Review: Make the Bread, Buy the Butter
Make the Bread, Buy the Butter:
What You Should and Shouldn’t Cook from Scratch
by Jennifer Reese
Genre: Cooking
Publisher: Free Press
Publish Date: October 18, 2011
Format: Hardcover | 304 pages
Rating: 4 of 5
When Jennifer Reese lost her full-time job she began to economize by making things she had previously bought at the grocery store. This turned into a series of experiments on whether it’s better to make or buy. Was it cheaper? More expensive? Easy or too time consuming? This book is a delightful chronicle of her results.
I was expecting only a cookbook filled with recipes, practical advice and cost comparisons, but I was pleased to discover a lot more. Along with the 120 recipes is a must-read narrative. I sat down with the book to look through the recipes and ended up reading it cover to cover. Her witty, humorous, easy to read style of writing made for some hilarious tales from raising chickens and goats, making honey using her own beehives and even an attempt at curing meat. She also delves into the health benefits of home cooking, the additives and chemicals in store bought foods, plus making your own often tastes better.
Each recipe consists of an introduction plus a brief analysis:
• Make it or buy it
• Hassle
• Cost comparison
The recipes range from very easy to quite difficult. Most of them will save money but not necessarily time. Some are no-brainers. It’s very simple to make your own bread crumbs and cheaper too. Make my own pesto? Absolutely. It’s very easy and cheap if you grow your own basil, which I do, and buy pine nuts in bulk. Make my own pasta? Nah, too much work and I’m not good with pastry. Make my own meats? I won’t even think about curing my own prosciutto.
As I read the book I saw a few recipes I’m eager to try. First up will be hash browns. I’ve never considered making them, they’ve always been diner food for me but the recipe looks easy and I just bought a large bag of russet potatoes which are begging to be cooked. I’ll post my results, probably next week. Another one I want to try is vanilla. The cost of vanilla is outrageous but I had no idea it was simply made from vanilla beans and vodka. That’s it. Put them together and let it age for 3 months. The result is a cup and a half of vanilla for a fraction of the store bought cost.
Educational, informative, some great recipes and a delight to read, I recommend this to both adventurous cooks and those challenged by the kitchen.
The author also has a blog, The Tipsy Baker, where you can find more of her recipes and adventures in cooking.
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Source: Copy provided for review by the publisher.
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Under My Apple Tree 
What a great-sounding book. It reminds me of the old (as in the 1970s) Better Than Store-Bought, which also had a recipe for vanilla (if memory serves me). Where this book is better is the cost analysis and hassle rating. I’ll have to add this one to my shelves.
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I make my own vanilla and it is so easy! I experiment with different liquors and beans. Definitely worth it. Can’t wait to check out this book.
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This sounds really good. I’ve been meaning to make my own hashbrowns cuz, really, how hard can it be? It can’t be too far off from making potato latke and I’ve made those a bunch. Is there really anything you do with a potato that isn’t nummy?
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This book is on my wish list. I am kind of interested in seeing what the author decided to buy and what to make. I am curious if the homemade vanilla tastes the same as the store bought. I am a Watkins Double Strength Vanilla gal but might be swayed over to the other side.
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Oh my! I have to have this! I struggle all the time with what I should be making from scratch while trying to balance my grocery budget!
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Sounds good, but I was going to give it a pass until you mentioned the vanilla. Friends brought us a quart bottle of pure vanilla from Mexico a couple of years ago – a real blessing. But it’s almost gone and I was dreading going back to imitation stuff. Must pick this up and see what else the author has to say!
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I am going to have to pick this one up. I want to make more of our own food but it is a little bit daunting. I love the idea that they help determine if the hassle is worth it.
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