Need advice to curb take out

**Wendy99** · 01-30-2009, 10:30 AM

My goal for January was to curb take out & it failed miserably!! I find I'm so rushed and overly tired some nights. I would love to have some easy prepared meals in the fridge (homemade of course to cut costs). I just dont know where to start. I would like to make and freeze soups as well in single portions (as I love soup and work and then I wouldnt have to worry about buying soup there), I would like meals for the family in the freezer. I have froze things like chilli and spaghetti sauce, but I'm looking for something different yet still simple. My kids & dh arent too keen on things like stews / casseroles & the kids dont like sheppard pie. Just looking for suggestions and ideas, this take out cant contiue - it's killing us.

**dcompton** · 01-30-2009, 01:17 PM

I'm sure you'll get lots of suggestions from others, but one thing you might do is keep a few things on hand in the pantry to make almost totally non-work meals. One that comes to mind is spaghetti. Stick water on to boil when you walk in, throw in spagetti after you change your work clothes (if you do) and can collect your wits and shift into "home mode". You say you have sauce frozen, but what about keeping a can or jar or two of prepared so you don't even have to plan ahead or thaw it? Canned fruit for dessert. Not gourmet and not the most nutritious, but once in a while it could save a trip through the drive through.

I'm sure many will also suggest crock pot cooking. I've never done it, but have seen it suggested to assemble the ingredients and pop it in the fridge overnight, to be cooked the next day. That way you could do it in the evening after you've had a chance to rest, and wouldn't have to deal with it in during the morning rush.

**madhen** · 01-30-2009, 01:30 PM

Do your kids like pot pies? I make them with pre-made pie crusts (the kind you just take out of the box and use ready-made). Calzone are also really easy. You can use ready-made biscuit dough or make your own.

If they like burgers, you can pre-cook the patties with whatever seasonings you like, then freeze. Then you just have to pull them out and microwave. I also cook and freeze meats (sirloin, turkey, etc) and ground beef/turkey in 1-lb portions, because hardest part for me is the mess from cooking meat. If the meat is ready to go, the rest is easy.

I'd start by looking at what you buy take-out the most. Is it pizza, Chinese, Mexican, etc? Then tailor your menus to that. Pizza crust is easy to make. If you make several smaller ones, you can actually make entire personal-sized pizzas and freeze them. Eggrolls are ridiculously easy to make, and easy to make in huge batches. They also freeze readily. I don't eat a lot of Mexican food, but I have prepared and frozen enchiladas with no problems. You can make taco fillings and just buy the hard, pre-prepared shells. A little tomato, onion, shredded lettuce, taco sauce (which is also REALLY easy to make - I have a bunch of it canned in my cupboard), and you are good to go.

Hope it helped, because now I'm hungry!!

**3tomboys** · 01-30-2009, 01:37 PM

I also struggle with this. The thing that I have found that helps is keeping supplies for sandwiches on hand. Those nights when I am just to tired I know we can have soup and sandwiches. It has worked well. I also make dinner in the mprning during the week as much as possible. Like today I made enchiladas. All of my dd's are old enough to put them in the oven, as well as my DH. I will call when I leave work (anywhere from 30-45 minute commute) and dinner is pretty much ready when I get home. I also love my crockpot and I keep things on my menu (stuff like if 1 dd has a game or an after school event) that way I know it will be a crockpot night and plan accordingly.

**pip** · 01-30-2009, 06:18 PM

I was going to suggest using a crockpot, too. Sometimes chicken gets over cooked in one if left on all day, but I have put frozen chicken pieces in the CP in the morning and they're not overcooked by dinner time. I also think it's OK to get some already prepared dinners from the freezer section to use when you are tired or don't have any inspiration.. cheaper than eating out in the long run.

**elphie** · 01-30-2009, 06:28 PM

For me the biggest struggle is WHAT to cook, but monthly menus don't work for us because we have to be in the mood for the food, kwim? So now I have a menu with a list of everything my family likes (about 60 + items) for a main dish (our sides are easy; bread or baked/mashed potatoes plus some kind of frozen veggie or salad). It is divided into categories (beef, chicken, meatless, and pork) so we can easily find what we are in the mood for. (I spent a rainy Saturday putting this together, was done in a day)

I premake as many things as I can. I have baking mix (like bisquick), cream soup mix, spaghetti seasoning, taco seasoning, etc. pre-made in bulk so I can throw together a meal very quickly.

I also keep some browned hamburger and cooked chicken in the freezer. Sometimes when I have plenty of time I double a recipe so I can put 1/2 in the freezer for a rushed night. We also like to make our own frozen pizzas by baking the crust in aluminum pans (we reuse these) piling on the toppings (cook the meat first) and freezing in 2 gallon ziploc bags (also reused). We have a pizza night once a month where we make several of these pizzas and one for that night.

And in a real pinch we'll do breakfast for supper- eggs, sausage, and pancakes are fast and easy and the kids think its a real treat to have pancakes for supper, lol.

HTH!

**redmaples** · 01-30-2009, 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by madhen

I'd start by looking at what you buy take-out the most. Is it pizza, Chinese, Mexican, etc? Then tailor your menus to that.

that's what i was thinking....occasionally I pick up 3 frozen pizzas for $10....they are store brand & are very good. they make for a quick lunch or dinner when things are hectic. cheaper than ordering out.
and as madhen said tacos are easy, so are wraps or burritos w/ beans & the same kind of taco ingredients.

**bridge** · 01-30-2009, 09:06 PM

Originally Posted by madhen

I'd start by looking at what you buy take-out the most. Is it pizza, Chinese, Mexican, etc?

This exactly what I do........
Whatever we usually go out to eat for, I keep stocked at home.

I made a list of our favorite take out and homemade foods. I then simplify as much as I can because I work late & supper needs to be ready fast.

Pre-cook and freeze....alot of things adapt well to this method.

**sabrelvssammy** · 01-30-2009, 10:17 PM

okay i totally HATE hamburger helper but dh loves it... so against all my better judgement (not healthy ingred, price...of course i do buy the store version) i do break down occasionally and buy a couple of boxes (both hamburger & tuna versions) and make them up and freeze them in individual containers in the freezer... the tuna versions i also substitute canned chicken...then when dh is being a 'baby' and everything i suggest for dinner doesn't sound 'good' and we are CLOSE to having to go thru a drive-thru...i whip out my 'secret' stash and say 'look...hamburger helper...' his eyes light up....throw it in the micro... a little buttered bread..... the rest is history....

**redeme** · 01-30-2009, 11:50 PM

Originally Posted by madhen

I'd start by looking at what you buy take-out the most. Is it pizza, Chinese, Mexican, etc? Then tailor your menus to that. Pizza crust is easy to make. If you make several smaller ones, you can actually make entire personal-sized pizzas and freeze them. Eggrolls are ridiculously easy to make, and easy to make in huge batches. They also freeze readily. I don't eat a lot of Mexican food, but I have prepared and frozen enchiladas with no problems. You can make taco fillings and just buy the hard, pre-prepared shells. A little tomato, onion, shredded lettuce, taco sauce (which is also REALLY easy to make - I have a bunch of it canned in my cupboard), and you are good to go.

Hope it helped, because now I'm hungry!!

Would you post the recipe for the taco sauce you canned? I'd like to have one that's been tried and liked, before I make several jars of it next year.

**madhen** · 01-31-2009, 12:20 AM

Originally Posted by redeme

Would you post the recipe for the taco sauce you canned? I'd like to have one that's been tried and liked, before I make several jars of it next year.

I use the recipe from the Ball Blue Book. It is:

3 c. tomato paste
5 c. water
1 c. cider vinegar
1/2 c. corn syrup
2 T. chili powder
1 t. salt
1 t. cayenne pepper
1/2 t. hot pepper sauce

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour or until thick. Stir frequently.

This makes about 3 pints, so you might want to reduce it if you don't plan on canning it.

**Contrary Housewife** · 01-31-2009, 01:00 AM

A few ideas...

Dirty rice freezes well, thaws and heats up quickly, and with a bag of salad it becomes dinner. I like the Zatarain's brand, I add about 2 lbs of meat, beef and sausage, and some extra rice to make a really big batch so I can freeze extras. I guess that's OAMC.

I buy kielbasa or smoked sausage rings when they are on sale and freeze them for quick dinners. Cut in half the long way and they fry up really fast, even if you start with them frozen. And if I am sick DH can heat them up. They are salty and fatty but we don't eat them too often for it to matter. In summer they are great on the grill. Add a vegetable or some cole slaw and it's dinner.

"Country ribs" do well in the crock pot. Make a big batch with bbq sauce and freeze portions. You can serve chunks for dinner, or shred it and make bbq sandwiches.

I bought a bunch of boneless chicken thighs, covered the meat with "mexican seasoning" and froze it in portions. I can put it on the grill or cook it in a saute pan for chicken tacos. Remember that meat stored in plastic freezer bags can be thawed relatively quickly in tepid water. Hard tacos keep forever in the pantry, and the soft ones can be frozen.

A 28oz can of chopped tomatoes, a can of chicken broth, some basil and a cup of cream become home-made tomato soup when you heat them together and puree it. Add grilled cheese sandwiches and you have supper. You probably already have bread and american cheese on hand.

A couple other standbys: tuna or egg salad. Sandwiches with salad or a hot bowl of soup make quick, inexpensive comfort food. Eggs keep for several weeks so you can have them on hand, and I don't think canned tuna ever goes bad.

**Patty A** · 01-31-2009, 05:11 AM

another fast and easy one is make a bunch of waffles or pancakes.
They freeze well (sandwich bags for one, ziplock bags for a stack), are fast and easy to reheat, and are yummie with syrup, peanutbutter and jelly or how ever you want them. Heat in the mircowave and while they heat fry an egg or two. Your done and ready to eat in minutes. Fast and easy.
Homemade tortilla's. Great for a snack or meal. Open some refried beans, spread on a tort, add some cheese and you have a fast and easy way to go. Chop up a salad to go with it and you have a meal in the length of time it takes to chop some veggies.

**Wendy99** · 02-06-2009, 05:58 PM

These are great ideas & this weekend I'm going to take up on a lot of them. I'll make a list of the take out we get most often, figre out what things we can make and freeze for easy meals (love the idea of the hamburger helper actually - childhood favorite of mine and the rest of my family loves it too). If anyone else has any more ideas / suggestions please continue posting. We need all the help we can get in this department. I really appreciate all your suggestions. Thank you!

**sabrelvssammy** · 02-06-2009, 06:30 PM

the university of maine extension office has a bulletin called 4029...(i'm really sorry everyone..i don't know how to post a link) maybe someday someone will teach me...hint...hint....

anyway...you can google it and you'll see it...it is called homemade convenience foods and is full of make-ahead mixes, sauces, you name it...you can make it in bulk and then add whatever else when the time comes.... it's got lots of goodies and they are super simple with ingredients you probably already have at home.... check it out....

(if you guys can't find it...dog me a little here and i will find someone to help me post links...) haha....