I'm another one who's with the OP and degsy. When people are passionate about food and want to share recipes and tips for other like-minded aficionados, it's great. It's when people think that "cooking from scratch" makes them superior to the Iceland shoppers that I have a problem. Any kind of smugness irritates me, mind!

Having said that - I liked the links to the pasta dishes which are quick and cheap enough for me to buy and make for a family.

By the way - I hate the expression "cooking from scratch" which always conjures up a picture of a flea-infested dog having a good old scratch! Or scratching around for ingredients. (I know "scratch" means the starting point)

A perfect example of my earlier point.
Sooner or later the thread degenerates into mud throwing and insults about food snobbery and posters being "supercilious".

It's almost not worth mentioning anything you make yourself as someone will see it as "condescending".

Of course.
But, like you, I like making curry at home.
I have three specific curry recipes I use because they really do taste good (when tinkered with) and I enjoy the process of cooking them.

True, that.
Some people get very defensive when cooking is mentioned and resort to insults.
Shame really.

Even though it...wasn't actually an example of your earlier point. You were talking about something different and it seems you've latched onto the word "shit" as proof positive of...something. Sorry to disappoint, but I probably cook more meals from scratch than you!

I think there are two main types:

Those who are proud and feel a sense of achievement at making something themselves, and just want to share this with people, the same way that you might have a conversation with someone who goes on about (with a huge smile on their face) the fact they bought some wooden planks and made their own garden planter. I think it's good manners to accommodate the enthusiasm of people like this as far as is fair, otherwise you're just raining on their parade. Everyone has the right to feel good about themselves.

Then there are the more pious kind, who feel frustrated at other people taking 'lazy options' for the things they do 'properly'. This may well start off with something valid, such as people who buy bags of green beans that have the ends already chopped off rather than chop off their own. But I think that over time, their experience grows and the things they take for granted (and get an enormous sense of achievement and satisfaction out of) are things that other people still find daunting - just like they used to.

They may see it as simple to mix your own pizza base, create a topping in a blender and then wait a few hours for it to rise properly, but this blinds them to other people seeing equal value in being able to open a cardboard box and have a cooked pizza on their lap 15 minutes later. These types can get carried away with their own magnificence, and start being pious toward 'lesser' people. It's that blindness that triggers a knee-jerk snide whack of the reply button when someone specifically asks for recommendations for frozen pizzas. Confronting them about this doesn't help because it just makes them even more resolute and pious.

I think the best thing to do when someone inappropriately says "I make my own" is to simply ignore them. No replies, no snide comments, no logical arguments. Just skip past them and get straight back to the topic of the thread.

It's not a million miles away from new parents who drone on about babies online and in real life, as though they're the first people ever to have a baby.

Here we go again.
The point the OP is trying to make is that it's when a thread is discussing ready meals/takeaway/fastfood etc. that it gets derailed by posters jumping in and telling them it's cheaper and easier to make it from scratch.

Now this thread is going on about cooking from scratch and making your own.



There are perfectly good threads for discussing recipies to cook and make yourself, what cuts of meat, what different herbs and spices you would use.


If it was a general thread about chips and what you prefer then some may say McCain, some may say chippy chips, some may say three times fried in dripping and everyone can have a discussion about it.

A thread about which frozen chips you think are best is probably not the place to butt in with unneeded comments about making your own.

Oof!
Some people go on the defensive/offensive at the drop of a crouton, don't they.

Absolutely.

Great post, although a little measured and sensible for DS. Are you sure you're on the right forum?

BiB
Because the thread is titled:
"Makeit yourself/I'd rather make my own' comments"
It's reasonable therefore to discuss the reasons people make those comments and when they may be appropriate or inappropriate.
You're now suggesting that's derailing the thread??

Well done you Tony, keep it up.

Of course your earlier remarks were in support of this post.
"I bet at least half the people who go on about making their own never do."

Yes saying it once in a relevant thread is "going on" about it. I credit you with enough intelligence to understand the distinction, which is why your teasing rings very hollow.

Sometimes "make your own" is the best option.

Meals generally fall into 4 camps:

1. Making your own is cheaper, tastier and just as easy as store bought. (e,g pasta sauce)

2. Making your own is cheaper and tastier than store bought, but more effort. (e.g chips)

3. Making your own is tastier, but more expensive and more effort. (e.g curry)

4. Making your own is difficult and lots of effort.. (e.g steak and kidney Pie)


If the meal in question is in camp 1 (or possibly 2) then i don't think there's anything wrong with recommending people "make their own"

I reckon people are over-thinking it.
Threads are like conversations. People say/write stuff to do with the topic. Nothing strange or judgemental in that at all. Some folks can roll with the flow, others take umbrage.

My teasing ring's very hollow!

At least I made it myself (from scratch)