How Do You Feed Yourself? (Singles in the Kitchen!)

[Dino246]

I make most things from scratch, except breakfast cereals. Not that I'm a fantastic cook, but I know my way around a kitchen. No formal training, just an interest in eating decently, avoiding pseudo-food as often as possible, and truly enjoying the wonders of home-made. I don't recall the last time I used canned soup (I really prefer my own) and I don't even buy Kraft Dinner.

If I had more time to cook I probably would make more interesting meals, but I'm content with simple. Tasty, but simple. Eggs and toast happens far more often than it should!

 

[Abing]

I cook bacon, eggs and hotdogs. Yes, that takes a lot of skillz. But I really only cook when I'm too lazy to go out, that's when I'm not working. I work an average of 4 days a week, all those days I eat out. When I'm at home and too busy (or lazy) to cook, I have tons of dog, I mean, canned food. I have cup noodles of different flavors for emergency hunger.

I have to say that I also live next to a food court and they have lots of healthy options. They do the real cooking for me and I usually spend just around $5, except when I'm craving for lamb chops.

I sort of given up cooking. The last time I tried to really cook (I made fried rice) was a few days ago. I used butter, saute'd garlic and spring onions then added rice, of course it quickly dried up, cause maybe I didn't put enough butter. So I added water. And I thought I needed salt, so I added salt and while doing this, the water quickly dried up again. So I added water again. And added salt again. And I thought I was making fried rice, not rice soup. So I quickly made the decision to add all other ingredients that are supposed to make it taste even better and finish cooking. So I added the rest: more spring onions, and I found eggs in the fridge so I added those as well while my fried rice was still floating in water and butter. Then I topped it off with black pepper. It was supposed to make it smell good.

It looked really good. I will not tell you what it tasted like. But I know, Cloud, my dog, loved it.

 

[zeroturbulence]

You finally did it Kim! You posted a poll that I just HAD to read all the way through! (because: food!)

I usually eat out.
If I don't eat out, I'm heating leftovers
If I'm not heating leftovers or eating out, I'm making a sandwich
If I'm not heating leftovers or eating out, or making a sandwich, I'm making spaghetti
If none of the above, I'm either eating cereal or cooking a burger
If none of the above, I'm sleeping

 

[zeroturbulence]

I have to say that I also live next to a food court and they have lots of healthy options. They do the real cooking for me and I usually spend just around $5, except when I'm craving for lamb chops.

..........

 

[violakat]

I do a mixture of convenience food and cook my own food. Right now, I'm not eating out as much, as I'm trying to save my money for a major purchase. But when I do, I try not to spend more then $8. Personally, I prefer home cooked food. It's cheaper, and I know what goes in it.

 

[violakat]

I do a mixture of convenience food and cook my own food. Right now, I'm not eating out as much, as I'm trying to save my money for a major purchase. But when I do, I try not to spend more then $8. Personally, I prefer home cooked food. It's cheaper, and I know what goes in it.

And by the way, I'd make Chef Ramsey proud, except for when it comes to fried eggs, or pancakes, or other patientcy stove top type food.

 

[cinder]

* Do you normally cook or eat out?

* Why or why don't you cook? And why or why don't you eat out?

* Do you have food allergies or are you on any special restrictions?

* Do you tend to eat packaged, frozen, or fresh foods?


What about the rest of you? What are your eating/cooking habits and what keeps you in (or out) of the kitchen?

Thanks for taking the time to read, vote, and post, and I'm really hoping the poll answers will spark additional discussion as well.

Well my cooking situations have been perhaps a bit unusual, right now I cook for a family of 4 adults and since I want to stick to the low carb high fat diet I started when I was overseas, I'm doing most of the cooking.

When on my own I also cooked for myself, though my basic idea was to stir fry some veggies and meat in a big pan with varying spices and sauces and cook enough for several days at once. Pre packaged heat and eat foods weren't really available where I was so that wasn't an option. I'm an ok cook, but I doubt anyone is going to be asking me for any recipes soon (which is a good thing since I think recipes are more like inspirations and general ideas than detailed instructions to follow).

 

[Nautilus]

I hvae 16 years experience cooking. I also dont want to cook a meal when I get home. Most chefs in restaurants will eat something simple like takeout or microwave before we slave over another to feed even ourselves. Now ill cook you a dinner to die for, but never if Im eating alone.

 

[JonahLynx]

I hvae 16 years experience cooking. I also dont want to cook a meal when I get home. Most chefs in restaurants will eat something simple like takeout or microwave before we slave over another to feed even ourselves. Now ill cook you a dinner to die for, but never if Im eating alone.

I worked for a dessert place and never wanted to order from anywhere else just to spare the guys in the back from having to make it lol. Never again will I complain about the time it takes to get my food.

 

[MollyConnor]

I read the title "How do you feel yourself? (Singles in the kitchen)." Very bad mixup! LOL


But it's my fault lol. I read stuff weird sometimes. Like if I see red, white, and blue...I usually read that backwards and say blue, white, and red. I dunno why.

 

[zeroturbulence]

I hvae 16 years experience cooking. I also dont want to cook a meal when I get home. Most chefs in restaurants will eat something simple like takeout or microwave before we slave over another to feed even ourselves. Now ill cook you a dinner to die for, but never if Im eating alone.

That's like priceless inside info right there!

 

[seoulsearch]

I worked for a dessert place and never wanted to order from anywhere else just to spare the guys in the back from having to make it lol. Never again will I complain about the time it takes to get my food.

I always have a lot of sympathy for people working in the food business because because I know it's a grueling industry. I don't eat out often but I always try to tip well (unless the service was unusually terrible) because I know everyone there is most likely slaving away, and they're doing jobs I would never have to tolerance to do.

I've always believed that if a person can read, they can cook (and even then, I know some people cook by "feeling" and not recipes, and that's even more awesome.) I think I COULD cook fairly decently if given the time and money. I've found some really healthy recipes... that have really ridiculous ingredients. For instance, most of the vegan/raw food dessert recipes I've seen use mass amounts of, let's say, 3 kinds of raw nuts, and I don't know about other areas, but around here, those babies are $8+ a pound.

One of my dirty little secrets is that I actually enjoy watching cooking shows. But 99.9% of the time I have NO interest in what they're making. Rather, I watch them for tips on how to use or prepare the ingredients.

Back when I was married, my proudest culinary moments included stuffed sole (I don't like most fish, but it was my then-husband's favorite... though true food people would have shunned it because it used a sauce made with cream-of-mushroom canned soup--sorry, Catherder!), and a lasagna from a "real Italian" cookbook that used bechamel sauce instead of ricotta and mozzarella. Truthfully... I like the good old cheese-upon-cheese version better.

Personally, I am a carb freak and actually have to force myself to consume protein... But if given my way, I could easily live on bread, pasta, cheese, and dessert. But for several years now, I've tried to limit my carbs in an effort towards weight management.

P.S. Nautilus (and other various talented cooks here)--if we all lived closer, I would GLADLY hire you all to cater a CC dinner. That would be totally epic!!!

Abing, your story totally made me smile (and sounded WAY too familiar!!!) You definitely get an A for effort!

 

[James4redemption]

I like to cook, but I'll eat out when feeling lazy or wanting something specific from a favorite place.

I can eat the same thing multiple days in a row for the most part, so I can make a big pot of ragu or bolognese and eat it for a few days.

I like to keep a few cans of cento tomatoes, some pasta, seasonings, buy the meat and fresh ingredients I think i'll need when I need them etc etc. I'll keep some jasmine rice too, or just a big bag of white rice in general for when I want to make some stir fry. Bottle of teryaki sauce, mae ploy, hoison, szchewan sauce, all those sauces can be in the fridge for a long time.

But yeah, rice and pasta and a couple asian sauces can be a life savor because the pasta and rice can last for ever, so can canned tomatoes. So if your low on finances, just chicken, rice, and your favorite asian sauce can be clutchhhh. I love mexican food too, but cilantro can go bad pretty fast and so can tortillas that are filled with preservatives, so unfortunately I don't get to make that kind of stuff as often as I'd like. You can freeze sausage and hamburger though for those days you want some simple italian sauce and meat, or cheese burgers.....man I can talk about food forever lol

As for food I like to avoid, anything I'd imagine that would have too much preservatives and fats combined. Much rather make my own quick cheese burgers (bbq suace, cheddar, and onion is simple and tastes amazing for how little ingredients you're using) as opposed to fast food burgers. I stick to cooking with natural fats, extra virgin olive oil or lard or butter.

Also I like to avoid anything pre-made for the most part. The tinfoil-hat wearing part of myself is convinced a lot of what we're advertised to eat has additives that create food addiction, plus their filled with preservatives which I think combat with the digestive system. So yeah, I TRY to avoid that kind of stuff. Doesn't mean I won't hit up a wendy's or an in-n-out or five guys or super burrito every now and then.

 

[Lynx]

...I think recipes are more like inspirations and general ideas than detailed instructions to follow.

AMEN! Preach it sista!

Although I do always follow the recipe the first time through. Then I know exactly what I want to change the second time.


seoulsearch I have heard "Anyone who can read can cook" a lot, but every time I hear someone say it I hear a chorus of people replying "NO THEY CAN'T!" Some people could burn water.

 

[Hellooo]

Nice thread idea!
I prepare my own meals roughly 80% of the week.

I try to prep several lunches on Sundays and organize things so I don't have to spend too much time making dinner during the week. Like roasting a whole chicken or pork shoulder that can be later made into tacos, soup, served in salad, with veggies or polenta or rice.
As far as ingredients, i buy fresh or frozen. ..the thing with being single is that you can't store a large quantity of fresh produce, and I HATE to throw food away. I stock up on meat and separate it into zip loc bags as soon as I get home for freezing. Breakfast is usually some kind of eggs, yogurt/fruit, or protein shake.

I eat out maybe twice a week...usually breakfast on Fridays, and various food truck/street fare or going out to a pub or restaurant.

 

[chickwithsticks]

I love to cook and it varies between simple and more complex during the week. I typically make one slow cooker meal a week so dinner is teady straight from work. My son has gotten stuck in a rut with what he will eat so we recently made a deal. He bought me a new cookbook for my birthday so every sunday we pick a new receipe from the book to make so we expand our tastes and explore. Although every friday night is frozen pizza night (my sons negotiation for trying a new recipe).