Bear, this thread is really going! In our pantry, the sauces are pasta sauces (you know, the dolmio/raguletto type ones, a couple of indian simmer sauces ("indian tonight"?), chicken tonight, pasta bake. Hopefully as we whittle away at the stocks, I can replace the pasta sauces with something like Hoobley's sauce.

There's packets of the continental pasta mixes (which we always add heaps of veg to and have with steak or something, but I still think they are too salty for anyone, so am trying to wean the family off them), and tins of the heinze chunky soup type things, which the Man likes if he is feeling lazy, but hopefully I can just give him some frozen (homemade) alternatives for the majority of the occasions he eats them. Oops, and 2 min noodle things. (but I have thought of making my own, as the bought ones have too much goodness knows what in them!)

I don't buy salad dressings, mainly because I'm the only one in the house that eats any salad, and when I do, I just throw in a bit of minced chilli (ha, there's something else I should make!), lemon juice, herbs, mustard?, maybe bit of salt and pepper. THe olive oil we have has a weird smell that I don;t really like, so I don't normally add much of that. Sometimes a bit of mayo. Yep, buy that, cause I don't use much of it. How well does homemade mayo keep (in the fridge)?

If we have suitable recipes (ie, with little or no processed ingredients) that match up to whats in the requests, or for anything else, would you like us to post them?

To those that make them, are the costs for making your own pizza / bread / icecreams / yoghurts / etc basically the same or cheaper than buying? And for those that make their own yoghurt, do you make it from a spoon of yoghurt, or use the 'easy-yo' type stuff?

Hoobley, can your pasta sauce be put into (sterilised)jars and stored in the cupboard? I would love to try and make this!

Briggsys, how big is your vege patch? I have a little room (if the dogs will let me have it), but not sure on the time aspect. I can't get anything done with this lady bug as it is. At this moment, she is sitting on my lap as I try to type being a right pain. I'm in the process of cooking a cauli curry type thing, so if it turns out, I will post the recipe. Gordon Ramsay has a good broccoli soup recipe (super simple, with like 3 ingredients - broccoli, water & ? salt?

Bear, I'm sorry, but how big is the pot you put 30kg of beef bones in?!?!?!?!!? And where do you cook it? Have you got one of those great Italian Nona stoves or hugemungus pots outside? By the way, I think I speak for everyone here when i say, WE LOVE YOU!

Dach, love those powder recipes, will be making those when I can! Ha, and the cauli curry I'm making has panch phoran!

Gosh this thread makes me so wish that I had the time (no bug underfoot- she's not just underfoot, she really is in the way in if I try to do ANYTHING, even go to the loo!), and the sustained motivation.