Introductions

meshashesha2012

Hi everyone:

I'm 41 and I just started cooking (i mean more than boiled eggs and toast) for myself Jan 2012. I'm the shame of my family because I was raised by good cooks yet I can screw up a boxed brownie mix.

I also once lived in an apartment for 5 years that I didnt realize the oven was hooked up until the last month i was there.

I like take out. A LOT. It doesnt help that I live a few blocks away from Chinatown where I can get delicious, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean and Chinese food all made to my specifications . They also all know that I like my sauce on the side and to add extra broccoli to my veggies. I wouldnt be surprised if I have a special banh mi sandwich named for me at the Vietnamese place.

To make a long story short, I eat out too much. Not only is it a needless waste of money, but it's also part of the reason I have a hard time staying within my calorie goals.

So I started this group for anyone who might be going through the same as a way to share support, recipes, ideas as well as some challenges.

Laces_0ut

I'm 42 and in the past would eat almost every single one of my meals out. breakfast would be bagel w/ cc and maybe a donut or muffin...then lunch would be fast food or a sub...then dinner could be same as lunch or maybe hit a happy hour for bar food and beers. no wonder i gained so much weight.

for over the last year and some ive prepared well over 90% of my meals at home. my problem is is that it is almost the same thing every day. i dont hate it but its more like fuel than food. it has worked well for me but if i couild find some recipes here to vary it that would be great.

right now every breakfast is 2 or 3 eggs with english muffin or toast along with tomatoes and serrano peppers.
lunch and dinner are almost always a combo of chicken, greek yogurt, carrots, spinnach, peppers and low carb tortilla.
occasionall ill mix in steak and tuna sashimi.

looking forward to this group.

LeggyAmericanGirl

Joining up and hoping to inspire new cooks like Mesha to cook at home. Food is so much better at home.

Case in point, lots of people go out and get a burger b/c its quick and easy.

With a little time and prep you can make a burger at home in minutes and it will blow away any burger you can buy.

Sirloin Burgers
1. I only buy prime steak usually its NY strip, Top Round or London Broil. When making burgers be sure to get a cut with fat on it. This is essential to making a juicy burger that does not fall apart!

2. A kitchen essential is a mini chopper or food processor. This is a must just like a food scale and measuring cups.

3. I will remove the fat and chop into tiny pieces and place in chopper/processor and grind til it is all processed to a very fine consistency.

4. Cut up 4 oz of steak into small squares and place in food processor / chopper and grind to a fine consistency.

5. Add fat and meat together in a bowl and mix in spices. I just use sea salt and black pepper.

6. Roll into a ball and then flatten out a patty to bout 1/4 inch thick, not too thin not to thick.

7. Place in a freezer bag as an individual burger.

8. Broil in oven at 450 for 5-8 minutes and make a burger how you like it.

I will saute mushrooms, onions, peppers and then cover with cheese.

You can have a healthy delicious steak burger anytime you like!

Prime Round is like 3.00 a lb in Texas I eat it every day and its very lean.

meshashesha2012

thanks for posting that burger idea.
maybe it's worth me keeping pre-formed/preseasoned patties in the freezer and then taking them out to cook


@laces i've been doing the same thing for breakfast for the most part and i'm at least good at those. the egg and ground turkey combos made in a muffin pan with spinach, red peppers and tomatoes are main breakfasts now.

happyfrogg

Hi everyone! I'm Jen, 30, originally from CA (Bay Area) but now living in frosty Illinois. I have a major sweet tooth, a major salt tooth (is that a thing?) and I live in one of the most restaurant-dense areas I've ever seen. I know how to cook-- in fact, I'm fairly decent at it-- but It's just so easy and delicious to get lunch on campus, and dinner on the way home. Add in my general laziness and sedentary lifestyle of a grad student and I've managed to gain 50-60 lbs since starting grad school.

I don't know if this will work, or if it will help anyone else, but here's what I'm trying out this month. I planned all my dinners for the month. Yep. A month, January 1-31. I scheduled in days for leftovers, but only 2 nights for eating out. I planned the easiest meals and crockpot meals for the nights I know I'm going to be on campus until 5 or 6 pm and the more complicated meals and new recipes for the weekends when I have more time. Here's a post about planning for a month that I found to be pretty helpful:
http://www.thescrappyhousewife.com/2012/05/how-i-menu-plan-part-2-in-series.html

I'm also using the Seinfeld "don't break the chain!" productivity goal to try to keep myself on track (that's where you make a big X on a calendar day if you make your goal for that day, and the aim is to make a big chain of X's).

I also keep a running list of the meals I've tried and liked, so that if I find myself wondering what to make I can look at a bunch of ideas. Oooh and when I want to make something I haven't tried before I'll go to foodgawker.com and search for a particular ingredient, or dish, or I'll just browse. (Although then I have to pretend not to see the delicious desserts...) Hope all this helps someone! And I'm glad to be here with some like-minded people. I'll try posting some recipes here too-- easy lasagna, anyone?

meshashesha2012

i found a recipe a while ago for an eggplant lasagna. i havent tried it yet but i'll post it

Natihilator

Hey everyone, I'm Nat and I'm 26. I used to struggle more with eating out too much when I lived alone, but I am currently living with my mommate to help out with some family situations, and I don't eat out once (or twice!) a day like I used to.

I do like to cook and get inventive in the kitchen and I'm pretty decent at it, but the enjoyment with that comes in waves and right now I'm in that down period of "too lazy, can't be bothered" so I have been eating out (mostly "healthier" fast food like chicken wraps or shawarma salads, mmm) at least 3-4 times a week. I'd like to cut that down to 1-2, mostly because when I put in the effort the food I cook myself is tastier than what I can buy, and because money is tight and $7 pitas add up. I'd rather save that $ for going to a swank foodie restaurant once a month.

Lunch was a big danger zone for me - I used to have a job where getting food off-site wasn't an option so I was forced to pack healthy homemade things and it worked out beautifully for my wallet and waistline. Another time I worked in a building right next door to a Whole Foods and a really great sushi place - had a pretty sore wallet from that. Now I work from home, and my problem is grazing and having lots of decadent food at my fingertips all day long (my mom has a blue cheese, pate, cracker and chocolate truffle habit so those things are always around)

Oh and I for a brief time I worked as a caterer at a cooking school, so here are some random food prep tips that I picked up:

- Invest in a good chef's knife, one that feels comfy in your grip, one size doesn't fit all. Hold the knife so that your thumb and forefinger pinch the base of the blade, like a chopstick - this gives you more control.

- For peeling garlic - cut off the root ends of the cloves, smash with flat side of a knife, then put the pieces in between two bowls, close and shake. Skins will come right off and no garlicky fingers for you.

- Save your onion skins to boil and make delicious stocks for soups, adds color and flavour.

bombedpop

If you like Bahn Mi, try this, much cheaper than buying it and you can figure out the cal load -
https://frshforce.wordpress.com/tag/banh-mi/

(it is 2 posts, I made the marinade/pickled veg one day, and the actual sandwich the next - the pickled veg hold up for at least 2-3 months.)

It is tofu, but I'm sure you could marinade chicken or pork instead if you prefer. I don't eat meat, so I made it this way.

juniebug2013

Wanted to stop by and introduce myself. I'm a stay at home mom of 3. We tend to eat out once or twice a week out of pure convenience. It seems like we are always busy and I'm a procrastinator by nature so horrible at meal planning, although I do try. Or sometimes I'm simply tired and tacos or burgers from a fast food place is just easier.

I'm hoping to find some new creative ideas, and some motivation when it comes to meal planning and preparation. We made a 3 month goal of no eating out last January and me and my husband lost quite a bit of weight in those 3 months! I'm going to set a new goal for the entire year. Eating out only once a month with my family at a restaurant. (no fast food!!) I figure I can take the money we normally spend on fast food and actually have a nice meal somewhere that I will enjoy much more than a greasy burger, and at the same time not feel so restricted by not eating out at all.

I'm looking forward to trying some new recipes and maybe learning a better way of doing things when it comes to preparing meals.

Guinnk1978

I am 34 years old, the mother of 1, stepmother to 2 and the grandmother of 3!

I also a breast cancer survivor - diagnosed at the age of 29.

I have always loved to eat even since I was very little. My theory was "Why let good food go to waste".

Trying to eat One portion only is VERY hard for me.

Some days I don't even Iog my food. I Know I should but if I Can keep myself in check just by logging in then I'm good.

I'm always looking for something new to try as long as it is easy and not using WILD ingredients.

If I have something Simple and good to Share I will.

Nice to meet You all!

MaxxieTibbyMom

Hi people~ I am 32, no kid. I relocated from Oregon to Lincoln about 2 years ago. I LOVE cooking. It is so fun to do, a great way to try something new without major investment, and the results are usually successful. I found if I have food at home, I am less likely to eat out. However, I do not like to eat out to start with, it is too salt. Hope we can keep the discussions going!!