five things I’m scared to make
Ever have anything you’re scared to try to make at home or from scratch? I have tons of them. Here are five of them:
1. pie dough – ever had a terrible pie? Yeah, I’m scared but maybe this tutorial will unscare me? Tell me you have done it before and it’s not that bad.
2. homemade pasta – I’m scared…yes scared. My friend, Paula, does it beautifully. I keep trying to get her to come over to my house and show me how to make pasta.
3. tofu – I would love to make it at home one day…the homemade stuff tastes the best. Growing up, we used to live near a family that made it from scratch and my Mom used to call her order in and pick it up on the way home. Ahh, the memories.
4. buttermilk biscuits – good ones are good, very good. bad ones are dry.
5. scones – same as biscuits. I have had really bad scones before I had my first amazing one at Crown & Crumpet in SF with Glory. I bought this cookbook and am dying to try my hand at homemade scones.
Now, how about a puppy picture?
That’s Charley and Angel (the puppy). They have this evening routine of hanging out under my desk while I work.
If you follow me on instagram, you might be annoyed with loving my endless puppy pics. I can’t help myself!
Now that I have aired my dirty laundry and told you what I’m scared of trying…is there anything you’re afraid of trying to make at home in your kitchen? Tell me your five things. And if you have ever made any of the five from the above, tell me about it…I want to know all about it.
Disclosure: I have to say that there’s an affiliate link in this post.
Sign up today to receive exclusive content and news from The Little Kitchen:
Hi, my name is Julie and I love to share the cooking and baking adventures from my little kitchen. Cooking and baking is in my blood, thanks to my Mom! 
Americone Dream Blondie Sandwiches
Florida Seafood Pasta in a White Wine Sauce
Recipe Girl Cookbook & KitchenAid Blender Giveaway
Gorgonzola Smashed Potatoes
Tempura Shrimp & Vegetables
Braised Beef Short Ribs with Tortelloni in a Marsala Cream Sauce (Slow Cooker Recipe)
Chicken & Biscuit Waffles from Breakfast for Dinner
Candy Stuffed Brownie Bites
Spiedies
The Best Chocolate Cake Ever with Pudding Frosting
kitchen newsletter:
Ok, first – thanks for being vulnerable like all the rest of us.
Pie Crust – easy peasy! Use a food processor to mix the dough – do not take your butter out of the fridge, keep it cold. also, be sure to use ice water. Just don’t let the food processor go to long and heat up the dough. Once you have the dough ball, you can roll it out between two pieces of parchment paper, put it in your pie plate and put it in the fridge or freezer for a little while before you are ready to bake it. If it’s a double crust, you would obviously split the dough in two and leave the top between the parchment. That makes the butter chill up and makes the crust flaky.
Pasta – also easy. Do it in the food processor also. Then put it through a manual past machine (I don’t have an electric one)…I have made fettucini noodles this way very successfully. They are delicious! also, I’ve helped make ravioli with my mom. And, if you are making a dumpling type noodle, you just need to roll it out thinly (with or without the machine) and cut it into pieces to drop in the boiling water.
Buttermilk biscuits – I haven’t tried them. Tried non-buttermilk ones and I rolled them too thin. They tasted fine, but were a little crunchier than I wanted. It worked ok for the sausage gravy I was serving them with, though.
Tofu – haven’t ever made it, can’t help there.
Scones – I have seen them made and they appear easy. I don’t think I’ve ever made them. Just give it a shot. How bad could it be?
good luck trying new things – be sure and blog about your successes and even the messes!
[Reply]
What a fun post Julie!
I’m pretty much afraid of anything that has yeast in it. It just doesn’t cooperate with me for some reason!
[Reply]
Ahh pie dough!! Yes you read my mind!! I have pie pans that are collecting dust because I am too afraid of the delicate dough! We need to conquer this fear!
[Reply]
I always felt that way about pie dough. I would buy frozen and then was called out on it, I’m a chef. Not a big fan of Martha but this is really good and bullet proof.
http://www.marthastewart.com/283515/basic-pie-dough
[Reply]
I would be HAPPY to show you how to make pasta. That would be a ball (literally ; ) xoxo
[Reply]
Julie, three of your things can be perfected with one tip. COLD BUTTER for pie crust, biscuits and scones. Work fast to get the dough in the oven while the butter is still cold, so these baked items are light and flaky.
PS… I hate making sushi at home and am scared of souffles!
[Reply]
i’m legit scared of fish! the smell, cleaning it, the aftermath. but i’ll eat it like crazy! haha. trust me though, pasta is a cinch! once you try it you’ll see.
[Reply]
What a great, honest post this is Julie! It’s so humbling to know I’m not the only one afraid of homemade pasta! Thanks for sharing. Also, I’m having a ChicWrap giveaway today that you should enter!
[Reply]
Love those puppy pics! I’m also scared of croissants.
[Reply]
Can’t wait to see you tackle every item!
[Reply]
I know you can make pie dough and buttermilk biscuits! Check out my blog for those two recipes. My daughter made a homemade Pecan Pie and made her own pie crust and she was only like 11 at the time.
You can do it.
[Reply]
You must make all of these! Each of these are far better when homemade. Although I’ve never tried tofu yet. That one I want to try!
[Reply]
1) Foie Gras
2) Hollondaise (though I’m working on conquering that)
3) Deboning a whole chicken
4) Pasta (with you there)
5) Puff pastry (why bother)
Great blog, by the way. Saw that you’re attending Seattle BlogHer Food Conference…hope to meet you there!
[Reply]
I am terrified of making scones aswell. My nana and my mum make such deliciously fluffy scones that I always think no matter how mine turn out they will never be as nice so I just never bother. LOL.
[Reply]
You need to make scones! I was always afraid to make them too and I finally did it this weekend. They are much easier than I expected and they turned out perfect. Now I’m kicking myself for not doing it sooner!
[Reply]
seriously. come visit me already and we’ll make biscuits and scones. they’re so easy! and even the ugly ones taste good
[Reply]
Your puppies are SO CUTE! Like you, I am scared of pie crust but I do have homemade pasta tackled. Here’s a blog post I did on it:
http://shesontherun.com/2012/02/getting-crafty-pillows-and-pasta/
[Reply]
Other than the scones, you named all my fears as well! Anything yeast-related scares the crap out of me!
[Reply]
ooh, pasta. definitely pasta. scary.
[Reply]
1. pie crust
2. ravioli
3. cream puffs
4. fried chicken
5. lamb chops
[Reply]
Don’t be scared! You can dooo it! (said al la The Waterboy)
[Reply]
Pie dough, buttermilk biscuits, and scones aren’t so hard to make! The only thing you really have to avoid with all three is overworking the dough. I used to be afraid of pie dough too, but it’s pretty easy if you have a food processor and still perfectly doable with a pastry blender.
I too am afraid of homemade pasta, though. I roll out dumplings, and I’ve had them come out sort of tough and too thick before. I’d hate to have the same thing happen with pasta. I’d also really like to try making my own puff pastry, but I’m terrified of doing it!
[Reply]
Pingback: America’s Test Kitchen’s DIY Cookbook Giveaway | the little kitchen
Pingback: five things: chit chat edition | the little kitchen
Pingback: How to Make Homemade Pasta with KitchenAid | the little kitchen