# Not worth the culinary effort. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 3, 2017, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-worth-the-culinary-effort/790435 "2017-07-03T15:14:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-worth-the-culinary-effort/790435/101 "2017-07-04T16:24:41Z")
Sourdough. I’ll make a lot of the stuff mentioned here (cornbread, muffins, pie crust, biscuits, buttermilk-anything), but each and every attempt at homemade sourdough starter tasted alarmingly like ass. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-worth-the-culinary-effort/790435/102 "2017-07-04T17:27:28Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > Sourdough. I’ll make a lot of the stuff mentioned here (cornbread, muffins, pie crust, biscuits, buttermilk-anything), but each and every attempt at homemade sourdough starter tasted alarmingly like ass. It really is best to start with an established starter. There’s plenty of places you can get some online, even for free. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-worth-the-culinary-effort/790435/103 "2017-07-04T17:32:24Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Heh, I was going to mention this as something _not_ worth the effort. The taste/effort ratio is totally worth it because it’s easy and tastier than canned, but when I want soup I want soup now, not more than an hour from now. When I make turkey carcass soup, I make a HUGE pot of it, enuf to last the two of us for almost a week. Then, it is worth the trouble. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-worth-the-culinary-effort/790435/104 "2017-07-04T17:54:07Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > I will NEVER make homemade mashed potatoes again if I can help it. Peel 'em, cut 'em, boil 'em in a pot, then use a mixer to mash 'em and add milk/butter. All that time and effort and things to clean? Just. Not. Worth. It. Not to me. We use Yukon Gold, no peeling necessary. And they taste better, needs less butter. We use a masher, not a mixer also. So it’s cut, boil, mash. easy. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-worth-the-culinary-effort/790435/105 "2017-07-04T18:51:01Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > We use Yukon Gold, no peeling necessary. And they taste better, needs less butter. We use a masher, not a mixer also. So it’s cut, boil, mash. easy. I dated a woman who didn’t peel mashed potatoes. They were pink. I believe Mothers just want to get food on the table so that the children will shut up. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-worth-the-culinary-effort/790435/106 "2017-07-04T19:20:00Z")
I made moussaka once, some time last year. It was amazing,…really, really good…but took an afternoon. And filled the sink with dishes. And was expensive for one pan of food. If my wife asks me to make it again, I’ll distract her with something shiny like a new car instead. ETA and there’s a Greek restaurant a half-mile away. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-worth-the-culinary-effort/790435/107 "2017-07-04T19:40:29Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > I made moussaka once, some time last year. It was amazing,…really, really good…but took an afternoon. And filled the sink with dishes. And was expensive for one pan of food. > > If my wife asks me to make it again, I’ll distract her with something shiny like a new car instead. > > ETA and there’s a Greek restaurant a half-mile away. I’ve kinda sorta made it with ground beef. What did you use? ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-worth-the-culinary-effort/790435/108 "2017-07-04T19:45:34Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > I made moussaka once, some time last year. It was amazing,…really, really good…but took an afternoon. And filled the sink with dishes. And was expensive for one pan of food. > > If my wife asks me to make it again, I’ll distract her with something shiny like a new car instead. > > ETA and there’s a Greek restaurant a half-mile away. > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I’ve kinda sorta made it with ground beef. What did you use? Wish I had the recipe handy, but it’s shoved in a drawer somewhere…ground lamb, I don’t recall if there was another meat in there or not. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-worth-the-culinary-effort/790435/109 "2017-07-04T19:47:22Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > I made moussaka once, some time last year. It was amazing,…really, really good…but took an afternoon. And filled the sink with dishes. And was expensive for one pan of food. I love moussaka, but I’ve never tried to make it. After reading your post, I thought I’d share this part of a review on one recipe I found: > [@](#): > > As for taste, I’d give it 4 stars. But for return on investment, I gave it 3 stars. It’s a lot of work and clean up. It took 2 3/4 hours to prepare… ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-worth-the-culinary-effort/790435/110 "2017-07-04T19:50:16Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I love moussaka, but I’ve never tried to make it. After reading your post, I thought I’d share this part of a review on one recipe I found: Yes! Exactly that. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-worth-the-culinary-effort/790435/111 "2017-07-04T20:01:01Z")
My father used to make “moussaka a la Turk”. He lined the casserole pan with eggplant skins. The eggplant flesh was mixed with ground meat and spices and went inside. When he decanted it, it looked like Turkish fez. I’m allergic to eggplant, and never tried it, but it was a good showpiece for a dinner party, and worth the effort, I think. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-worth-the-culinary-effort/790435/112 "2017-07-04T20:18:35Z")
Canned tomatoes. Totally not worth the effort to skin them. Pie crusts. Phyllo pastry. Takes hours to make when I could be drinking a nice single malt and letting the frozen dough thaw, and will taste just as good as anything I could possibly make. For those of you enthusing about mashed potatoes, add a dollop of horseradish to your mix, trust me it’s worth it. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-worth-the-culinary-effort/790435/113 "2017-07-04T20:33:23Z")
My late Grandmother made a coconut pie with yellow, buttery crust. It tasted so good folks ate the “pie bone”. We make it with store bought crusts, but I wish I knew how to make that buttery crust. I don’t like to cook for myself. My favorite way is to cook with my Wife. She really likes [“The Caliph Fainted.”](http://www.food.com/recipe/imam-bayildi-a-stuffed-eggplant-recipe-from-asia-minor-84776#activity-feed) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-worth-the-culinary-effort/790435/114 "2017-07-04T20:39:03Z")
What’s a ‘pie bone’? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-worth-the-culinary-effort/790435/115 "2017-07-04T20:40:43Z")
Pizza dough. Dough from a local pizzeria or an Italian American grocery store is great, easy to use, and only a couple of bucks. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-worth-the-culinary-effort/790435/116 "2017-07-04T20:57:38Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > What’s a ‘pie bone’? Guessing, that portion of the crust around the edge of the pan that doesn’t have any of the pie-y goodness on it. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-worth-the-culinary-effort/790435/117 "2017-07-04T20:59:19Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > Guessing, that portion of the crust around the edge of the pan that doesn’t have any of the pie-y goodness on it. That’s the best part! > [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Pizza dough. Yes. Not worth the effort when you can get it from Trader Joe’s for $1.29. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-worth-the-culinary-effort/790435/118 "2017-07-04T21:08:51Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > Guessing, that portion of the crust around the edge of the pan that doesn’t have any of the pie-y goodness on it. Yes. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-worth-the-culinary-effort/790435/119 "2017-07-04T21:13:48Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > That’s the best part! Have you eaten my Grandmother’s pie? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-worth-the-culinary-effort/790435/120 "2017-07-04T21:17:49Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Have you eaten my Grandmother’s pie? :dubious: _Biting my tongue_😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-worth-the-culinary-effort/790435.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-worth-the-culinary-effort/790435.md?page=7)