I’ve discovered that I love cooking from scratch. Now, don’t get me wrong — this definitely doesn’t happen every day. I still have to carve out time for it. But when I do have the time… oh my goodness, I absolutely love it.

1. Making bread and dough
Okay, I cheat a little — I use a bread machine to mix my dough. But I use that thing every single week! Friday night is pizza night at our house, so the machine mixes up my dough while I prep the toppings. I also love making a good white sandwich bread. I prefer mixing in the machine but baking in the oven.

2. Chicken broth
I found an Instant Pot recipe I like, so anytime I have a chicken carcass, I make a big batch of broth. I freeze it in 2-cup portions and use it for grits, soups, and other recipes. The crockpot works great too — just let it simmer on low for 10–12 hours.

3. Enchiladas
One time my friend’s mom came to visit from Mexico, and she taught me how to make verde sauce from scratch. Now I grow my own tomatillos and batch-make pans of enchiladas. I feel so proud every time I pull one out of the oven!
(No, I don’t make the tortillas… maybe one day!)

4. Snacks and sweet treats
I’ve had so much fun making snacks and treats from scratch so we can skip the packaged stuff. Honestly, these recipes are usually more work and more expensive than the store-bought versions, so this isn’t a weekly thing for us. But when I can give my kids a scratch-made version of a granola bar or a Little Debbie snack? It feels amazing.