Scratch cooking doesn’t impress

By Debbie Irmen (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Thursday, January 10, 2008

Debbie Irmen

It’s uncanny how so much in life seems to come full circle.

Fashion is the obvious example. The hip-hugging, bell-bottomed pants of my youth are now worn by my kids.

Even youthful hip talk defines generations: I use the word “swell” a fair bit; and the other day someone responded to my querie on their well-being with “groovy.” It took me back a few years.

But I never thought a necessary activity, like cooking, also has its trends.

I was explaining to a couple friends how I had made a cake over the weekend — from scratch. I actually measured out the flour and sugar and cocoa for the chocolate layer birthday cake. There was no opening a box and adding an egg and one-third cup of oil for my birthday gal — or my usual route, buying an appropriately decorated cake for the occasion.

Neither one of my friends gave any indication — not even so much as an eye twitch — that I had accomplished anything special. Of course, the gals are from a time before box mixes and disposal diapers. They learned to cook by scratch, and probably still make some of their favorite dishes from scratch.

I remember a number of years ago a friend was talking about making macaroni and cheese, her kids’ favorite meal, from scratch. At the time, I didn’t even know one could make mac and cheese from scratch. It sounded horribly complicated when all one had to do was open a box, boil the noodles, add the cheese packet and stir. I was quite proficient with the process as the meal was also my kids’ favorite dish when they were young.

I told my husband my plans and went to check the cupboard to make sure I had all the ingredients required to make the masterpiece cake. Turned out I needed more butter, which I shared with Randy.

He asked me if I needed a box mix. No, I said.

He asked again — What kind of box mix do you need?

I don’t need a box mix, I’m making the cake from scratch, I explained.

Apparently, he just couldn’t grasp the concept of making a cake from scratch. His next question nearly sent me over the edge to impatience.

Should I pick up one of those decorated cakes?

No, I’m making a cake from scratch and will decorate it myself.

He finally left for the store.

The cake was good, though I think it is difficult to mess up a Betty Crocker cookbook recipe: Everything is explained step-by-step and so thoroughly.

I even made the frosting from scratch. It was a powdered sugar frosting, which my mom used to make for all our cakes when I was growing up. I just hadn’t made it for years: One doesn’t need to make frosting when a cake is bought from the store, already frosted and decorated.

The frosting, to which I added cocoa according to the recipe, was also good.

Making the cake took a little longer than adding eggs and oil to a box mix would have, but I enjoyed the process.

I think I’ll have to do more of this baking from scratch. I just won’t brag about it to anyone over the age of say, 30.