, oregano & onion powder.
Diane Carol on 9.12.2014
I started going through the comments and writing down ideas….and was absolutely stunned at the number of items I make without thinking! I find that my “down” time is making things for people I love, and I sincerely get a kick out of the whole process; finding a new item to make, purchasing what is needed, the actual joy of working in the kitchen and the happiness I get from feeding my family and friends.
Some things I do in the course of life are: homemade stocks (ham, beef, chx & veg), marinara, Alfredo, breads, naahn, cookies, pizza rolls, vanilla, homemade noodles (chicken and noodles for sure have to have homemade noodles….my family would wonder what was wrong with me otherwise!), hot chocolate mix, cold chocolate milk mix, pepper mustard, jellies, applesauce/butter, dry rubs, kielbasa, salad dressings, ice cream, perogi, pickles, Arby’s sauce, salsa…. This isn’t work….it’s fun and very rewarding!
Colette (Coco in the Kitchen) on 9.11.2014
Crepes. You can buy them ready to go almost anywhere now, especially IKEA,
but I make mine from scratch.
And my baby loves them!
Dax Phillips on 9.11.2014
Love making tortillas, pizza, loaves of bread, and fresh pita, and well, pretty much anything.
Arlyne Michelle on 9.11.2014
When I make my own bread, I use whole wheat organic flour that my dad has ground for me. Now that fall is approaching, I’m prepping to make Green Tomato Salsa with tomatoes from my garden. I also have 2 HUGE pots of basil sitting in my house ready to be turned into pesto in the next few days. I also make/freeze my own marinara sauce with my tomatoes. I make my own syrup (Buttermilk Caramel) that is easy and is better than anything on the grocery shelf. On a somewhat regular basis, I use my pressure cooker to cook up several batches of beans – white/red/black to keep in the freezer. When I buy rotisserie chickens, I save the carcasses in the freezer until I have 3/4 and then I harvest herbs from the garden and make/freeze chicken stock. I like to cook components so when I need to throw together dinner, I begin with a trip the basement pantry for my canned supplies and/or out to the freezers for the frozen components,
Kris on 9.11.2014
When I home schooled our son, I made all our bread from freshly ground wheat. I learned to can salsa, jams, blackberry vinegar, marinara sauce, and tomatoes. I make vanilla, salad dressings, marinades, and sauces. Penzey’s is a great source for seasonings. Also, I love Liquid Smoke and Buffalo Chipotle sauce as marinade ingredients. I freeze all leftover chicken bones to simmer later in water so I never buy broth/stock. I made dijon mustard and hummus once, but was not impressed with either one. I really enjoy the adventure of making homemade food. If I had known this when I was young, I would have gone to culinary school rather than college!
Brenda L on 9.11.2014
I love to use the Tasty Kitchen search bar and type in HOMEMADE. Lots of good recipes come up.
KrissyC EsMommy on 9.11.2014
I sooo want to move into Erika’s house! I’ve only had the delight of homemade ketchup and mustard once and it was well worth the effort of the maker. I, on the other hand, can’t seem to get it right. Craziness.
I’m a lot less creative. I make my own cocoa powder, and seasoning mixes, and pancake mix but that’s about it. Well, unless you count the kinda “regular” things. I haven’t purchased cookies in so many years its redic…I find homemade to be so much better. I also do my own apple sauce, can’t even stand the store bought stuff anymore. I do my own pie crust (who knew it was so darn easy) and a few other little things.
Cathey on 9.11.2014
I use to make bread and pasta, no longer because of being gluten free. The cost of flours and time involved are not worth it to me any longer. These days I make my own seasoning mixes fajita, taco, Italian blends, poultry, dry rubs. Also make my sauces tomato and pizza, teriyaki, dressings, stocks (veal, beef, chicken). Like you said Erika I have full control over what goes in my food. Thank for a great topic.
Karen B on 9.11.2014
I make homemade vanilla. It is so easy and you can make alot. It is so overpriced in the market. I then can make vanilla sugar once the beans are done with the alcohol. I also give as gifts for my baking friends.
Barb on 9.11.2014
Two things I learned to make from my grandmothers. One is home made mustard and the other is fudge sauce. I wish I had learned to make noodles and yeast rolls.
Melana on 9.10.2014
We like to make our own taco seasoning mix. It’s way cheaper, and it tastes a lot better too.
Rae V on 9.10.2014
I don’t always make my own things but over the last few years I have made mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, pasta, ice cream, pudding/pastry cream, ravioli,mayo,ketchup, sweet Italian sausage,cake mix,caramel. My friends either think I’m crazy or inspired for the number of things I do make from scratch.
C. L. ( Cheryl ) "Cheffie Cooks" Wiser on 9.10.2014
No JoyK, we are blessed in the USA! Cheryl Gracias Senora!
C. L. ( Cheryl ) "Cheffie Cooks" Wiser on 9.10.2014
Terri Oh my heavens I fell over laughing at your comment to Erika-you are too funny!!! Cheryl
JoyK on 9.10.2014
Bad grammar! What I missed the most “were” not “was”. Too much time habla-ing español.
JoyK on 9.10.2014
Until three days ago we were living in South America where there is very, very little premade or packaged anything. If we wanted tortillas – we had to make them. If we wanted pickles – we had to make them. If we wanted most anything – it had to be homemade. What I missed the most was things like A-1 steak sauce, Dijon mustard, wine vinegar, ranch dressing, blue cheese, cheddar cheese, and sour cream. It meant being creative and sometimes I just wished that I could run to the store and pick something up. However, in the past three days that we have been back in the US, both my husband and I have twice wandered the aisles just being amazed at all the stores here have to offer. We are spoiled here in the US.
Terri @ that's some good cookin' on 9.10.2014
Gosh, Erika! Your own mustard and hot sauce? I genuflect in your honor. I tried to say “shut-up!” and genuflect at the same time, but I lost my balance and fell over. As for my own homemade ingredients, I have sworn allegiance to my own pasta sauces, salsas, enchilada sauce, pizza sauce and seasoning mixes of various types–taco, Italian herb blend, poultry seasoning, barbecue rub, shake and bake-style coating mixes. When using whole wheat flour, I always grind my own. Homemade salad dressings generally beat store-bought dressings, but I have to confess that I have not found a viable homemade replacement for Olive Garden salad dressing. End products such as bread, rolls and desserts are the hands down winners over their store-bought counterparts. Oh, and dips–homemade all the way.
The Steaming Pot on 9.10.2014
Over time I’ve switched to homemade for many things I used to buy from the store, after seeing that they are actually not so tough to make at home. Plus I get a far healthier, tastier version of it at a fraction of the store cost.
Paneer (cottage cheese), yogurt, pasta sauce, spice powders used in Indian cooking, and recently marmalade, are some such ingredients that come into being in my kitchen.
Shawna C on 9.10.2014
I really only make salad dressing in terms of making ingredients, but I’d love to get a good recipe for corn tortillas – they’re nigh impossible to source ready-made in my home city, and my attempts to figure it out on my own so far have been failures.
Janet on 9.10.2014
Marinara, bread, granola, salad dressings, ice cream are the things I usually make myself
C. L. ( Cheryl ) "Cheffie Cooks" Wiser on 9.10.2014
I love to make my own salad dressings (vinaigrette’s), various flavored butters, warm and cold dips/spreads, soups, quick breads, seasonings. Gee, I actually make more homemade items then I realized?! Happy Day Everyone! Cheryl.
Camille on 9.10.2014
I rarely buy bread at a grocery store – Making it is more fun and delicious! Though it can make a splattery mess, I enjoy making my own marinara and putting whatever I want in it. Ice cream and pasta are also some of my homemade crowd-pleasers.