Having worked 10-12 hour nights for a few years and being just too tired to cook, I got into the habit of bulk buying on sale, prepping on the weekend, and freezing it. After that, it’s just a matter of deciding what looks good, throwing it onto a lined sheet pan, and popping it into the toaster oven for a tasty home cooked meal.
I recently had to look up some recipes that were cheap and easy to make online. That’s how I found and made the recipe for vinegar pie. It was surprisingly good.
It was Pandemic Surprise, cooking up whatever had been stock piled over lock downs. Now it is Inflation Surprise, what ever was on sale at a somewhat reasonable price.
Put your list of ingredients into Google, or your favorite earch engine, add ‘recipes’ on the end, then see what you get. Choose from any of the recipes you think you can make. That is how I make dinner when my wife responds to the question of what she wants for dinner, "Something with stew meat, chicke, pork, or etc. Not all of the recipes have been hits for us, however, many have had repeats.
We went to the supermarket in early March 2020 as it was all starting here and found the supermarket shelves empty – maybe a total of 50 cans in the canned good aisle, no meat, freezer cases mostly bare… So we were working with what had been in the house and since we ate lunch out 7 days a week (Wendys) and either ate out or took in dinner 3 days a week – and don’t eat breakfast – we were rather limited and went to 1/2-2/3 “rations” – that was Hard to dealing with cooking for and what we felt like having did no so much matter. In mid May 2020 we tried ordering food from BJs and Walmart – neither one was a success so we went to the Walmart Neighborhood Market and filled 8 paper bags of food – of what was available – whether or not it was something we (I) would normally eat.
Since then have food shopped about 2 months at first, more recently every 3 weeks so we can buy less at a time. Eating lots of things we don’t particularly like – though back up to full portions for some time now.
Per the suggestion to look for recipes online – we have to deal with low carb, low fat, low many of kinds of vegetables/beans due to an assortment of medical conditions we both have – plus I am a picky eater. Many nights I am cooking 2 separate meals – one for me and one for him.
Tyge over 2 years ago
And the “surprises” just keep on coming!
Jason Allen over 2 years ago
Having worked 10-12 hour nights for a few years and being just too tired to cook, I got into the habit of bulk buying on sale, prepping on the weekend, and freezing it. After that, it’s just a matter of deciding what looks good, throwing it onto a lined sheet pan, and popping it into the toaster oven for a tasty home cooked meal.
Kim Metzger Premium Member over 2 years ago
I recently had to look up some recipes that were cheap and easy to make online. That’s how I found and made the recipe for vinegar pie. It was surprisingly good.
j_m_kuehl over 2 years ago
Freezer burn ala carte
jaydogg187 over 2 years ago
I had plenty of those back in 2020.
nosirrom over 2 years ago
AKA “Grocery shopping is tomorrow surprise”
FassEddie over 2 years ago
Does it have Kale in it? You know I can’t stand Kale!
assrdood over 2 years ago
We occasionally have “Eggos” for an evening meal. Anybody have a suggestion for wine pairing?
NeedaChuckle Premium Member over 2 years ago
When I don’t feel like cooking, I order a bunch of stuff, Italian or Chinese; and have meals for a few days.
John Smith over 2 years ago
Janis need some help with cooking….
Can anyone offer her some Sage advice?
John Smith over 2 years ago
My wife has been watching a lot of those competitive cooking shows and it is really inspiring her…
She now critiques everything I cook for her.
car2ner over 2 years ago
It was Pandemic Surprise, cooking up whatever had been stock piled over lock downs. Now it is Inflation Surprise, what ever was on sale at a somewhat reasonable price.
Flossie Mud Duck over 2 years ago
I’ve recently found myself foraging in the refrigerator. It’s amazing how many leftovers I accumulate.
I was FRAMED!!!!!! over 2 years ago
Put your list of ingredients into Google, or your favorite earch engine, add ‘recipes’ on the end, then see what you get. Choose from any of the recipes you think you can make. That is how I make dinner when my wife responds to the question of what she wants for dinner, "Something with stew meat, chicke, pork, or etc. Not all of the recipes have been hits for us, however, many have had repeats.
Kev_a_Swing_Dancer Premium Member over 2 years ago
I still have a number of things like black bean spaghetti and other that-was-all-that-was-on-the-supermarket-shelves items from mid-2020
KEA over 2 years ago
What’s at the back of your cupboard? mine has lima beans, beats and tuna helper.
Tom_Tildrum over 2 years ago
Yuck! Naming is important. I’m reminded of Gene renaming his father’s squash casserole as something like “Arlo’s Gold” when he offered it at the cafe.
paranormal over 2 years ago
Most people call it cleaning out the freezer…
ipbar over 2 years ago
One of my personal favorites is “Kitchen Sinkatouri”!
locake over 2 years ago
So what did she make? I need some ideas.
Scoutmaster77 over 2 years ago
My wife can do that and it’s always delicious.
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace over 2 years ago
Improvise.
Just-me over 2 years ago
We’ve made a few of those.
PaulGoes over 2 years ago
There’s always Door Dash
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] over 2 years ago
The Pandemic just keeps coming as people are going into the hospital now.
mafastore over 2 years ago
We went to the supermarket in early March 2020 as it was all starting here and found the supermarket shelves empty – maybe a total of 50 cans in the canned good aisle, no meat, freezer cases mostly bare… So we were working with what had been in the house and since we ate lunch out 7 days a week (Wendys) and either ate out or took in dinner 3 days a week – and don’t eat breakfast – we were rather limited and went to 1/2-2/3 “rations” – that was Hard to dealing with cooking for and what we felt like having did no so much matter. In mid May 2020 we tried ordering food from BJs and Walmart – neither one was a success so we went to the Walmart Neighborhood Market and filled 8 paper bags of food – of what was available – whether or not it was something we (I) would normally eat.
Since then have food shopped about 2 months at first, more recently every 3 weeks so we can buy less at a time. Eating lots of things we don’t particularly like – though back up to full portions for some time now.
Per the suggestion to look for recipes online – we have to deal with low carb, low fat, low many of kinds of vegetables/beans due to an assortment of medical conditions we both have – plus I am a picky eater. Many nights I am cooking 2 separate meals – one for me and one for him.
And I love it – I hate eating out.
aussie399 Premium Member about 2 years ago
In Australia “root around” has a somewhat different meaning. But I’m sure Arlo would be smiling