EntropySink

Nothing & Everything => Open Discussion => Food and Naked Yodeling => Topic started by: micah on March 13, 2012, 03:58:57 PM

Title: ober hates chicken wings
Post by: micah on March 13, 2012, 03:58:57 PM
I feel we've had this conversation before but its on my mind again...

I hate eating at home.  I actually don't mind cooking, but no matter what I make or how good it tastes, I just don't enjoy it like I would had I eaten a similar meal out.

As such, we eat a lot of takeout (3 or 4 nights a week) and go to sit-down-restaurants about once a week.  Now that we're trying to reign in our expenses, we realize that we *should* be able to reasonably cut our food budget in nearly half if we just ate every meal at home but I'm finding it very difficult for a couple reasons.

1) like I said, everything cooked at home sucks.  Even the weekly somewhat-fancy Sunday dinner we eat at my parents house, prepared by my step-mother who is an excellent cook, doesn't excite me like just ordering a good pizza would.  What kinds of foods do you guys have for dinner every night?  What does a typical dinner consist of?

2) researching online how much other families of our size spend on groceries, it seems we should be able to cut our food expenses by several hundred dollars... but every time we cook a meal at home I feel like it cost just as much as it would have to order chinese food or a couple grinders.  What do you guys spend on food on a weekly or monthly basis and what is your family size?
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Jake on March 13, 2012, 04:28:44 PM
First to answer your questions:

1. We cook almost everyday. My wife does on weekdays and I do on the weekends. We eat out maybe 2-3 times a month - it is usually pizza or chinese. What do we cook, I will try to remember but here is what we had the last few days.
Monday: ground beef cutlets with potatoes and red beats
tuesday: Tomato soup - Polish style soups are meals. There is a bunch of veggies, meat, and some sort of carb (potatoes, pasta, etc) in them. My wife cans tomatos and uses them in colder months to make soup. We then eat the boiled meat.
wednesday: hey soup again! yes, often we cook enough to last two days. My mom also made apple fritters
thursday: hunters stew with potatoes
friday: NY strips with coleslaw and dirty rice (we typically eat fish on Fridays but these were merinating for two days already - they were about an 1 and a quarter thick....delish)
Saturday: hunter's stew again
Sunday: I was in wisc; my fam ordered chinese
Monday: Beef strogonuf (sp?) with pickles and potatoes
Today: same thing
tomorrow: chilli - I started it in the slow cooker yesterday night

Our cooking is very much "polish" - we eat a lot of meat and potatoes. We also eat a shit load of pasta because both my wife and son love it.

2) these couple months there are 5 of us; usually only four. It has been a while since I really calculated it, but we probably spend $50-$75/week for groceries. We eat a shit load of fruit. Not as many veggies, but a boat load of fruit. For things like meat and pasta I buy BIG quantities at Cosco or Sams and then seperate it into portions and freeze them. We also go through 3 gallons of milk a week (!) but at least we don't buy formula any more.

I started brown bagging lunch every day recently (also to save some $$$) - before I ate out for lunch 3-4 times a week at an average of $10/day
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: micah on March 13, 2012, 04:43:18 PM
thanks! thats the info I'm looking for.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: charlie on March 13, 2012, 04:56:20 PM
We don't eat or order out too much mostly because of cost, but another problem with that for us besides is that when we do order out, what we do order isn't really as healthy as what we might cook at home. It's generally much less balanced of a meal.

So we cook at home. I'm not a cook, but I can make a few meals by following my wife's recipe or doing something simple like spaghetti. She sometimes is out in the evenings and those nights I make food.

Things we cook include (sort of in order of how common they are):

With those dishes we usually have these kinds of sides:

Basically, the tl;dr version is that while my wife makes tasty meals on occasion, for the most part I doubt our meals are less tasty than yours so I can't really help you. I just don't care about taste that much. And the once a week we do order or go out, I can't say the food is really that much better, it's just nice to not have to cook it.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: charlie on March 13, 2012, 04:59:25 PM
Also, it's hard to estimate how much we spend on food... we have a family of four, (with the fourth being almost 3 and not a big eater). We order out once a week for $30 and spend about $120 a week on groceries, but that includes lunch, breakfast etc and doesn't include Costco trips for milk and stuff like that.

I also spend $8-10 on lunch 2-3 times a week and my wife does as well.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: webwhy on March 13, 2012, 05:05:11 PM
$120 a week on groceries is really good...we're spend about $150 a month on groceries for family of three...(youngest being 1 year)
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: charlie on March 13, 2012, 05:24:50 PM
Yeah, but we also spend $100-$200/month at costco.

According to my BofA budgeting stuff we spend about $150 a week.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Jake on March 13, 2012, 05:28:48 PM
I'd have to watch my bills for the next month or so...maybe we do spend a bit more thand $50/$75 - but then again, a lot of the frozen meals in your list might cost more than making them from scratch. However, there are things we do buy that make more sense than making them yourself - like meatballs from Sams for example.

Additionally - I visit grocery stores and supermarkets almost daily as part of my job - I always look at the ad and buy things in large quantities that are cheap.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: charlie on March 13, 2012, 05:29:35 PM
Wow... that BofA budgeting thing is pretty cool... there goes a couple hours from my work day.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Jake on March 13, 2012, 05:32:25 PM
and micah, the reason your home cooked stuff doesn't taste as good as take out and fast food because it doesn't have a shit load of salt and sodium in it. And it probably doesn't have as many condements, and the ones you have as not as rich in flavor as in restaurants. Even with the panda express orange chicken souce I can never get mine to taste the same way as they can.

My wife always tells me that in order to lose weight you have to cut down condiments. Which makes sense if you think about it. A hot dog without all the condiments tastes like nothing. A typical burger from a typical burger joint without ketchup, pickles, onion, etc etc tastes like ass.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: micah on March 13, 2012, 05:34:43 PM
$150/wk would still be an acceptable savings (especially to start.) In 2011, we averaged over $200/wk so to trim that down even $50 would be a couple hundred bucks a month!

The few meals we make at home usually involve browning meat in a pan (like tacos, sloppy joes or if I'm being fancy, stroganoff) and heating frozen/precooked things up in the microwave.  I've ventured into things like baked/broiled fish and chicken but it never really comes out tasty.

Also, Good point Jake about the sodium and condiments.  You're probably exactly right!
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Jake on March 13, 2012, 05:37:57 PM
Wow... that BofA budgeting thing is pretty cool... there goes a couple hours from my work day.

I recently stopped using my amex for another credit card, but I'm looking at a similar feature for year end. We used that card almost exclusively last year and we spend $1500/year on eating out. I bet $1000 of that is my lunches and other work related food which I got reimbursed for.

$2300 on groceries. that seems about right. add another $500 to that for groceries purchased ad sams.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: charlie on March 13, 2012, 05:39:18 PM
Looks like $50/week on restaurants/dining. More info coming (that you don't give a shit about).
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Jake on March 13, 2012, 05:41:23 PM
>>The few meals we make at home usually involve browning meat in a pan (like tacos, sloppy joes or if I'm being fancy, stroganoff) and heating frozen/precooked things up in the microwave.  I've ventured into things like baked/broiled fish and chicken but it never really comes out tasty.

try simple shit like pasta, jarred pasta souce, and either meatballs or browned ground beef.

or pasta with alfredo souce from the jar, slice up some chicken and fry it on light olive oil on a pad, and bam - chicken alfredo. Use some parmesian and you're done.

Get some pork chops, marinate in herbs and apple juice over night. Thrown them on a grill or fry them in a pan. Bam!
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Jake on March 13, 2012, 05:46:27 PM
speaking of food, list your general area and prices for

1. gallon of whole milk
2. dozen large eggs
3. pound of bannanas
4. pound of colby/cojack/american cheese

Chicago
1. gallon of whole milk - $2.49 ($1.99 on sale)
2. dozen large eggs - $1.19 on ave
3. pound of bannanas - $.39-.$59
4. pound of colby/cojack/american cheese - $3.99

Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: charlie on March 13, 2012, 06:02:22 PM
Whole milk?



P.S. Jake's quick meal ideas above get :dblthumb2:
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on March 13, 2012, 06:30:29 PM
We cook most days.  See Cooks Illustrated and Cooks Country for most of the recipes (that aren't hand created). 

She does most of the cooking.  I come in for the last quarter of most of her dishes and tweak them to our tastes.  I cook a few things that she never does.  Usually ethnic dishes that aren't Chinese.

She also cooks stuff just for her that simply do not interest me.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Mike on March 13, 2012, 07:24:26 PM
If you can swing it, take part of that $50 / week savings and use it for some cooking classes.  Cooking is easier when you have the basic skills.  From what you posted it sounds like you guys are cooking boring food.  Look up at recipes online for ideas.  For example, this Friday is St Patrick's day and I want to do the corned beef / cabbage thing but the traditional method is pretty boring.  So I'm looking up recipes to see how to do it differently.  Learning food substitutions is a big thing too.  I made cioppino a couple of weeks ago and it called for halibut but I wasn't going to pay $10/lb for that.  So I subbed in another white fish and it worked just fine.

If you can get rid of the frozen meals and cook fresh.  I found that does require going to the store more often.

A note about salt:  After eating out all that time you get used to all that salt and home cooking will taste bland; but, after awhile you'll regain that sensitivity and home cooking won't taste so bland.

My staple meal right now:  3-4oz salmon fillet with a light dusting of garlic salt and cooked on the George Foreman grill.  The side is generally a salad with lettuce (romaine), red cabbage, carrots, zucchini, green onions, and bell peppers (any color but green).  It is pretty fast to put together.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Jake on March 13, 2012, 08:35:01 PM
Whole milk?

red label, vitamin d!
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Govtcheez on March 14, 2012, 07:19:55 AM
> •frozen orange chicken from Trader Joe's

This is the one frozen meal we eat on a semi-regular basis.  It's just so easy and if I bake the chicken I don't feel as disgusting about it.

Other meal staples in my house
- Anything in a crock pot.  Tomorrow I'm throwing a pork shoulder in there with garlic, seasoning salt, and beer.  Throw on a bun with some BBQ sauce and some coleslaw and you've got good eats.  Also makes tons of leftovers
- Anything I can grill.  Chicken, pork chops (which I've just discovered I love after finally getting over the memories of overcooked shake and bake growing up), steak, hot dogs, etc. 
- Tacos
- Pasta
- Pad Thai from one of those kits
- Chili or other soups
- Jambalaya (a box of zatarain's and a pound of sausage is plenty for dinner for us and at least one lunch worth of leftovers)

I'd guess we spend about 90-100/week on groceries for the two of us.  I used to go out to lunch every day and would spend way too much on it (at least 70/week probably), but I'm trying to cut that back to once a week
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on March 14, 2012, 09:18:36 AM
Speaking of going out for lunch...

Who goes out for lunch regularly? 

I go out for lunch roughly two or three times a month during the work week.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: micah on March 14, 2012, 09:41:02 AM
Speaking of going out for lunch...
Who goes out for lunch regularly? 
I go out for lunch roughly two or three times a month during the work week.

I NEVER bring lunch but, I don't usually eat much. I get a half-hour for lunch and make a point of going out every day to get away from my desk but usually I just get a fountain soda and maybe a 99-cent snack at the gas station down the road.  Probably once a week I'll feel like eating more and get fast food, so I'd say on average I only spend $2 to $3 per day on lunch.

...and what is this "frozen orange chicken from Trader Joe's" you all speak of, it sounds like something I need to get!  what is the serving size and cost?  we don't usually go to Trader Joe's because, well, its not that close and we can't stand the snotty assholes that shop there.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: ober on March 14, 2012, 09:50:39 AM
Mine is probably going to vary from others based mainly on the fact that my kids have food allergies.  Typical things for us:

1) Pasta - with a little butter, or some red sauce, or a homemade alfredo sauce.  Almost always with some Parmesan cheese.
2) Chicken - cutlets (covered with bread crumbs, cooked in a small amount of oil), straight grilled chicken in just a little oil, or BBQ chicken from the oven or grill
3) Red meat/Ground Turkey - either as burgers or ground up meat to be used in tacos or mixed in with pasta or some other dish.  The kids just take the chunks and dip it in ketchup - Ground turkey is usually healthier, cheaper, and tastes better depending on how you cook it or what you add it to
4) Shrimp - usually just fried up in some butter or marinated and tossed in a skillet.  This is a super quick meal.
5) Fish - usually talapia
6) Chili - we got a great veggie chili recipe but we usually add red meat or ground turkey
7) Rice - white/spanish
8) Veggies - the kids like broccoli/carrots
9) Some sort of bean - I usually go for peas/lima beans but we also eat green beans, chick peas, black beans, etc.

My wife cooks most of the time in our house but I usually do the cooking on the weekends.  I agree with the other people that have said you're desensitized due to the amount of sodium and stuff in the food you eat out.  It can be a huge adjustment to switch to making your own food and enjoying it but a lot of it also depends on the way you cook stuff (spices, etc.) and the methods you use to cook it. 

As for budgets, we run between 600 and 800/month for groceries, but that also includes BJs (similar to costco) so that includes things like toiletries and other things that are not food.  It's hard to separate that stuff out.  I rarely eat out at work anymore, maybe 2-3 times/month and we have a budget of about $80 for restaurants per month.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Govtcheez on March 14, 2012, 09:54:38 AM
http://www.traderjoesfan.com/Trader_Joes/mandarin_orange_chicken/details/

I don't recall the cost off hand.  $5 or so, I think
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Rob on March 14, 2012, 09:56:47 AM
As for budgets, we run between 600 and 800/month for groceries, but that also includes BJs

You count that as groceries? :D
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: micah on March 14, 2012, 10:07:36 AM
As for budgets, we run between 600 and 800/month for groceries, but that also includes BJs

You count that as groceries? :D

I break everything out when I update my ledger software (http://www.entropysink.com/forums/index.php?topic=6964.msg69483#msg69483) so I can run reports on how much was spent on groceries vs household cleaners vs pet food vs whatever else.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: ober on March 14, 2012, 10:14:21 AM
As for budgets, we run between 600 and 800/month for groceries, but that also includes BJs

You count that as groceries? :D
I knew someone wouldn't be able to let that go.  :p
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Rob on March 14, 2012, 10:31:03 AM
As for budgets, we run between 600 and 800/month for groceries, but that also includes BJs

You count that as groceries? :D
I knew someone wouldn't be able to let that go.  :p

Considering the thread title, I thought it was kinda appropriate...
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: charlie on March 14, 2012, 10:50:44 AM
Ummm...   :lol:


http://www.traderjoesfan.com/Trader_Joes/mandarin_orange_chicken/details/

I don't recall the cost off hand.  $5 or so, I think

Fuck I love that stuff. I have to make sure not to cook it too often. We always bake it. The BBQ chicken one is nice because you can microwave it, but it's not as addictive.

Micah, these aren't frozen dinners like you'd think of TV dinners. But they're frozen and easy to make which is perfect for me, and less unhealthy than other frozen choices. Also expensive but much cheaper than eating out. We have to make two bags now if we want everybody to eat a full serving. One bag serves two adults.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Mike on March 14, 2012, 10:08:12 PM
Tonight it took a bunch of willpower to not go out and get something.  Instead I ran to the store to get a few more ingredients and made a kick ass soup (thick) that was perfect on this rainy day.  I feel physically and emotionally better than I would have if I had gone out.  To me, that is the best part about home cooking.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Steve on March 14, 2012, 10:57:01 PM
I will try and make a better post contribution later, but we actually don't differ much from Jake.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Jake on March 18, 2012, 10:25:13 AM
on friday we had Tilapia.

Yesterday my mom made a turkey loaf, lightly charred some baby sweet peppers, and fried some potato wedges. Some sour cream based sauce on the side. it was excellent.

By the way, this thread had me look into ground turkey. I don't remember the last time I got some...if ever. But I bought a large pack at Costco - Jeany-O, for about $2.49/pound - and let me tell you, the turkey loaf was great, and probably much healthier too. thanks guys!
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Steve on March 18, 2012, 01:20:52 PM
Never had Talapia, what does it compare to?
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Govtcheez on March 18, 2012, 03:14:56 PM
It doesn't taste like much of anything. It's very mild
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Steve on March 18, 2012, 05:05:58 PM
so it's pointless then
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Jake on March 18, 2012, 05:11:59 PM
No its not pointless. It has a mild fish taste like cod for example.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Mike on March 18, 2012, 05:34:28 PM
Tilapia makes an excellent fish for fish tacos, ceviche, or basically any dish where you don't want a strong fish taste.  It takes seasoning really well.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Steve on March 18, 2012, 05:39:17 PM
I'm WEIRD with seafood, I can't eat it as a part of something else. Like fish tacos, lobster pizza, shrimp salad, etc etc. I don't know why, it just sits weird with me and freaks me out.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Govtcheez on March 18, 2012, 07:09:45 PM
Its the fish version of chicken breasts. It has some taste but is mostly a seasoning delivery system
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: charlie on March 18, 2012, 08:34:50 PM
We have Tilapia a lot, mostly at the in-laws. They cook it whole, so it can be a pain to get the meat off without getting a bunch of bones. Apparently the eyes are the best part, but I don't remember them being all that great.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: ober on March 19, 2012, 09:45:35 AM
Its the fish version of chicken breasts. It has some taste but is mostly a seasoning delivery system
This.  Talapia is very bland on it's own but I think that's true for most fish, personally.  If you season it properly or bread it, I think it's pretty tasty.

And Jake, like I said, we eat more Ground Turkey than we do red meat.  We get 93% lean stuff.  I add a fair amount of pepper to give it a lot of taste depending on how I'm using it.  I still think red meat is better for certain dishes but ground turkey definitely has its place and is healthier for sure.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Govtcheez on March 19, 2012, 10:00:17 AM
> is healthier for sure.

I think that's overblown to some extent.  You can easily find 95% lean beef for cooking.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Mike on March 19, 2012, 10:17:14 AM
Its the fish version of chicken breasts. It has some taste but is mostly a seasoning delivery system
This.  Talapia is very bland on it's own but I think that's true for most fish, personally.  If you season it properly or bread it, I think it's pretty tasty.
Salmon has a lot of flavor.  Now if you mean white fish I'll agree.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Jake on March 19, 2012, 11:22:31 AM
> is healthier for sure.

I think that's overblown to some extent.  You can easily find 95% lean beef for cooking.

the Costco ground turkey is 93% lean. The ground beef I get from Sams is the same. But you need to have some fat in the beef - especially when doing burgers. Before having kids I didn't really care nor pay attention to fat content in beef. Now I do.

I'd imagine though, that Turkey has some other healthier properties that are worth it...but I haven't researched it yet.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Jake on March 19, 2012, 11:24:43 AM
tonight my wife is making lecso and serving it on white rice

Quote
In Poland, lecsó (called leczo) is usually made from red pepper, zucchini, tomatoes, onion and garlic, sausage, and spiced with powdered chilli pepper. Leczo should be served hot and spicy. It probably came to Poland from Hungary.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on March 19, 2012, 12:07:51 PM
I make a heavily modified but similar dish.  Love it.  I add raisins, chicken, a little OJ, a jar of Vidalia onion peach hot sauce and either saffron or curry. 
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: ober on March 19, 2012, 01:25:43 PM
> is healthier for sure.

I think that's overblown to some extent.  You can easily find 95% lean beef for cooking.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/496340-which-is-better-for-you-ground-turkey-or-beef/

It might get a little blown out of proportion.  But overall I think ground turkey wins in most cases.

Its the fish version of chicken breasts. It has some taste but is mostly a seasoning delivery system
This.  Talapia is very bland on it's own but I think that's true for most fish, personally.  If you season it properly or bread it, I think it's pretty tasty.
Salmon has a lot of flavor.  Now if you mean white fish I'll agree.
I would not put salmon and white fish in the same category.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Govtcheez on March 19, 2012, 01:29:33 PM
> is healthier for sure.

I think that's overblown to some extent.  You can easily find 95% lean beef for cooking.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/496340-which-is-better-for-you-ground-turkey-or-beef/

It might get a little blown out of proportion.  But overall I think ground turkey wins in most cases
I don't disagree.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Mike on March 19, 2012, 01:55:18 PM
> is healthier for sure.

I think that's overblown to some extent.  You can easily find 95% lean beef for cooking.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/496340-which-is-better-for-you-ground-turkey-or-beef/

It might get a little blown out of proportion.  But overall I think ground turkey wins in most cases.

Its the fish version of chicken breasts. It has some taste but is mostly a seasoning delivery system
This.  Talapia is very bland on it's own but I think that's true for most fish, personally.  If you season it properly or bread it, I think it's pretty tasty.
Salmon has a lot of flavor.  Now if you mean white fish I'll agree.
I would not put salmon and white fish in the same category.
You said fish.  Salmon is a fish.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: charlie on March 19, 2012, 02:39:15 PM
He also said "most".
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: ober on March 19, 2012, 03:04:01 PM
He also said "most".
Thank you.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Mike on March 19, 2012, 04:28:21 PM
He also said "most".

/me edits ober's posts
No he didn't :p
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: micah on March 21, 2012, 07:52:27 AM
I made something at home for breakfast that was better than take out!

I put a couple frozen breakfast sausage links in a frying pan and started browning them, when they were about done I cracked an egg into the pan, frying it in the sausage fat.  Meanwhile I sliced a leftover bulky roll, put a slice of cheese on it and put it in the toaster oven.  I flipped the egg and, once the roll was toasty, added the sausage (cut lengthwise) and egg to the bun and ate it all up.

I honestly can't remember eating a better breakfast sandwich in my life. anywhere.  ever.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Govtcheez on March 21, 2012, 08:58:08 AM
I make egg/meat sandwiches a few times a week for breakfast.  They're great, especially with good bread or rolls.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: micah on March 21, 2012, 09:09:47 AM
I think the roll made the difference.  Usually, if I make a sandwich like that I'd use an english muffin.  blech!  Also, usually I season and microwave a scrambled egg.  Fried over-medium/hard is SO much better and honestly only took like 3 or 4 minutes longer with equal amount of cleanup.  I could get used to making something like this several times a week.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Govtcheez on March 21, 2012, 09:25:59 AM
It's pretty fantastic if you spend a couple bucks more for some good bacon, too.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Steve on March 21, 2012, 07:57:20 PM
Yep twice a week i made a fried egg and sausage or bacon on a bagel. Usually onion. Or an english muffin, always buttered.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Govtcheez on March 30, 2012, 06:35:13 AM
My snotty asshole wife and snotty asshole son went to Trader Joe's and got some Mandarin Chicken the other day and it was 5 snotty asshole dollars

edit: 1 SAD = .998USD
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: ober on March 30, 2012, 10:58:37 AM
*emails that statement to Jeremy's wife*
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: micah on October 27, 2013, 03:46:44 PM
My snotty asshole wife and snotty asshole son went to Trader Joe's and got some Mandarin Chicken the other day and it was 5 snotty asshole dollars

edit: 1 SAD = .998USD

I was almost about to start a new thread on a similar topic and then remembered this one.  I miss 'cheez.  He's on facebook but its just not the same :)

Anyway, since I'm bumping a year-and-a-half old thread, I guess I'll updated it to point out that we still suck at making meals.  We have cut back a lot on take out (because we don't have the money) that means we're just eating less food over all though.  I'm gonna double down though and start trying a bit harder.  I had a come-to-jesus conversation with my doctor the other day and apparently he thinks I'm going to die if I don't eat better so... we'll see what happens :)
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: kermi3 on October 28, 2013, 07:33:22 AM
Totally with you Micah - I've been working hard at eating more at home - especially since all that cheap fast NYC Chinese bike powered delivery isn't at hand. 

I've been doing lots go grilled chicken - I get the thin cut breasts cause they're easy to cook.  Sauce pan, tiny bit of olive oil, salt, pepper (sometime garlic or lemon pepper), high heat, cover...wait till it turns white, flip, repeat.

Pretty simple and easy...though I wish I had someone else to clean the pans :).

I find it helps A LOT when I can relax and be less stressed when I go to the grocery.  Helps me make sure I don't put the wrong things in the cart and that I'm excited to try stuff when I get home.  Don't know if that helps at all but.....would love any tips you come up with.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Betazep on October 28, 2013, 12:04:19 PM
There is nobody here anymore... I don't know why Jeremy doesn't come around from time to time.

On topic: Mmmm chicken.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: micah on February 22, 2014, 03:33:10 PM
Ummm...   :lol:

http://www.traderjoesfan.com/Trader_Joes/mandarin_orange_chicken/details/

I don't recall the cost off hand.  $5 or so, I think

Fuck I love that stuff. I have to make sure not to cook it too often. We always bake it. The BBQ chicken one is nice because you can microwave it, but it's not as addictive.

Micah, these aren't frozen dinners like you'd think of TV dinners. But they're frozen and easy to make which is perfect for me, and less unhealthy than other frozen choices. Also expensive but much cheaper than eating out. We have to make two bags now if we want everybody to eat a full serving. One bag serves two adults.

I found myself at a trader joe's today and made a point of picking up the Mandarin Orange Chicken for $4.99.  Probably going to make it tonight or Monday.  Any thoughts on sides? Like just over rice? how do you guys normally eat it?
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Govtcheez on February 22, 2014, 03:39:58 PM
just over rice
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: charlie on February 22, 2014, 07:23:13 PM
Yeah... usually rice or whatever quick thing I can make. The family likes the cous cous that is microwaveable in a few minutes (it's not my favorite but is edible). Or we use instant mashed potatoes or even boxed pasta (pasta roni or something like it). When I'm cooking I don't spend much time making sure things go well together.

Then we either chop up and steam fresh veggies or more likely microwave veggies in a bag (frozen or fresh).

I think it's funny that it took two years and yet you still remembered to do this. :D
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Jake on February 22, 2014, 09:38:49 PM
Quote
instant mashed potatoes

really?
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: charlie on February 22, 2014, 11:52:21 PM
You do realize there's a theme going on here, right? Quick, easy foods to "cook" at home that are cheaper and less bad than typical fast food.

Instant mashed potatoes fit the bill.

Also, they're not bad. Plus I grew up eating them so they're not weird either. My wife is even ok with them after initially having the same reaction, although she prefers the ones with a little extra flavor (usually the garlic ones).
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: charlie on February 23, 2014, 12:05:47 AM
By the way, how come we haven't talked more about the turbo?

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/412MEOy2wPL._SY300_.jpg)
http://www.amazon.com/Oyama-Turbo-Convection-Roaster-Oven/dp/B003XJE60U

If you want easy-to-cook food that tastes good, ask for one of these for Christmas.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Mike on February 23, 2014, 12:29:04 AM
Smashed potatoes are so much better than mashed potatoes though.  But they do take more time than instant.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Jake on February 23, 2014, 08:27:49 AM
You do realize there's a theme going on here, right? Quick, easy foods to "cook" at home that are cheaper and less bad than typical fast food.

Instant mashed potatoes fit the bill.

Also, they're not bad. Plus I grew up eating them so they're not weird either. My wife is even ok with them after initially having the same reaction, although she prefers the ones with a little extra flavor (usually the garlic ones).

I don't know if I ever had them - at least we've never made them.

I would never consider them; "smashed potatoes" as mike called them are really quick to make to. The trick to boiling them quick is to get a lot of surface area in contact with the water.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: charlie on February 23, 2014, 01:34:46 PM
I don't know what that means. Cut them in slices? Use a really big pot?

Also, really quick to make relative to what? Because I can guarantee they're not really quick to make relative to instant mashed potatoes.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Mike on February 23, 2014, 02:22:14 PM
Boil the potatoes and use a masher (http://images.cutco.com/1500/1160_p1.jpg) to break them up into chunks.  I like to add some garlic and butter.  If making it for a fancier meal I'll add some cream to it.

Totally not as fast as instant.  I usually use red potatoes so it doesn't take that long
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: ober on February 23, 2014, 08:21:30 PM
Boil the potatoes and use a masher (http://images.cutco.com/1500/1160_p1.jpg) to break them up into chunks.  I like to add some garlic and butter.  If making it for a fancier meal I'll add some cream to it.

Totally not as fast as instant.  I usually use red potatoes so it doesn't take that long
+1, but we also throw in some Parmesan cheese.  MMM good!
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: charlie on February 23, 2014, 10:32:52 PM
Yeah, that's how we make ours, too. Red potatoes, garlic, butter, cream.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: ober on February 23, 2014, 11:26:27 PM
By the way, how come we haven't talked more about the turbo?

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/412MEOy2wPL._SY300_.jpg)
http://www.amazon.com/Oyama-Turbo-Convection-Roaster-Oven/dp/B003XJE60U

If you want easy-to-cook food that tastes good, ask for one of these for Christmas.
Because real people use crockpots.
Title: Eating at home sucks
Post by: charlie on February 24, 2014, 12:35:09 AM
Crockpots are nice, but these are two totally different things. Two totally different flavors.

Chicken is the best. Crispy skin, juicy meat, tons of flavor, all in a season it, set it and forget it package.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Govtcheez on February 24, 2014, 08:03:33 AM
Who the heck roasts a chicken in a crockpot?

Roasted chicken is one of my absolute favorite cold weather foods.  Cut up and peel a bunch of veggies (we usually use parsnips, potatoes, and carrots), rub the bird down with butter, season liberally with salt, pepper, and herbs, and just toss it in the oven for a couple hours.  We usually get 3-4 meals out it, too.  I'll take leftover parts to work for lunch, throw pieces into soups, etc.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: ober on February 24, 2014, 09:58:09 AM
Who the heck roasts a chicken in a crockpot?
*raises paw*  Add some veggies and a little broth with a bunch of salt and pepper and throw it in for 4-6 hours and you get yourself a nice juicy chicken.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Govtcheez on February 24, 2014, 10:33:26 AM
How does the skin come out?  The best part about oven-roasting is the crispy skin.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: charlie on February 24, 2014, 11:29:53 AM
And with the turbo, you get the crispy skin and juicy meat and all in about 45 minutes instead hours.

Boom!!
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: ober on February 24, 2014, 04:54:32 PM
I don't eat the skin... in the crockpot it is soft and I wouldn't eat it.  It is usually so juicy that it builds up under the skin and bursts when you touch it.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Mike on February 24, 2014, 07:11:51 PM
I don't eat the skin
Why do you hate life so much?
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: charlie on February 24, 2014, 07:15:09 PM
Holy fuck, ober, you're missing out.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on February 24, 2014, 08:03:56 PM
Yeah man...  eat that wet blubbery tallow skin.

Eat.

It.

NOW!
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Mike on February 24, 2014, 08:08:14 PM
If the skin isn't crispy you are cooking it wrong.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on February 24, 2014, 09:55:48 PM
If the skin isn't crispy you are cooking it wrong.

Helloooo Crockpot.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Betazep on February 24, 2014, 10:48:14 PM
I don't eat the skin
Why do you hate life so much?

:lol:
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: charlie on February 25, 2014, 11:40:00 AM
Yeah man...  eat that wet blubbery tallow skin.

Blech! Never!
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: ober on February 25, 2014, 12:53:49 PM
I'm curious why the skin of a dead animal sounds so appealing to any of you?  OH... maybe it's because you don't see how they are raised or how nasty they are.  Sorry, I've raised chickens and slaughtered them.  Fuckin pass, bitches.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Govtcheez on February 25, 2014, 01:00:59 PM
Yeah, that is a down side of eating chicken that has come directly from the farm without being cleaned or washed, which is apparently what you think we are discussing?
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: charlie on February 25, 2014, 01:31:45 PM
WTF? What's the difference between the skin and the rest of everything you eat?

Do you not eat the skin of any animal food?

Also, if you had tried the skin of chicken roasted in the turbo you'd be singing a different tune.
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Govtcheez on February 25, 2014, 01:41:07 PM
Do we really eat that much skin from non-bird animals?  I guess pigs maybe, but only if you're into cracklins or pork rinds.  You don't for fish or cows or lamb or goats, right?
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: ober on February 25, 2014, 01:44:25 PM
Yeah, that is a down side of eating chicken that has come directly from the farm without being cleaned or washed, which is apparently what you think we are discussing?
Cleaned or washed... you're a goddamn riot.  Do you know how many times (across brands) that I've opened a whole chicken and found feathers that weren't completely plucked?  If they can't properly pluck the chicken, how well do you think they are cleaning it?
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: Govtcheez on February 25, 2014, 01:45:54 PM
I've pulled feathers off of whole birds too, but I'm not freaking out that it's not clean.  I take the feathers off, rinse the bird (I know that they say now not to do that), and the heat of the oven will kill any bacteria on there.

Have you never had chicken wings or fried chicken?
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: ober on February 25, 2014, 01:46:43 PM
WTF? What's the difference between the skin and the rest of everything you eat?
You realize that the skin is a protective layer between the outside world and the meat, correct?
Title: Re: Eating at home sucks
Post by: charlie on February 25, 2014, 01:46:53 PM
Do we really eat that much skin from non-bird animals?  I guess pigs maybe, but only if you're into cracklins or pork rinds.  You don't for fish or cows or lamb or goats, right?

Yeah, I was trying to come up with examples and couldn't think of any.

I definitely eat fish skin and the skin of chicken, turkey, duck. I guess also pork, but I can't think of any pork dishes with skin that I personally like.


Cleaned or washed... you're a goddamn riot.  Do you know how many times (across brands) that I've opened a whole chicken and found feathers that weren't completely plucked?  If they can't properly pluck the chicken, how well do you think they are cleaning it?

I've never seen a chicken feather in my chicken before (and really if I did, I don't expect I'd care much).

WTF? What's the difference between the skin and the rest of everything you eat?
You realize that the skin is a protective layer between the outside world and the meat, correct?

You think nothing "bad" gets under the skin?
Title: Re: ober hates chicken wings
Post by: ober on February 25, 2014, 01:56:15 PM
Look, I think we're just going to have to agree to disagree.  You go ahead and keep eating it.  I'm going to go ahead and not.
Title: Re: ober hates chicken wings
Post by: ober on February 25, 2014, 01:57:38 PM
I've pulled feathers off of whole birds too, but I'm not freaking out that it's not clean.  I take the feathers off, rinse the bird (I know that they say now not to do that), and the heat of the oven will kill any bacteria on there.

Have you never had chicken wings or fried chicken?
I haven't had on-the-bone wings in years and I can't remember the last time I ate fried chicken.
Title: Re: ober hates chicken wings
Post by: Govtcheez on February 25, 2014, 02:03:01 PM
Look, I think we're just going to have to agree to disagree.  You go ahead and keep eating it.  I'm going to go ahead and not.
Admit you're wrong and what you like is gross.
Title: Re: ober hates chicken wings
Post by: charlie on February 25, 2014, 02:08:25 PM
Look, I think we're just going to have to agree to disagree.  You go ahead and keep eating it.  I'm going to go ahead and not.

Fair enough. Sounds like you just think animal skin is gross. Which is weird but fine. You can skip the turbo.

Everybody else out there, though, you need to try it.
Title: Re: ober hates chicken wings
Post by: Govtcheez on February 25, 2014, 02:10:10 PM
I need another room to hold all the dumb kitchen gadgets I want
Title: Re: ober hates chicken wings
Post by: charlie on February 25, 2014, 02:13:12 PM
The funny thing about the turbo (which I want to keep talking about while we wait to hear from Micah on how the orange chicken was), is that you can cook hella stuff in it, but we basically only do chicken. My daughter's preschool teacher cooks almost everything in hers. One of these days I should try to cook a couple other things.
Title: Re: ober hates chicken wings
Post by: micah on February 25, 2014, 02:15:10 PM
haven't had it yet.  Maybe tonight?
Title: Re: ober hates chicken wings
Post by: Govtcheez on February 25, 2014, 02:15:34 PM
It's very inconsiderate of you to keep us waiting
Title: Re: ober hates chicken wings
Post by: ober on February 25, 2014, 03:06:43 PM
Look, I think we're just going to have to agree to disagree.  You go ahead and keep eating it.  I'm going to go ahead and not.
Admit you're wrong and what you like is gross.
You first.

Look, I think we're just going to have to agree to disagree.  You go ahead and keep eating it.  I'm going to go ahead and not.

Fair enough. Sounds like you just think animal skin is gross. Which is weird but fine. You can skip the turbo.
Your mom is weird.


Title: Re: ober hates chicken wings
Post by: Govtcheez on February 25, 2014, 03:13:41 PM
I bite my cuticles so maybe I just like the taste of skin.
Title: Re: ober hates chicken wings
Post by: micah on February 25, 2014, 07:23:16 PM
It happened
Title: Re: ober hates chicken wings
Post by: charlie on February 25, 2014, 07:53:09 PM
Beautiful.


Seriously... yours is much more beautiful than mine. We don't even mix the sauce with the meat, we just dip.


I'm really hungry right now.
Title: Re: ober hates chicken wings
Post by: kermi3 on February 25, 2014, 11:08:42 PM
Trader Joe's!  I had those for dinner tonight on Govt's rec!  I did mine over some fried rice....ate too much....
Title: Re: ober hates chicken wings
Post by: Jake on February 26, 2014, 08:01:34 AM
that is why ober looooooves KFC. that chicken doesn't even have skin when it is alive! ;) hahaha

http://dailybuzzlive.com/archives/3753
Title: Re: ober hates chicken wings
Post by: charlie on February 28, 2014, 10:47:32 PM
Mmm... Turbo'd chicken.

With not-instant potatoes to boot!
Title: Re: ober hates chicken wings
Post by: Betazep on February 28, 2014, 10:52:31 PM
You are convincing me....
Title: Re: ober hates chicken wings
Post by: Mike on February 28, 2014, 11:18:35 PM
White balance....
Title: ober hates chicken wings
Post by: charlie on February 28, 2014, 11:28:11 PM
It's my crappy iPod camera and I wasn't about to fix the room lighting for esink.

Also, we have one and two half whites and one and two half non-whites so our white balance is just fine thank you very much.
Title: Re: ober hates chicken wings
Post by: Betazep on March 01, 2014, 10:29:08 AM

Also, we have one and two half whites and one and two half non-whites so our white balance is just fine thank you very much.

LOL... sounds perfect to me.  :)
Title: Re: ober hates chicken wings
Post by: ober on March 01, 2014, 10:34:58 AM
It's my crappy iPod camera and I wasn't about to fix the room lighting for esink.

Also, we have one and two half whites and one and two half non-whites so our white balance is just fine thank you very much.
Mike, you racist!  LOL!
Title: Re: ober hates chicken wings
Post by: charlie on July 20, 2018, 03:20:57 PM
Ummm...   :lol:


http://www.traderjoesfan.com/Trader_Joes/mandarin_orange_chicken/details/

I don't recall the cost off hand.  $5 or so, I think

Fuck I love that stuff. I have to make sure not to cook it too often. We always bake it. The BBQ chicken one is nice because you can microwave it, but it's not as addictive.

Micah, these aren't frozen dinners like you'd think of TV dinners. But they're frozen and easy to make which is perfect for me, and less unhealthy than other frozen choices. Also expensive but much cheaper than eating out. We have to make two bags now if we want everybody to eat a full serving. One bag serves two adults.

Coming back to this six years later. A year or two ago it seems like the sauce for this changed a bit. Got a little spicier or tangier or something. I stopped eating the sauce, but continue to love the chicken.

Given that change, though, the Trader Joe's Orange Chicken is no longer our most common meal. It has even been surpassed in the "quick and easy meals even I can make" rankings by Trader Joe's Teriyaki Chicken (which I think is what I was referring to above as BBQ chicken).

The teriyaki chicken is great because it tastes good, both the kids like it (a lot) and it only takes a few minutes in the microwave versus 20 minutes in the oven for the orange chicken.
Title: Re: ober hates chicken wings
Post by: charlie on July 20, 2018, 08:28:51 PM
Other updates relevant to this thread:

* I still love turbo chicken.
* We still don't make anything else in the turbo. Ok, I actually did make crab in the turbo the other day, but that was dumb. (I was trying to steam it and our larger pots were not yet unpacked from a recent move or were dirty, so I figured I could put it in the turbo with a little water and it would steam. But because it's low-temp, before the water could boil to create steam the turbo cooked the crab and it just didn't taste right. Doh!)

* My list from this post: https://www.entropysink.com/forums/index.php?topic=11476.msg130271#msg130271 is still quite accurate.
- Tacos has moved up. We just started using these small tortillas or tortilla boats which we all like better.
- Cous cous has moved down
- We don't cook steak anymore.

* We eat out more often than we did (or should).. we can't help it- too lazy/tired all the time.

Title: Re: ober hates chicken wings
Post by: micah on November 07, 2018, 09:10:54 PM
So this week I've made dinner 4 nights in a row now.  Mostly one or two-pot 20-minute meals like ground-beef Stroganoff, pasta, or turkey chili but I think I could see this being something we actually do every night like regular families do.  It's tough though because the kids suck and are super picky.  They'll eat like the mashed potatoes or some rice (well Harper will at least) but then don't want to try anything "new" even if its something totally benign that I know they'd probably like.  Last night I caved and microwaved Colbie up some mac-and-cheese because she said my sweet-and-sour chicken smelled like vinegar (she's really sensitive to smells still.)  But at least I'm trying and I'm hoping they'll learn to eat what they get since (other than last nights mac-and-cheese) I'm not making/buying them something else.  Its family dinner and we're a family!  (at least, thats what I'm saying for now). 

Check in a week and see how we're doing with this.
Title: Re: ober hates chicken wings
Post by: charlie on November 07, 2018, 10:23:17 PM
Nice! We're not as consistent with that as we'd like, especially recently, but it's great if you can do it and keep it up. :dblthumb2:
Title: Re: ober hates chicken wings
Post by: ober on November 08, 2018, 08:34:55 AM
Kudos Micah and I hope you can stick to it.  The best thing you can do is have a plan ahead of time so you don't get to the point of it being dinner and having no fucking clue what to do/make.

With my new job I'm actually home sooner (45 min sooner) so I've been doing more of the cooking.  Even when I was getting home later I would help with most meals but we do make an effort to cook a decent dinner most nights.  It's hard sometimes but definitely worth it. 
Title: Re: ober hates chicken wings
Post by: Mike on November 08, 2018, 09:28:40 AM
One fond memory that my brothers and I share is that our mom taught us to cook and that when we got to about 8-10 she'd often respond with "if you don't like it then the kitchen is right there".  We were allowed a few particularities but not too many.

Right now the wife and I are using Hello Fresh but will probably drop them soon (they are becoming repetitive and they are reducing the number of non-premium options) so I'll need to work on the dinner planning and learning how to ensemble cook.