Do you detect that scent? We ponder what it could be. It has a delightful aroma! Our stomachs are starting to rumble. Is it time for lunch yet?
Have you ever entered a house and noticed a delightful smell coming from the kitchen? You know what we’re referring to: home-cooked meals! While going out to eat at a restaurant can be enjoyable, a delicious homemade meal is also a wonderful treat for the whole family.
There are various homemade favorites. How about homemade biscuits and gravy for breakfast? Or chicken noodle soup made from Grandma’s old recipe? And who could forget that homemade macaroni and cheese made from scratch? It surpasses anything from a package by a long shot!
But have you ever paused to consider what homemade means? And what does it mean to make something “from scratch”? Let’s discover today in Wonderopolis!
Have you ever made something “from scratch”? Sometimes we are puzzled when pondering what to cook for dinner. Then we make something. But that’s probably not where the saying originated!
“Scratch” has actually been used since the 1700s as a term in sports. For example, long ago players of various sports, such as cricket, would mark boundaries or starting points by scratching markings onto the ground.
Similarly, in boxing, lines would be scratched onto the ground to determine where boxers would start at the beginning of a fight. Thus, they would “start from scratch.” Over time, the term moved beyond the world of sports into everyday conversation to refer generally to any type of starting point.
In cooking, for instance, making something “from scratch” means starting at the beginning by using nothing but fresh ingredients rather than prepackaged products. Although “from scratch” is often used interchangeably with “homemade,” the two are not necessarily the same.
“Homemade,” for instance, often has a broader meaning. Additionally, not all people use “homemade” in the same way. Confused yet? Let’s examine a few examples to clarify things.
Let’s consider cake, for instance. Do you enjoy cake? Who doesn’t, right? If you think about it, there are various ways to acquire cake. The easiest way for kids to get cake is to have a birthday or to be friends with lots of people who have birthdays!
If you’re an adult, though, you are likely responsible for obtaining or making the cake, not just eating it. When it comes to cake acquisition, there are several options. The easiest, but also the most expensive, way to get a cake is to buy one at the grocery store or a bakery.
If you don’t want a store-bought cake, though, you could go the homemade route. For some people, a homemade cake is any cake that’s made at home instead of purchased at a store. Chefs will debate such a definition, though.
Bakers will argue that a true homemade cake is made “from scratch,” using flour, eggs, sugar, and other flavorings based on a recipe. These individuals believe that cakes made from a prepackaged box mix that only requires you to add water or a few other ingredients do not qualify as homemade.
So what is your opinion? Can a box-mix cake be considered homemade? It can be acknowledged that it is indeed made at home. However, it is far from being made “from scratch.” But does it really matter? What are your thoughts? What does the term “homemade” mean to you?
Give it a try
Are you ready to think outside the box? That’s right! We have some enjoyable and family-friendly activities for you to explore with your friends and family members. So, roll up your sleeves and join in!
- What are your preferred meals made at home? Don’t worry about defining “homemade” right now, just think about the meals you enjoy that your parents prepare at home. Do you have a favorite meal? What is it? Why is it your favorite? Have you ever assisted in preparing your favorite meal? Take some time to discuss your favorite meal with your parents. Offer to help them prepare it tonight or in the near future. Have fun cooking together, especially when you get to taste the fruits—or vegetables—of your labor!
- Do you like spaghetti? There’s nothing quite like going out to a nice Italian restaurant and having a large plate of hot spaghetti with meatballs. Add some garlic breadsticks, and you have a meal worth writing home about. But did you know that you can make your own homemade spaghetti and meatballs at home? Ask an adult to assist you in going to the store to buy some pasta, pasta sauce, and meatballs. You can also opt for some breadsticks to heat up in the oven. Follow the instructions to cook your pasta and heat up your pasta sauce, then generously sprinkle parmesan cheese over everything, and you’ll be ready to enjoy your homemade meal in no time!
- Up for a challenge? Take your homemade spaghetti and meatballs to the next level. Search the Internet for “made from scratch” recipes for everything: the pasta (note: you might need to borrow a pasta maker!), the pasta sauce, the meatballs…even the breadsticks! It’s important to remember that you might need a considerable number of ingredients and a lot of extra time to make a completely homemade meal of spaghetti and meatballs from scratch. For instance, accurately measuring out all the ingredients can take quite a while. You might also need to utilize your math skills if you’re making a double batch or need to convert units of measurement in a recipe. Of course, you can always choose to use store-bought pasta and make one or more of the other components of the meal from scratch. To help you get started, we have included a few “from scratch” recipes for different parts of the meal below:
- Homemade Breadsticks
- Homemade Pasta
- Homemade Pasta Sauce
- Homemade Meatballs
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