I always love, appreciate and support home cooking. I cook at home 90+% of the week.
At the same time, I don’t object or feel slighted - or feel anyone else should - to use ready made store items even at the holidays.
Whether you are hosting or bringing a dish(es), what item(s) are you embracing non-home cooking? A local pie? Bob Evans mashed potatoes (they are great warmed in a crockpot!)??? A ready made dip to serve with veggies as an appetizer?
I’m bringing 3 homemade items for my T-Day contribution. But a 4th is ready made. Bought on a whim (thanks to samples) at Costco this weekend, these rolls were OUTSTANDING. Pop a bag of 10 in the oven for minutes before the meal then open and serve.
@abasket Those rolls look fantastic! I was thinking I would get some Costco spinach/artichoke dip instead of making my own this year. We tried some recently and I think it is as good as homemade!
I’m going all scratch but I’m only cooking part of the dinner. I know there will be bakery bought rolls where I am going, as well as store bought jellied cranberry sauce (in addition to homemade whole berry) and my mom’s stuffing is doctored up Bell’s.
I spent all day once making a peach pie from scratch. It looked and tasted exactly like a frozen Marie Callenders or Mrs. Smith pie. It was good, don’t get me wrong, but I couldn’t tell that it was homemade.
I mix the turkey drippings with a cornstarch-water paste… then add a jar of Heinz turkey gravy. That add flavor (admittedly mostly salt) and color. It also ensures enough gravy for leftovers.
Haha - re: Costco pies. Yes, long thin pieces! Or depending on the type (pumpkin or pecan would work this way) , cut it into “squares” - some people (odd ones… ) don’t want all the crust anyway!
Cute thread. Just remember, if you make something and it fails, just rename it. It changes people’s expectations something will exactly conform. Our old example was a giant quiche that leaked out of the springform and shrunk in height. Just called it “Plantation Cheese Pie.”
Costco makes the only apple pie that tastes like apple pie to me. But I still like my MIL’s better - especially with Cook’s Illustrated vodka crust. This year we are having three gluten free pies. I’m not getting my hopes up! I don’t like bakery cakes for the most part either. Store bought rolls on the other hand are fine with me! My father always preferred the cranberry jelly from a can so we always had that growing up. It wasn’t until I was on my own that I learned how easy real cranberry sauce is to make, and so much better!
I like homemade pies and cakes, as well, or they have to be from a really good bakery that uses real butter and other quality ingredients. Harder to find these days and some of the prices are really up there! (I’m sounding old)
I like both the jellied and homemade whole berry sauces and put both on my plate. Sometime, I want to try making my own jellied cranberry sauce but haven’t gotten around to that yet.
Just made gravy with McCormicks packets, butter, flour, and some previously made chicken stock. Tastes great. Will put it in a little crock pot. Nice not to worry about making gravy at the last minute.
Made a roux with the flour and butter (1/4 cup each) then shook two packets of the McCormicks powder & stock in a jar to mix and add to the roux. I did 3 cups stock and 1 cup water as my stock was pretty dense.
I have a friend who works at Williams-Sonoma. She sometimes gives me food items to try- one such item is a pecan pie in a jar. So, I did make the crust but I cheated using this jar which you add eggs and butter to- I have to say it looks pretty good although I’m not much of a pie eater. We’ll see what my guests think!
I’ve never made a pie and never will. Never made stuffing from scratch. Never even made mashed potatoes from scratch.
I’m mostly capable of putting a turkey in the oven, although one year I dropped it on the floor, one year I forgot to take out the giblets, and one year I put it in upside down.
Maybe it’s better that I’m not hosting Thanksgiving this year.
