What is cooking scratch?

"Cooking from scratch" means preparing food using raw ingredients and minimal processed items. This typically involves:

* Starting with fresh, whole foods: Fruits, vegetables, grains, meats, poultry, fish, etc.

* Avoiding pre-made or processed foods: Like canned soups, frozen dinners, boxed mixes, etc.

* Making ingredients from scratch: For example, making your own bread instead of using store-bought bread.

Benefits of cooking from scratch:

* Control over ingredients: You can choose exactly what goes into your food, avoiding unwanted additives, preservatives, or excessive sugar and salt.

* Fresher and more flavorful: Freshly prepared food tends to taste better and have a more vibrant flavor.

* Healthier: By controlling the ingredients, you can make healthier choices and reduce your intake of processed foods, unhealthy fats, and added sugars.

* More cost-effective: In the long run, cooking from scratch can be cheaper than buying prepared meals.

* More rewarding: The process of cooking from scratch can be a satisfying and creative experience.

Examples of cooking from scratch:

* Making a salad with fresh vegetables, a homemade vinaigrette, and grilled chicken.

* Baking a cake using flour, sugar, eggs, and butter from scratch.

* Cooking a soup with fresh vegetables and broth, rather than using canned soup.

* Making a stir-fry with fresh vegetables and protein, and a homemade sauce.

Note: There's no need to go 100% "from scratch" all the time. Even using pre-made ingredients like broth or marinades can still be part of a healthy and flavorful meal. It's all about finding a balance that works for you.