There is nothing quite as good as HOMECOOKED MEALS! My grandmother raised me and taught me how to cook simple foods. Both she and my grandfather were both great cooks! My grandfather was a hard working man and worked at Standard Knitting Mills, in Knoxville, Tennessee. When he got off work supper had to be on the table by 4:15 p.m. so that he could eat and go out and do what needed to be done on the farm before it got dark.
WHY HOMECOOKED MEALS MATTER
Homecooked meals are more than just food, they’re love on a plate. Cooking at home lets you control the ingredients, save money, and feed your family in a way that’s both healthy and personal. When you cook at home, you’re not just preparing a meal. You’re creating memories. You can adjust the salt, use real butter, or choose fresh vegetables from your own garden or a local market. It’s comforting to know exactly what’s going into your food.
In today’s busy world, many people feel like they don’t have time to cook. But a simple homecooked meal doesn’t have to take hours. Even a slow cooker or one-pan meal can give you that fresh-from-the-kitchen feeling without much effort. Whether it’s a warm pot of chili on a cold night or scrambled eggs and toast on a busy morning, it all counts.
LEARNING TO COOK
When I came home from school it was my job to peel the potatoes and get them on to boil, make a pitcher of sweet tea and get it in the refrigerator, and start green beans on the stove. My grandmother worked as a Cafeteria Worker at Ramsey School, in Knoxville, TN during my teenage years. When she came home she would cook whatever meat we were going to have. I watched her and learned everything I could about cooking. Learning to Cook was definitely a great gift, not only to me but my family as well.
Here is a memory from one of my first HOMECOOKED MEALS. The first time I made Homemade Biscuits after I was married, I used the wrong type of flour. I used All Purpose instead of Self-Rising. Needless to say they didn’t rise and were hard as bricks! I felt utterly defeated and when I told my grandmother she just laughed and said you used the wrong type of flour! I now make a really simple Two-Ingredient Homemade Biscuit. They are the best biscuits I have ever tasted! Yes, even better than my grandmother’s! Now my family wants these made with all of my HOMECOOKED MEALS. I will list the recipe for you below:
TWO-INGREDIENT HOMEMADE BISCUITS
- Self-rising flour – 2 cups — No, it’s not made of magic! Self-rising flour is all-purpose flour that’s treated with baking powder and salt. It speeds up the process of throwing a recipe together, and this quick biscuit recipe benefits from it tenfold!
- Heavy whipping cream – 1 cup and 3 tablespoon — I use heavy whipping cream because it adds moisture, creates incredible flavor and adds browning power (that renders even more flavor!). Feel free to use a heavy-cream-substitute if you don’t have any on hand, but know this may alter the taste and/or texture a bit.
- Step 1: Make the Dough — Preheat the oven to 500°F. In a large bowl, pour in the self-rising flour and heavy whipping cream. Stir everything together with a fork until just combined. Avoid overmixing or your biscuits may turn out tough and dense.
- Step 2: Knead the Dough — Lightly flour a clean surface (I use parchment paper on the counter) and turn the dough out on top. Knead the dough as little as possible until everything is well combined and it’s no longer sticky.
- Step 3: Roll/Pat out and Cut — Roll the dough out to a 1/2-inch thickness. I usually just pat mine out with my hands. Brush off any excess flour to prevent the biscuits from drying out.
- Step 4: Bake — Place the biscuits in a large, ungreased cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet I bake mine in a stoneware bar pan. Place the biscuits to where they are touching the sides of the pan and each other. This will help them as they rise not to fall over. Bake the biscuits until they’re golden brown, 8-10 minutes for 2- 21/2″ biscuits and 15-18 minutes for larger sized biscuits. Mine usually take 17-18 minutes because I cut them out with a large glass to make big 6″biscuits!
EASY HOMECOOKED MEALS FOR BUSY DAYS
When life gets hectic, it helps to have a few quick recipes that taste like you spent all day in the kitchen. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Slow Cooker Roast: Toss in a roast, some potatoes, carrots, onion, and a packet of dry ranch mix. Let it cook on low all day and enjoy a fork-tender meal at dinnertime.
- Cheesy Baked Ziti: Pasta, jarred marinara, ground beef, and shredded cheese layered in a pan and baked. You can freeze portions for later, too.
- Chicken and Rice Casserole: One can of cream of mushroom soup, a cup of rice, water, and raw chicken. Add seasonings and bake for an hour at 350 degrees.
These are great for families, and even better when you make double and freeze half. You’ll thank yourself on those nights when you’re just too tired to cook.
FAMILY TRADITIONS AROUND FOOD
Food has always brought people together. In my family, Sunday dinner was a big deal. My grandfather cooked dinner on Sunday’s. He would start cooking early in the morning – fried chicken, green beans with ham, mashed potatoes, cornbread, and a sweet pie for dessert. Everyone looked forward to it all week.
Now that I’m older, I see how important those meals were. It wasn’t just about eating. It was about sitting around the table, sharing stories, laughing, and just being together. Even today, I try to carry on that tradition. When my kids or grandkids visit, I make their favorite meals, just like my grandparents did for me.
GOING OUT TO EAT
Going Out to Eat was a luxury that my grandparents did not see as necessary. We never went out to eat at restaurants. Ocassionally we would stop at Burger King because my grandmother loved their Fish Sandwich and that was always a treat!
HOMECOOKED MEALS were all I had ever known growing up. I love to cook for family and friends, but now that it is just me at home that is pretty seldom. Mostly around holidays anymore. I love to go out and eat with some of my friends I went to high school with. However, after awhile most fast-food places all taste the same and I crave HOMECOOKED MEALS! Learn More Here about Nutrient Dense Beef
HOMECOOKED VS. FAST FOOD
Let’s be honest, grabbing fast food is easy. But most of the time, it doesn’t taste as good or make you feel as good as a real homecooked meal. Fast food is full of extra salt, sugar, and preservatives. It might be fast, but it often leaves you feeling hungry again in no time.
Homecooked meals fill you up in a better way. They’re often cheaper, healthier, and more satisfying. You can stretch a roast or a pot of beans for several meals. And you can add your own touch like more garlic, less spice, whatever you like!
Sure, eating out can be fun sometimes, especially when it means catching up with old friends. But nothing beats the taste, or the meaning, of food made with your own hands.
PREPARING HOMECOOKED MEALS FOR THE FREEZER
My brother lives with me now and he loves to travel to Jamaica. In order to save him money, I make large HOMECOOKED MEALS and freeze them in freezer bags so that he can take the food with him in insulated bags in his suitcase. If he stays longer than the food lasts, he is always saying, “I sure do miss your cooking.”
Having HOMECOOKED MEALS and saving money anywhere I can is now a necessity since I am 68 and living on Social Security. THIS PROGRAM is FREE to Join to help you save money, as well.
TIPS FOR FREEZER MEALS THAT TASTE FRESH
Freezing homecooked meals is a smart way to save time and money. But not all foods freeze the same. Here are some tips to make sure your meals still taste great later:
- Cool before freezing: Let meals cool completely so ice crystals don’t form.
- Use freezer-safe bags or containers: Label with the date and meal name.
- Double-wrap baked goods: Biscuits, muffins, and cornbread freeze great if wrapped in foil, then in a bag.
- Avoid freezing these: Lettuce, mayonnaise, and soft cheeses don’t thaw well.
Meals like chili, stew, casseroles, and pasta sauces freeze beautifully. You can even freeze breakfast items like pancakes and sausage patties. Just reheat and serve.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON HOMECOOKED MEALS
Whether it’s something fancy or a simple dish made with love, homecooked meals create a sense of comfort and care. They help you stay healthy, spend less, and bond with those around you. And they don’t have to be complicated or time-consuming.
If you’re new to cooking, just start small. Try one new recipe a week. Use what you have, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. That’s how we all learn. The best part is seeing your family enjoy something you made yourself. That smile, that “mmm!”, that’s the real reward of cooking at home.
Author: Kaye 5/4/2024