Homemade or Store Bought?

August 09, 2011

When my kids were little, I made every dinner from scratch. Because I had to. I made meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, and fresh veggies. I even made lasagna just for them from scratch. They didn’t like the ricotta cheese, so I left it out. (That made them very happy!) Now they have grown and moved away, and I don’t have the inclination to cook as much. I kind of miss those old days.

Working at the library, I get the opportunity to see just about every cookbook that we own. There is every type of cookbook imaginable. There are cookbooks for the novice and the expert alike. They come from every country. They tell how to make deserts, entrees, meats, vegetables, candies, cookies, wild game, and everything under the sun. I love to look at cookbooks; they make me think that I could take up cooking from scratch again.

I know about the convenience of packaged dinners and boxed meals, but somehow they just aren’t the same. Maybe, I’ll check out a cookbook that will tell me how to make store-bought taste like homemade. 

I think I could start with Sandra Lee’s Semi-Homemade cookbooks (they cover everything from cocktails to comfort food to eating on a budget). What about you?

~Penny M.
Parkville Branch