Store-bought versus Homemade

On supermarket shelves today, there is an extremely wide variety of food products to choose from. Food items now come in every size, shape and flavor we could ever imagine. But it is still difficult to beat the taste of homemade baked goods. One of the reasons I have so many things to post on this blog is because I make many of the foods I eat. I am not completely opposed to store-bought goods, but there are some things that I do refuse to eat store-bought versions of, just because I think homemade tastes so much better! However, there are some store-bought items that have perfectly acceptable quality, in fact, there are even a few specific items where I think store-bought actually taste better than homemade. Of course, everyone has their own opinions, but here are some of mine.

• BREAD There is nothing like homemade bread, and there are so many different kinds to choose from. Some breads are very easy and quick to make at home, and they taste amazing still hot from the oven. I do prefer commercial bread for most sandwiches though, because it is sturdier, uniformly shaped, hold up well, and has a mellow flavor and texture. It is also more convenient to use store-bought bread for sandwiches, as we would have to make bread every day at this house to keep up. I also have yet to master the art of even bread slicing.

• COOKIES Usually I prefer homemade cookies, especially fresh and hot from the oven. There are some pretty good brand-name cookies out there that you just can't duplicate at home. 

• CAKE You've got to go homemade with cakes. Stores can make good cakes, but I find homemade cakes just taste less artificial and more realistic. I don't even really like to use boxed mixes for cakes - it has to be from scratch. And I definitely do not like store-made or ready-made canned frostings.

• MUFFINS Although you can get some pretty delicious-looking, giant muffins at the grocery store, I much prefer homemade. Homemade muffins are often fresher, moister, and more tender than commercial muffins. Besides, who can eat a muffin that big anyway?

• SQUARES I find that stores don't tend to carry a wide variety of choices in bars and squares. Homemade are usually tastier and are so easy to make.

• PIZZA I like to make homemade pizzas and panzerottis with dough from scratch, but there are also some frozen pizzas, store-made pizzas, and restaurant pizzas I enjoy. There are also some that I absolutely hate. Pizza, which seems to be such a basic food, can differ in so many ways from place to place.  Overall, I am not very picky when it comes to pizza, and I will eat pizza from most places, although I do prefer some kinds over others.

Lovely Leftovers

Why do leftovers have a bad reputation? Why does the mere sound of the word give off a negative connotation? Leftovers, as a dictionary definition, are uneaten, edible remains of a meal following the conclusion of the meal. In other words, leftovers are the parts of the meal that did not get eaten, either because too much food was cooked, the diners were too full to eat more, or the food wasn't very good and no one wanted seconds. However, I like leftovers. Leftovers can be quite useful. Sometimes leftovers are cooked in our house on purpose, or extra food is prepared in order to make a "two-mealer". Many foods store and reheat well. Here is a mini guide to leftover:

• Freshly cooked meats and meat dishes are usually good for up to two days after they are cooked.
• Dishes not containing meat such as pasta, rice, salads, and casseroles can usually keep for a few days longer.
• Cooked vegetables store and reheat very well.
• Leftover condiments such as tomato sauce, canned broth, and dips may last up to a week.
• Plain foods are less likely to go rancid as quickly. For example, plain pasta will keep longer than pasta with meat sauce, rice will fare better without added vegetables, etc.
• Dishes like cooked eggs (aside from hard boiled) do not keep well, and should be eaten immediately.

Leftovers are best if refrigerated promptly, just when they are barely lukewarm. They should be stored in an airtight container, jar, or casserole dish or put on a plate and covered tightly with plastic wrap and then foil overwrap. Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave quickly with generally good results, but may also be reheated in the oven as well for more even heating. Many leftovers also freeze quite well for long-term storage.

To use the microwave: Cover food tightly with waxed paper to prevent splatter, and heat on medium-high. Halfway through heating, remove food from the microwave and let sit for one minute before continuing. Microwaved food may be steaming hot at first, but it does not hold the heat for long since it heats unevenly.

To use the oven: Place food in a covered casserole dish or wrap in foil, adding a little bit of water to prevent foods from drying out. Heat at a moderate temperature, and expect a lengthy amount of time for thorough heating. Cut large foods into smaller pieces to quicken heating and ensure foods heat evenly.