Most of our Thanksgiving is homemade. Since I'm doing my first T-day this year and my mom and MIL took pity on me and are bringing sides I can't swear that it's all homemade. :) I did cheat and buy a couple pie crusts. I made some practice pies last week and I'm just now starting to make friends with pie dough. Didn't want to risk it, even though I know everyone will still love me if the pies aren't great.

I even made cranberry sauce this year, we'll see if anyone eats it. It's got bourbon in it, how bad can it be? Bourbon seems to be the theme this year, it's in the pecan pie and the cranberry sauce!

I made pies last night and prepped the onions and celery for the stuffing. The bird is roasting in the oven as I type and is torturing me by smelling good already. How am I going to make it until lunch!?!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I think "whatever" is fine -- if you like preparing everything from scratch and have the time and energy to do it, then great. If you prefer to buy all or part of your Thanksgiving dinner because a) you don't have the time or inclination to do it all yourself or b) you have sources for really good side dishes and baked goods, or c) the entire family pitches in and you get what you get, then that's fine too.

Today, the canned cranberry sauce will join a congealed cranberry salad and the cranberry Jezebel, everything else for the dinner is from scratch. Don't know what my sister will bring for an appetizer, but it doesn't matter. She had to work yesterday and drive up late last night to avoid the major rush hour traffic, so she can bring whatever is easy for her.

Teresa

My entire family loves to cook so we do a round-robin email a few weeks prior to any get-together, throwing menu suggestions around and taking what suits our fancy.

Outside of the canned cranberry sauce for my niece, everything else is homemade. Once with my in-laws we had one of those supermarket pre-ordered Tday dinners as my MIL hates to cook and isn't very good at it anyway. It was okay, nothing special and rather heavy on the salt.

For me cooking is a way to show my family and friends that I love them and I care about them enough to spend time cooking for them. I'd happily eat peanut butter and jelly with people I love, but I love to cook and feed my family.

As Renee pointed out, there have been many Thanksgivings when the table wasn't nearly as full. Making that horrible green bean casserole that I hate and my kids love does keep me mindful of all that I have to be thankful for. Put one tiny seed into the ground and let the sun and the rain and the soil produce the beans that will then be part of my dinner. It's all part of the miracle and I'm thankful for it.

Yes, Woodie, I tried to make root beer. Lpinkmountain drank some of it, LOL, but it was a lot more like beer than it was like "root". (grin) I have made dandelion wine, but it was pretty bad, so we bought the wine too.

I didn't grow my own coffee beans but I did grind them!

Annie

My meal was all homemade, but my newphew brought a pumpkin praline cheesecake that he bought at a bakery that was really good.

Annie, I agree with you, cooking is a show of love to your family.

Cooking EVERYTHING from scratch does not display the love of family. It may show that you can and would prefer to cook from scratch -- but nothing more. Putting a family dinner together and celebrating the thanks and love associated with the gathering is what it's all about.
OOAnnie: I didn't think there was another person in America that thought that awful green been casserole was just that. Thank you for letting me know I'm not alone. Gag me with a spoon!
Annie1971

Scratch cooking here also. Everyone chips in and helps out with the dinner. Even in our early years growing up when it was just mom and dad and we kids at TG they would get up at the crack of dawn and start the preparations from scratch. As stated before by others jellied cranberry sauce is store bought. But there is also a choice of homemade whole berry cranberry sauce.
And I have to disagree with Annie1971. Cooking from scratch does display love for family. It isn't the only way to show it but it shows you want the best for your family and take the time and effort to put that love into something you made for them. And our family appreciates and values and loves home cooking from scratch. NancyLouise

It seems to me that the Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter holiday dinners are traditionally the few times that a lot of people DO cook most of the the meal from scratch. I went to the store Wednesday night to get my fresh broccoli and was amazed at the empty or near empty vegetable displays! I got 2 of the remaining 3 bunches of fresh broccoli, the green beans, collards, and sweet potatoes were almost all gone, and the pints of whipped cream were gone as well.

I saw husbands and wives shopping together and heard one couple discussing how many would be at their table and how many dishes they would need. Of course, the guy next to me in line had his case of beer, so he was set! It's very interesting to me to observe other shoppers during the Turkey Day frenzy. But I won't wait 'til the last minute to get fresh vegetables again!

Teresa

My husband was in an automobile accident Tuesday afternoon and spent the rest of the day and most of Wednesday in the hospital. He's bruised & scratched but basically OK. Funny thing is that I was on the way home from the grocery store when I got the call and headed off to the ER. All the Thanksgiving fixings sat in the back of my car for over eight hours before my husband was transferred to the hospital. When I finally got home that night, the only thing I could do is throw everything into the trash.

I called my daughter and she said she'd drop by Trader Joe's during her lunch break on Wednesday. She managed to pick up a 6 pound chicken, a box of stuffing mix, a couple of bags of red potatoes, some bread, and a couple of packages of the TJ Brussels sprouts gratin. When I arrived at the hospital on Wednesday, I found a mini farmers market next to the parking lot. One of the stalls was selling prepared flans. They still had one pumpkin flan available for sale and that's what I bought.

So almost everything except the mashed potatoes & roast chicken was purchased prepared food. But we were so glad to be able to celebrate together at home that it didn't matter. And everything tasted especially good.

Shambo, hope your husband recovers quickly. I imagine that in 2 months, no one will remember that Thanksgiving dinner (even though it was great). All they will remember is the stress results of that accident. Hope all is well now.

Oh Shambo, I also hope your husband recovers quickly. I'm glad he could be home on Thanksgiving.

Annie1971, I've always hated that green bean casserole but my girls just love the stuff. I like plain old green beans the best but that doesn't seem like "holiday food" to my kids.

Not everyone shows their love for their family by cooking and it's certainly not the only way I show it, but I love cooking the things I know they like, even if I don't like them. It's only one of the many things I do for my family, but it is definitely one of them.

Annie

Shambo, that's awful. I am glad that your husband is alright and wishing him a speedy recovery! I am sure you will remember this Thanksgiving.

Annie 1971, for me cooking for my family is an expression of love as are many other things and it has nothing to do with cooking everything from scratch.

Sorry for all of you that think you have to cook your brains out, so loved ones will know you love them. I make a really good pie crust! Am I opposed to purchasing a prepared crust from the grocery store to make things go a little smoother on Thanksgiving day -- No! I make really good bread from scratch. Am I opposed to purchasing buns from the store to make things go a little smoother on Thanksgiving day -- No! I can put a great Thanksgiving dinner together. Is that an expression of love? INMO -- not in itself. The coming together, sitting together, enjoying the time together is the expression of love. If you want your loved ones to leave your house saying "boy, mom really loves us because she made that pie herself" -- ok. That's your need fulfilled.
Annie1971

Me think she doth protest too much.

I was thinking the same thing bt dt. NancyLouise

If we really wanted to have some fun we could start a thread how much we all spent for Tday dinner darfc

"............. That's your need fulfilled." Annie1971, Is your need now fulfilled? Trying to make others feel bad because they feel that cooking for their families whether from scratch or otherwise is an act of love? If so, it didn't work.

Ann

I guess ours was half & half. Almost everything was made from scratch, but as others mentioned we did use canned products for the green bean casserole. Plus my daughter and grandkids love the canned, jelled cranberries but I did make some sauce from fresh cranberries too. The rest of the meal was made from scratch and all but one dessert was homemade. I bought an apple pie from our local bakery because they had double crust 9-inch pies on sale for $2.99! I just had to buy one to round out our dessert table. Oh, and I did use pie crust from that red box too to make my pumpkin pies.

Thank you for your kind thoughts. My husband is banged up and sore, covered with bruises & scratches, but otherwise he's OK. He was hospitalized mainly because of his heart condition; doctors felt he needed close observation for a day or so. The pick-up is a total loss, so I'm the chauffeur for a while.

Sue

I have not read this whole thread so my comments may reflect that:
I cook everything from scratch because, to me to is my expression of love to my family. I don't advertise it, but it is obvious to everyone that the pies are not from a bakery and that they were made that morning, along with everything else.
I know most of family couldn't care less if the pie, rolls, gravy, anything, really, were store bought or homemade, but I care!
I do it for me, to make me feel good, as a simple way of saying : "I love you" to my extremely stoic, reserved family.
And, it is taken with the love given, and returned with appreciation and love.

I figure I spent about $200-300 for Thanksgiving, including a potted flowered plant for the patio and restocking any diminishing staples. Thankfully, we don't serve alcohol.

And, of course, I am, I suppose, a foodie. That probably influences my decisions more than anything.

Sue, better the truck than the husband, I say. I hope he's recovering quickly and the soreness eases.

Jessy - Probably about $8.50. Could have knocked it down to under $7 if I hadn't bought that avocado!

Sue....wow! Thanking God he's OK!!!

I and the rest of my family cook everything from scratch....rolls, cranberries, pies, stuffing,jams and jellies, whipped cream...fresh fruit in the salad...and the raspberry vinaigrette made from real raspberries.
Cooking is love......my family likes home made best....so I show my love by making the things they like best and in the way they like it.
There were several family units represented in the 24 people. Everyonebrought something...even thought they were not asked to...on brought an apple pie...from the bakery. It was not touched....we had home made cheese cake, dairy free cheese cake for those who couldn't eat dairy, chocolate cake, apple cake and 2 pumpkin pies....all scratch baked.
The thought was appreciated, but no one chose the store made pie....even .
the people who brought it.
Yep...I am a food snob....and damned proud of it!! LOL!
And those I cook for love that about me!!
But...I will say I know people who's cooking leaves something to be desired....and who would be better off serving prepared foods.
Linda C

Shambo, I hope your husband gets better soon! What a bummer for him and his truck.

I like to make things from scratch because it's fun to do so, and tastes better too. I also like to be in control of what goes into my food and the food I serve. That being said, DH's sister, who hosts Thanksgiving, makes things from scratch, I think, but uses prepared food in the process, such as corn flakes, to top her potato casserole. I have no clue what all goes into that casserole, but I'm sure it has other processed foods. I love it anyway, and I don't care if it's completely made from scratch or not.

I feel like those of us that like to cook from scratch are being attacked for doing so. I hope that's not the case. I don't feel I have to cook my brains out, but I love to cook, and I love to eat good food, as do many of the people on this forum. I think the people we serve the food to love to eat it, too. I'm totally baffled as to how that love of cooking from scratch means we don't love our families as much. My sister-in-law cooks from her heart, and so do I. We have different styles, but we both enjoy doing it our way, and we enjoy each other.

Sally

My meal was cooked from scratch because 1) I love to cook; and 2) my family really appreciates my cooking. The one thing my SIL asked for was homemade bread at dinner. No problem. I decided to make 2 batches, and turned one into the dressing. My sister found a green bean dish in the latest Food & Wine that she wanted to make for dinner, even though she has a painful stiff neck (she was in a car wreck a few days before coming here, too). It was something she really wanted to do, and felt like she was going to be in pain one way or the other, and she may as well be in pain making something for the family she loves.

To say that cooking for your family is not an act of love tells me that cooking is a chore for you. It's not a chore for me. Even when my lower back, my knees, my legs are hurting, I really enjoy preparing dinners from scratch for my family and friends. In MHO, "from scratch" generally tastes better than "pre-made". It's just how I feel. I don't judge others on the way they cook for their families. And I sure don't appreciate anyone telling me that it's a shallow belief to feel it's an act of love to cook for my family and friends.

Lori

Do it because you want to, people. Not because you hope your friends and relatives will "KNOW" your love for them. Sorry, nobody will remember that the pie mama or granny made was from scratch. It will be the time together on the holiday!

Well of course I do it because I want to. I love to cook, that's why I'm on a Cooking Forum, and not just on a "food forum".

As for whether they'll remember it's homemade, my girls will remember, they already do. When Amanda left home she said she'd have to come home to can tomatoes and green beans. I was a little surprised that she'd want to and her response was "you don't expect me to eat that store bought stuff, do you?"

So they'll remember the time at my house and that Makayla lost her first tooth during this year's Thanksgiving dinner and that I let the kids drink orange soda from the "fancy" wine glasses. They'll also remember that I made that pumpkin cheesecake from scratch because Amanda loves it and only gets it at Thanksgiving and that Makayla ate FOUR of Sol's Honey Rolls because "Grandma makes them SO good".

If I didn't love 'em, I wouldn't bother, I'll tell them to stay home and eat hot dogs. Cooking IS part of the holiday package for me.

Annie

I don't have a family and I still cook from scratch... for myself and friends. I don't cook from scratch for other people... I do it for me. I think cooking from scratch is a way to express love.

When I celebrated Thanksgiving last week, the pie crust for the pumpkin and the cranberry sauce were the only things purchased. The cornbread for the stuffing was homemade, as was the regular bread. I've made the crust before, but mine usually ugly with caving or burned edges. I didn't make the pumpkin pie this year, a friend did, but I've both bought and made the crust in the past. I have however never made a cake mix cake or instant mashed potatoes.

Sometimes I wish I could just be OK with buying everything already prepared. I have the energy to cook, it's the cleaning that bothers me. Took me three days to completely clean the kitchen after Thanksgiving... I did it in baby steps.

I tried to buy heavy cream at 3 different markets a couple days before Thanksgiving and they were all out here too!

(btw, I think green beans are yucky in a casserole or not... probably because the people who raised me only ever opened a can of french cut great beans, heated it up to lukewarm, and told me not to leave table until I finished everything... instant potatoes, green beans, and bland tough meat, ewwwwwy... green beans give me nightmares)

With all the convenience products available, it makes me feel good to know there are still people today that cook from scratch. And people DO remember homemade foods... they even tell stories about it generations later and pass recipes down!

I don't think anyone here needs your permission or for you to pontificate to them about what meaning they should or should not assign to their traditions.

Either you have no idea how it read or you don't care. Either way, it was arrogant and rude.

"Sorry, nobody will remember that the pie mama or granny made was from scratch."

I have to disagree with you, annie1971. Some of the most vibrant memories of my grandmother and little-grandma are food related. Going over their house every Sunday, sitting down to little grandma's stuffed cabbage and rugelach for dessert, the sights, the smells and taste...I literally felt the love in the food they served.

Let's face it, annie1971 doesn't get it, cooking for her is something she doesn't like to do which makes me wonder why she is on this forum. That or her nastiness is just showing jealousy cause her friends and family don't think her cooking is memorable while other family's do appreciate and remember home cooking as one way to show love for them. NancyLouise

nancylouise, Well said. I agree. I've been cooking TG dinner for over 50 years. Most always from scratch. I alone have done EVERYTHING by myself from shopping ($200-$300.00) to the 'prep' & 'cleanup' and, I did it with working around my 40 hr. a week schedule. Occasionally, my bachelor son would help me if he wasn't working. My DIL sat on her duff & watched me clean up. It's gets old after a while, so, now I cheat a little with some store bought food. Anything to simplify my life now. My boys DO have memories of 'mom's' food made from scratch! This year, one of the store bought was a pumpkin pie from Costco! $6.00, huge, homemade there, & the best I've ever had. I'll NEVER make another pumpkin pie. I guess I'm a 'snob' either way & I don't care. In our house, it's about coming together as a family & having a lot of laughs & fun. To me, that's 'love' all the way around! BTW, we love green bean casserole, only not with TG dinner. Annie, is there a 'word' for people who like actually like GB casserole?? If so, then, I guess I'm that too! Happy holidays, everyone....

In my family Thanksgiving is truly all about the food, LOL. Most of it is made from scratch (but not all of it) and that's the way it is most times, not just Thanksgiving or any other holiday. We are spread around several states and have to travel for overnights any time we want to visit. We keep in touch almost daily with phone calls and visit when we can manage it. So we are closely knit and sharing every day and truly, when we get together - it really IS all about the food! Cause we're virtually "together" all the time :) So its "bring it on, let's eat!" All of the kids and grandkids enjoy being in the kitchen and homemade is the buzzword. 16 y/o Emily could make chocolate chip cookies without measuring when she was knee high to a grasshopper. Olivia had her own special knife to cut veggies for salad when she was 6. Even 3 y/o Barbara mixes meatloaf! Its a family affair.

My aunt raised me after my father died when I was a bitty child. Her pies were memorable, much more than anything else she cooked. I worked for years trying to get the proper crust texture. Without a whimper, some dear friends would eat whatever I made, even when I knew it wasn't good. Wonderful taste testers!

When we have guests, I would never consider buying premade. And it isn't from snobbery. If they want to visit, they deserve to get something special--that's what homemade is about!

joydee, there is indeed a word for people who like GB casserole. I think it's "normal", LOL. Truthfully, I think I'm in the minority in my family, I think only Elery and I like the green beans plain so we're outnumbered about 50 to 1.

My kids tell me I'm from another planet because I don't care for pizza, white pasta or chocolate chip cookies either. (grin)

I also have a 50-60 hour per week job plus the farm to run since Dad died, but I spend hours cooking and baking for family dinners and holidays. I enjoy it.

I have started requiring a dish to pass at the family Christmas party though, when the number hit 45 in my small house we moved to the town hall and a dish to pass. I still bake the rolls, though, just for The Princess.

Annie

Annie, I think I know,well sorta know, what you are trying to say. I think you are just trying to say that one should cook from scratch because they want to not to because they need to prove their love.

That is of course true but it's only half the picture. It's a bit of the chicken and the egg thing...which came first.

I cook mostly from scratch because I love to and because my family loves that I do..... and because they love that I do, I love to.

If either of those elements were missing perhaps I wouldn't.

As far as the "snob" thing goes......people who criticize and put people down for being "less" a cook than they are are snobs. Not everyone has the cooking gene and that's OK. Whether from scratch, or not, bring your family and friends around the table to share a meal is a good thing.

However cooking from scratch, in and of it self, is not a snobby thing. Lord knows my Nana, who cooked for her large brood over a wood burning stove, could never have been called a snob.

I cook from scratch because I have the time, I love it and I refuse to pay the price for prepared foods other than bread, etc....oh yeah and pie dough. I don't do pie dough!

We're really lucky here in the Lehigh Valley, we have such a great array of bakeries, delis, farm markets, Wegman's, etc. so there are a lot of really nice prepared foods available for Thanksgiving. If I had the money I would buy a lot of those kinds of things, because with work and all, that would give me more time to spend with family in a relaxed way. I could easily turn over dessert, relishes, appetizers, and even mashed potatoes to the markets. Half my family is so picky they don't like most of what I cook and prefer store bought, so I guess I would have to show my love by serving store bought. Anyway, I don't find cooking relaxing, and I hate doing dishes, but I do it because I enjoy eating. So if I could afford to buy good quality store bought stuff you can bet it would be on my table. As it is, I do mostly easy stuff for Thanksgiving, after learning the hard way that homeade elaborate stuff wasn't worth the trouble. But that's the way I cook in general. Mostly I bake or fix homeade just to make stuff a little less rich and lower in calories. I'm sure for gourmet crowds Thanksgiving is a real chance to pull out all the stops and go for some culinary fun.

Intresting read. Coming from a family of caterers, I guess that puts me in the snob category, lol. I had to "fess up" about my sweet and sour meatballs for one of the appetizers.
Did a Sandra Lee, semi homemade. The teriayki sauce was gross with the pre made meatballs, so I added pineapple juice, vinegar and brown sugar. Other than that, the canned cranberry sauce, which is loved by all but bro and sil. Is all that was pre made.
I hold the 9th grade HomeEc award for my pie crust, bought the premade ones one time, that was enough for me.

I buy Bob Evan's mashed potatoes because of the amount of potatoes I would have to peel, cook, mash. I prefer my taters with skins on. I would make them like that if others would eat them, but they won't. I hate to admit it but I have a hard time putting tons of effort into foods I will not be eating. Everything else homemade.

mandyk, welcome!

I hear you ! I rarely cook food I don't like, as matter of fact rarely does anything go into my shopping cart that I don't like. If I'm buying it and cooking it I need to like it!

Actually I do cook the odd steak or roast of beef, both of which I don't care for, but that's about as far as I go. So much for cooking whatever makes them happy ! LOL

Interesting read. Stay flexible folks! Never say, "Never!" None of us know what life will throw at us by the next holiday dinner.

Store bakery pumpkin pie tastes pretty damn good when you're flat on your back crying in pain & a family member or friend brings you that pie...brings it to your bed on a paper plate with a plastic fork! I'll forget the taste of the filling or the flakiness of the crust but I'll never forget the love that was contained in that pie.

/tricia

Chase: You said it better than I did. Thank you. I cook from scratch, because I love to do so. Do I need to prove love by putting a label on my dishes that says "made especially for you by... -- No.
Nancylouise: What right do you have to question my right to be on this forum? I am a good cook; I love to cook for my family and friends but also have the right to respond to the OP and to question what makes a great meal for family and friends.

I have never thought that I need to prove to my family that I love them by cooking something that says "made especially for you by...

I do it because I want to!

Cooking is an expression of love to me and I don't mind using cream of XXX soups or a cake mix in a recipe. It is still homemade to me.

I like to cook/bake things that I know my family likes and it makes me happy!

For me, setting the table and putting together a meal for people, is as much an expression of love with bought food than with "made from scratch" ; it's the end result that counts, imo..... For me cooking is not necessarily "love", since I'm overwhelmed by it when it's more than 4 people to feed.

I prove my love by taking a bus to buy my chicken pot pies at a store where they do them so well ; in fact I love my family so much I will cab it to the cupcake store where they make the assorted minis I crave all the time.

but I really don't think scratch cooking is snobbish, I'm always so very pleased with myself when I do it, I usually can't stop talking about it, lol; Annie, I think you got people irritated by saying that.

Right back at you annie1971. What right do you have to tell people that cooking from scratch is not a sign of love for friends or family. Sorry,you don't get to decide for people how they express love. Your nasty comments about cooking seem to me that as was stated before cooking is a chore for you. Something that you don't like doing. So yeah, I do wonder why someone is on a forum about cooking. NancyLouise

Mitchdesj, I had to chuckle when you wrote, "I'm overwhelmed by it when it's more than 4 people to feed," since after 5 years of being an empty nester I still haven't figured out how to cook for 2 instead of 5. I'm always fixing way more food than DH and I can eat, or should eat. lol

Sharon, you are so eloquent. Very well said.

Sally

Cooking from scratch became more important to me when I heard my DD telling her children about Grammy's "triangle potatoes", "circle ham", "turkey lurkey soup"--all names that she had for what I cooked when she was little. It truly surprised me and warmed my heart that she had those memories and wanted to pass them on to her kids.

I didn't remember about the "triangle potatoes", she reminded me that it was her name for Filet Salteado.

A gauge for how uninterested my and my DH's family is in cooking--they all think I am the best cook! That makes me chuckle inside and also raised the bar for me. I'm glad I have you all to help me with the facade.

Cathy

Nancylouise: What was the original question on the thread??? We all have answers and opinions to CF questions. I did not say that not cooking from scratch was NOT a sign of love. I said (or meant to say, maybe Chase said it better for me) is that cooking from scratch is not necessary to show love nor is cooking from scratch necessary to putting a great dinner together for family and friends. Maybe that opinion doesn't coincide with your opinion; however this forum is not about you. You will learn that over time.
Maybe I don't belong on this CF, but shouldn't you be out shooting a turkey, plucking it and throwing it into a pot for your next family get together? Or are you going to buy that bird at a supermarket?

I guess what really roiled the mud was new Annie's statement that she thought scratch cooking only was snobbish....to her credit she said "in my opinion".
We all "entertain" our families the way we think best expresses our love....unless we admit we just don't care....and I think we all care.
I have a friend who is an awful cook....she really doesn't...but she does a wonderful loving family dinner....her DH puts a boneless rib roast in the oven, she washes some potatoes and wraps them in foil, he makes a lovely Ceasar salad, she buys rolls and a bad Costco cheese cake....and sets a wonderful table, with favors and all sorts of lovely things....shaped ice cubes in the glasses, molded butter, sprigs of herbs on the napkin rings and a silver punch bowl full of ice and bottles of champagne on the coffee table. Not much cooked by her but for sure her hand is in the party
Not much "scratch cooking"...but lots of stuff done with love.
Perhaps what so many of us are trying to say...is love is expressed by giving of yourself....and the more of yourself you give, the more love is expressed.
We all know stories about parents who relegate the raising of their children to hired help. They say they are expressing their love because a nanny isn't cheap etc etc.
we know that all things can now be bought....everything from home made cakes to pies to ready decorated Christmas trees.
Do you thing you are "expressing love" for your family if you call the caterer and order a dinner....and call the servers and window dressers to set the table and decorate the house....and you simply stand at the door?
Or does an "expression of love" involve a giving of soem of yourself...your time and energy and creativity?
I think that's what us scratch cooks are saying, we give of ourselves, and that is our way of showing love.

But on another plane, cooking and providing food is the very most primitive sort of nurture. So when we prepare food and place in front of those we love, we are nurturing them in the most primitive way.
Whew! Got heavy for a while there!
Linda C

Annie1971- this is what you said:
>>Cooking EVERYTHING from scratch does not display the love of family. It may show that you can and would prefer to cook from scratch -- but nothing more.This is NOT the same as
>>cooking from scratch is not necessary to show love You also said
>>Scratch-Only is snobbish in my opinion.Even if one adds "in my opinion", if one says something inflammatory one can expect to be castigated for it. If one throws a cat among the pigeons, even if the cat adores pigeons, the pigeons are going to get ruffled.
It is always a good idea to choose one's words wisely to correctly express what one wishes to say, or else, to use a cooking expression, "If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen."

Annie1971: My o my! You're sort of the Kate Gosslin of the cooking world! Lots of poor word choices.