Homemade Cooking?

Question

What foods do you make completely from scratch that are exceptionally good and worth the effort (obviously)?

Answer 1

I love to make bread, so anything that has to do with that type of thing I really enjoy, here is one of my favorites.

CALZONE (ITALIAN PIZZA TURNOVERS)

DOUGH:

1 pkg. yeast
1 c. warm (105 to 115 degrees) water
2 1/2 to 3 c. flour
1 tbsp. sugar
3/4 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. oil

FILLING:

3/4 lb. Italian sausage in 1/2 inch pieces
1 sm. onion, chopped
1 sm. green pepper, in strips
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste
1 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. basil
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 lb. shredded Mozzarella
1/2 c. grated Romano or Parmesan cheese

In a large skillet, combine sausage, onion, green pepper and garlic; cook until tender. Stir in tomato paste, oregano, basil, sugar and pepper along with 1 to 1 1/2 cups water. Simmer uncovered about 5 minutes. Let cool while dough is rising.
Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water. Let activate in warm place, about 5 minutes.

In large bowl, put 2 cups flour, sugar, salt and oil. Add remaining warm water and dissolved yeast. Add additional flour until dough is stiff. Pour out onto floured bread board. Knead in additional flour until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place in lightly greased bowl, cover, let rise in a place free from draft, about 45 minutes. Stir in Mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses into sausage mixture.

Punch down dough; divide into 12 equal pieces, and form into flat balls. Roll each piece on a lightly floured board to a 6-inch circle. On one side of circle, spoon 1/3 cup filling. Fold plain half over filling, pinching edges well to seal. Place on greased baking sheets and press edges together with the tines of a fork. Bake at 400 degrees for 11 to 15 minutes. Serve warm.

Answer 2

Campfire Stew
1 tbsp. butter
1 lb. beef stew meat
1 tbsp. flour salt and pepper
1 large onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, sliced
4 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
1/2 bag baby carrots
1 container button mushrooms, sliced
1 tomato, peeled, seeded and diced
1 gallon water

Heat heavy bottomed pot until very hot. Season flour with salt and pepper, dip stew meat into flour, covering well. Melt butter in pot, add meat and brown well on all sides. Removed meat from pan, add onion and celery. Cover and let sweat 2-3 minutes. Add tomato paste and about a cup of water, scrape brown bits from bottom of pan. Return meat to pan, add potatoes and carrots. Add enough water to cover vegetables plus an inch. Cover and let stew simmer until potatoes are done, adding water as needed to keep from scorching. Ten minutes before serving, add mushrooms and allow stew to come to a boil. Cover and allow mushrooms to cook. Serve.

Answer 3

snickerdoodle cookies!

2 cups sugar , divided
1 cup Butter Flavor Shortening or 1 Butter Flavor Stick
2 eggs
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-3/4 cups All-Purpose Flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Heat oven to 400°F.
In the bowl of an electric mixer combine 11⁄2 cups sugar, 1 cup Shortening, eggs, milk and vanilla extract; beat at medium speed until well blended.
In a medium bowl combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Add gradually to creamed mixture at low speed. Mix just until blended. Shape dough into 1-inch balls.
In a small bowl combine remaining 1⁄2 cup sugar and cinnamon; roll balls of dough in mixture. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.
Bake 7 to 8 minutes. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheets; transfer to cooling racks to cool completely.

Hint: Cinnamon-sugar mixture can be put in resealable plastic bag. Place 2 to 3 dough balls at a time in bag. Seal. Shake to sugar-coat dough.
Colored Sugar Snickerdoodles: Add 2 teaspoons cinnamon to flour mixture in Step 3. Combine 3 tablespoons colored sugar and 3 tablespoons granulated sugar. Use for coating instead of cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Answer 4

I make my meat sauce for either spaghetti or lasagna from scratch and it makes such a huge difference!

Answer 5

i can make anything because i love to cook, especially lobster tails with cilantro, green onions, garlic, and fresh chillis lightly sauteed in butter and poured over steamed lobster tails that are cut in half. very delicious. my boyfriend loves it

Answer 6

I make salsa from my own garden vegetables and it is much better than store bought. I also use my tomatoes to make spaghetti sauce.

Answer 7

Pot roast-chicken or turkey noodles-beef stew-enchiladas-chile verde-chile colorado-chile rellenos-stuffed baked fish-ribs-biscuits-stirfry-too many to list all. 'Course I like to cook.