The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making by Alana Chernila

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  • Ricotta

    Ricotta

    from The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila

    • Categories: Cooking ahead; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: milk; lemons
    show

  • Crème fraîche

    from The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila

    • Categories: Cooking ahead; French; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: heavy cream; buttermilk
    show

  • Yogurt

    from The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila

    • Categories: Cooking ahead; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: milk; yogurt starter
    show

  • Mozzarella

    from The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila

    • Categories: Cooking ahead
    • Ingredients: powdered citric acid; milk; liquid rennet
    show
  • Butter

    Butter

    from The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila

    • Categories: Dips, spreads & salsas; Cooking ahead; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: heavy cream
    show

  • Buttermilk

    from The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila

    • Categories: Beverages / drinks (no-alcohol); Cooking ahead; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: milk; buttermilk culture
    show

  • Cream cheese

    from The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila

    • Categories: Dips, spreads & salsas; Cooking ahead
    • Ingredients: heavy cream; milk; direct set mesophilic starter; liquid rennet
    show

  • Granola

    from The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila

    • Categories: Breakfast / brunch; Cooking ahead
    • Ingredients: old-fashioned oats; sesame seeds; sunflower seeds; sliced almonds; unsweetened coconut; ground cinnamon; maple syrup; vanilla extract; almond extract
    show

  • Instant oatmeal

    from The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila

    • Categories: Breakfast / brunch; Cooking ahead
    • Ingredients: old-fashioned oats; ground cinnamon
    show

  • Buttered popcorn

    from The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila

    • Categories: Snacks; Cooking ahead; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: popcorn kernels; butter
    show

  • Maple popcorn

    from The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila

    • Categories: Snacks; Cooking ahead; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: butter; popcorn kernels; maple syrup; raw sugar
    show

  • Toaster pastries

    from The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila

    • Categories: Pies, tarts & pastries; Breakfast / brunch; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: butter; all-purpose flour; apple cider vinegar; filling of your choice
    show

  • Car snack 1 (the cereal bar)

    from The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila

    • Categories: Brownies, slices & bars; Snacks; Cooking ahead
    • Ingredients: old-fashioned oats; puffed millet cereal; dried fruits of your choice; sliced almonds; ground cinnamon; dark chocolate chips; brown rice syrup; vanilla extract
    show

  • Car snack 2 (the sweet bar)

    from The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila

    • Categories: Brownies, slices & bars; Snacks; Cooking ahead
    • Ingredients: butter; golden syrup; old-fashioned oats; sliced almonds
    show

  • Car snack 3 (the nutty granola bar)

    from The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila

    • Categories: Brownies, slices & bars; Snacks; Cooking ahead
    • Ingredients: coconut oil; nut butter; vanilla extract; honey; old-fashioned oats; sliced almonds; unsweetened coconut; dark chocolate chips; oat bran; sesame seeds; ground cinnamon
    show

  • Potato chips

    from The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila

    • Categories: Snacks; Side dish; Cooking ahead; Vegan; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: potatoes
    show

  • Mixed roasted nuts

    from The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila

    • Categories: Snacks; Cooking ahead; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: chile powder; maple syrup; rosemary; unsalted mixed nuts
    show

  • Jerky

    from The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila

    • Categories: Snacks; Cooking ahead
    • Ingredients: beef; maple syrup; soy sauce; dried red pepper flakes
    show

  • Applesauce

    from The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila

    • Categories: Cooking ahead
    • Ingredients: apples; lemons
    show

  • Jam

    from The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila

    • Categories: Jams, jellies & preserves; Cooking ahead
    • Ingredients: berries of your choice; Pomona's Universal Pectin; sugar
    show

  • Cucumber pickles

    from The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila

    • Categories: Chutneys, pickles & relishes; Cooking ahead; Vegan; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: cucumbers; apple cider vinegar; distilled vinegar; dill seeds
    show

  • Sauerkraut

    from The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila

    • Categories: Chutneys, pickles & relishes; Cooking ahead; German; Vegan; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: cabbage
    show

  • Cranberry sauce

    from The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila

    • Categories: Chutneys, pickles & relishes; Cooking ahead; Vegan; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: cranberries; canned mandarin oranges; cinnamon sticks; whole cloves; cardamom pods; maple syrup
    show
  • Roasted tomatoes for the freezer

    Roasted tomatoes for the freezer

    from The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila

    • Categories: Cooking ahead; Vegan; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: tomatoes; garlic; herbs of your choice
    show

  • Canned tomatoes

    from The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila

    • Categories: Cooking ahead; Vegan; Vegetarian
    • Ingredients: tomatoes; bottled lemon juice
    show

Notes about this book

  • CynthiasCooking on October 30, 2018

    I loved this book. I read it as part of a cookbook club "cookalong". It was marvelous to discover that I could make things like mustard myself from scratch. And this book convinced me to try making mozzarella which I then went on to teach several friends to do.

Notes about Recipes in this book

  • Hamburger buns

    • josephinetomato on May 15, 2014

      These came out just the way they should. They weren't the soft squishy hamburger buns from the grocery shelf but rather soft, tasty buns with an almost brioche crust. We ate half the recipe and froze the rest. Glad to have them in my freezer.

    • averythingcooks on July 26, 2021

      These are lovely! I actually used my stand mixer but it was okay - the dough rose beautifully (perhaps a very hot humid day helped....but the dough basically overflowed my usual “proofing bowl”). One thing (totally my fault)....I was trying to divide the dough evenly and actually ended up going with 6 “slightly” larger balls rather than 8. And yes = they are huge! Lesson learned for next time -and based on how good they are, there will be a next time.

  • Chocolate pudding

    • Globegal on December 27, 2018

      Creamy, delicious, easy to make

    • H_Leblanc123 on March 27, 2022

      Really good for kid's school lunches, and really good for mom too.

  • Jerky

    • peaceoutdesign on December 29, 2017

      I increased the Soy to 2T and added 1t of grated ginger

  • Instant oatmeal

    • texannewyorker on October 09, 2016

      This recipe really works, it's so easy, adaptable to personal tastes and is delicious. This coming from someone who doesn't *love* oatmeal. Fantastic to make ahead and have a quick healthy breakfast on weekday mornings.

  • Toaster pastries

    • texannewyorker on October 09, 2016

      I used blackberry jam for my filling, and these are absolutely delicious!

  • Car snack 1 (the cereal bar)

    • texannewyorker on October 09, 2016

      I love these! I've made them several times - easy, no-bake and delicious.

  • Car snack 3 (the nutty granola bar)

    • texannewyorker on October 09, 2016

      These are *very* crumbly but really, really tasty.

  • Italian dressing

    • texannewyorker on October 09, 2016

      Fantastic! Easy to throw together, and it's amazing to quickly marinate shrimp in it then throw it on the grill.

  • Nut butter

    • texannewyorker on October 09, 2016

      Very good base recipe for making your own nut butter - I usually do peanut butter, but it would work for other nuts too. A great guideline for anyone unfamiliar with making your own nut butter.

  • Beef stew

    • averythingcooks on December 10, 2020

      I made a 1/2 recipe using red wine (dark beer or all beef stock are also given as options). With paprika in the flour dredge, a lot of aromatics, a fresh herb bundle and chunks of celery, carrot and potatoes, this was a delicious classic stew with a rich "gravy" and fork tender chunks of meat. Worth repeating!

  • Buttermilk ranch dressing

    • averythingcooks on February 03, 2022

      We liked the base of this ranch (buttermilk, yogurt & sour cream) but because we both thought it needed fresh garlic, I added some. The fresh herbs are great but dill would also be a good addition to the parley and chives.

  • Breadsticks

    • averythingcooks on January 13, 2022

      This recipe started out great but I did not need the full amount of flour called for during the kneading so I would add slowly here. I also think that the amount of poppy seeds could easily be halved as I could not get them dispersed evenly by kneading & lots ended up wasted on the board. I formed 30 (not 32) dough balls by weighing out 13-15 g pieces BUT here's where the trouble really began. I could NOT roll these pieces into 8 inch ropes no matter what I did so I ended up combining 2 dough balls for each rope. The result was probably fatter sticks than intended but they were certainly the crunchy breadstick I was looking for. We dipped them in our creamy dinner soup and were pretty happy with that.

  • Cheese crackers

    • averythingcooks on July 23, 2020

      The instructions say to leave the baked crackers in the oven (once turned off) for an hour ....hmmmmm - never seen that before BUT did it . Stole one off the pan early - not very cheesy or crispy BUT after requisite hour , they were MUCH better :)

  • Pizza sauce

    • averythingcooks on August 12, 2021

      I've never used a "no cook" pizza sauce before so I gave this a shot. At 1st taste, it was a bit sweet for us but some minced garlic & a shot of red wine vinegar quickly fixed that. The fresh basil was noticeable (I used lots), it was certainly super quick to throw together & was good on last night's pizza. I will likely repeat this one.

  • Mustard

    • KCKB on April 03, 2022

      This recipe is good with a mix of brown and yellow seeds to adjust the spiciness (we like a ratio of 1T brown to 7T yellow). I also add a tsp of turmeric for color.

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Reviews about this book

  • Kitchn

    It feels comprehensive. It feels empowering. It feels like I can clear out a few other DIY books and just use this one instead. I love how Alana just gives us the straight-up recipe...

    Full review

  • Oregonian

    Most recipes are refreshingly simple and easy and include tips for longer storage. Chernila's writing is personal and engaging, and many of the generous headnotes are longer than the actual recipes.

    Full review

  • Fine Cooking

    This is a wonderful starter cookbook for a novice looking to upgrade from store-bought granola, hummus, and pizza. And for the seasoned cook, it’s a welcome invitation to try something new...

    Full review

  • Serious Eats

    The Homemade Pantry is not only a really fun cookbook, one written with 'project cooks' in mind, but also a real eye-opener.

    Full review

  • Gluten-Free Girl

    Mostly, though, I love the casual way she invites us into her kitchen, even if it is a mess. It’s clear that Alana, and many of us, are less interested in the pretense of the perfect kitchen...

    Full review

  • Boston Globe

    ...the cookbook is the vision of Alana Chernila, a food blogger and busy parent based in Western Massachusetts. It’s an ode to the joy of making everyday foods at home...

    Full review

  • Baking Bites

    ...you will find plenty of recipes that will not only give you the satisfaction of having made a favorite food from scratch, but are well worth the time it takes to put them together.

    Full review

  • Food in Jars by Marisa McClellan

    The book reads like a memoir that just happens to have good things to eat tucked here and there.

    Full review

Reviews about Recipes in this Book

  • Strawberry ice cream

    • Leite's Culinaria

      Kindly note, it’s not a cloying ice cream, deferring to the pleasing tartness of fresh, in-season strawberries, rather than a lot of sugar, for a pleasingly tempered sweetness.

      Full review

  • Ready mix

    • Fine Cooking

      With this ready-to-go dry mix stashed in my cupboard, I can serve fluffy, tender buttermilk pancakes or waffles for breakfast on any day of the week.

      Full review

  • Best frosting

    • Fine Cooking

      She’s not kidding—this unfussy cream cheese frosting is awesome stuff, and it’s not too sweet because you add the confectioners’ sugar to taste.

      Full review

  • Cornbread

    • Leite's Culinaria

      This moist, ever-so-slightly sweet, faintly maple-y corn bread is able to sop up all manner of chili, pan gravy, and sauces in a single swipe.

      Full review

  • Corn tortillas

    • Serious Eats

      The recipe is simple enough, just masa harina and water mixed, pressed and toasted up in a cast iron pan. Once you make tortillas yourself you might not go back to the bagged version again.

      Full review

  • Coffee liqueur

    • Serious Eats

      ...has more coffee flavor and less of the syrupiness that comes with Kahlua. And when you have this stuff on hand, the cocktail making (and baking) possibilities become infinite.

      Full review

  • Hot sauce

    • Serious Eats

      This recipe is really just a template. Feel free to play around with not only the chiles but the sugar and acid components as well.

      Full review

  • Roasted tomatoes for the freezer

    • Serious Eats

      This slow cooking method concentrates all of that great tomato flavor, making them perfect for freezing and breaking out during the cooler, tomato-less months for a bright taste of summer.

      Full review

  • Butter

    • Serious Eats

      Even if you're not going to make butter from scratch all the time, this is one DIY that you should try at least once.

      Full review

  • Ricotta

    • Serious Eats

      Homemade ricotta beats out store bought by miles. And it's not all that difficult to DIY. No complaints, this stuff is good.

      Full review

  • Ketchup

    • Boston Globe

      Here’s the catch: As much as I liked Chernila’s, I can’t imagine making it again. For starters, I slaved over it for two hours,..

      Full review

  • Toaster pastries

    • Boston Globe

      ...Chernila’s toaster pastries are delicious, with a dense, buttery crust...For 90 minutes of work, I got six would-be Pop Tarts that looked and tasted nothing like the ones I remembered.

      Full review

  • Chicken nuggets

    • Boston Globe

      The crucial difference? They tasted like chicken - and something I wouldn’t be ashamed to make for guests, especially the wee ones who don’t know how hearty chicken nuggets are supposed to be.

      Full review
  • ISBN 10 030788726X
  • ISBN 13 9780307887269
  • Linked ISBNs
  • Published Apr 03 2012
  • Format Paperback
  • Page Count 288
  • Language English
  • Countries United States
  • Imprint Clarkson Potter

Publishers Text

In her debut cookbook, Alana Chernila inspires you to step inside your kitchen, take a look around, and change the way you relate to food. The Homemade Pantry was born of a tight budget, Alana’s love for sharing recipes with her farmers’ market customers, and a desire to enjoy a happy cooking and eating life with her young family. On a mission to kick their packaged-food habit, she learned that with a little determination, anything she could buy at the store could be made in her kitchen, and her homemade versions were more satisfying, easier to make than she expected, and tastier. 
           
Here are her very approachable recipes for 101 everyday staples, organized by supermarket aisle—from crackers to cheese, pesto to sauerkraut, and mayonnaise to toaster pastries. The Homemade Pantry is a celebration of food made by hand—warm mozzarella that is stretched, thick lasagna noodles rolled from flour and egg, fresh tomato sauce that bubbles on the stove. Whether you are trying a recipe for butter, potato chips, spice mixes, or ketchup, you will discover the magic and thrill that comes with the homemade pantry.
           
Alana captures the humor and messiness of everyday family life, too. A true friend to the home cook, she shares her “tense moments” to help you get through your own. With stories offering patient, humble advice, tips for storing the homemade foods, and rich four-color photography throughout, The Homemade Pantry will quickly become the go-to source for how to make delicious staples in your home kitchen.

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