I haven't eaten out in 75 days how about you guys?

[stephQ]

Anyone else have some good ideas for food I can keep in the car that isn't too junky?  I think if I could get into homemade jerky making that would be a good thing.

Homemade jerky is pretty simple if you have a dehydrator, there are a ton of recipes online & on youtube. I was gifted a dehydrator last xmas so been testing out a few recipes. I over dried my first batch and it was like beef chips (no bueno). So just be careful of that. You can also make jerky in the oven using a low temperature if you don't have a dehydrator, or how Alton Brown used a box fan+air filters. I like to keep a few baggies of snacks in the car such as almonds or mixed nuts and dried fruits. I've tried drying pineapple in a dehydrator a couple times which has also been pretty tasty.

Box fan?  Hmmm?  Sounds doable.   What about just drying in the fridge?   My fridge seems to dry out anything.

Hm, I've never heard of anyone drying jerky in the fridge since most recipes I've seen require some form of low heat or a ton of salt to reduce bacteria growth. Not sure if there's enough air circulation inside to sufficiently dry it out. I know commercial dry aging rooms are capable of drying out meats like sausages, hams and steaks in cold  temperatures, but those are completely different beasts than regular home fridges since they have temperature/humidity/airflow controls (and are a lot larger). So, to answer your question, I'm not exactly sure if a home fridge would work. I'd be really concerned about yucky bacteria growing on it.

[FIRE me]

I looked today at mint and the last time eating out was 75 days ago! Only home cooked food for me. I don't know if I can make it to 100 because I have friends coming into town in a couple weeks but we'll see.

How long has it been since you have last eaten out?

UPDATE* I broke original streak but New Streak is 96 days as of OCT 15, 2015

I'm now at 35 days for no fast food (no restaurant food), and no meat.

[Cookie78]

I looked today at mint and the last time eating out was 75 days ago! Only home cooked food for me. I don't know if I can make it to 100 because I have friends coming into town in a couple weeks but we'll see.

How long has it been since you have last eaten out?

UPDATE* I broke original streak but New Streak is 96 days as of OCT 15, 2015

I'm now at 35 days for no fast food (no restaurant food), and no meat.

Ha. We are counting back from the same day. 36 days today. Except I've had plenty of meat!

Filled the freezer full of about $700 worth of meat on Sunday, with another $400 on the way after a hunting trip last week. Other smaller freezer is full to the top, and the freezer above the fridge is packed full with veggies from my garden and my dad's garden. A few casseroles, soups, and other odds and ends are in there too. Now I have a great excuse not to go out to restaurants... too much food to eat at home.

[FIRE me]

I don't think I'll last much longer on the meatless part. It is getting colder here and I want to make soup and chili.

I did forget to brag about that I'm also at 35 days for no beverage except plain tap water. No soft drinks, no milk (except for cooking and on cereal), no juice, no coffee, no beer or other alcohol. Just tap water.

[Cookie78]

I don't think I'll last much longer on the meatless part. It is getting colder here and I want to make soup and chili.

I did forget to brag about that I'm also at 35 days for no beverage except plain tap water. No soft drinks, no milk (except for cooking and on cereal), no juice, no coffee, no beer or other alcohol. Just tap water.

I should do the no drinks thing too. I realized a couple weeks ago my old scale was lying to me gradually over time and I had gained 20 pounds when I thought I was staying the same. Want to lose as many of them as I can before the new year. Cutting out liquid calories helped a lot when I lost 65 pounds a few years ago. But I'll still drink tea (without sugar/honey)!

[Eric222]

I'm planning on a no restaurant November (with the exception of the family get together where everyone will go out - but that is part of the vacation budget!).  My last restaurant meal was October 9th.   If I survive November, I'm going to aim for 2 months!

 

[zephyr911]

I just ate out last night, but my old boss paid for everything since we hadn't seen each other in years and he's just cool like that.

[Matt in Akron]

I came here to say that precisely one month ago, this post inspired me to stop wishing we didn't spend so much on groceries/dining out, and start cooking more at home.

30 days later, I'm happy to report that we spent $350 less in October than our average month, and our grocery spend was the exact same.  That's right, we ate at home more, spent the same on groceries, and saved $350 in one month.  Incredible.

Thanks for the inspiration!

[CmFtns]

I came here to say that precisely one month ago, this post inspired me to stop wishing we didn't spend so much on groceries/dining out, and start cooking more at home.

30 days later, I'm happy to report that we spent $350 less in October than our average month, and our grocery spend was the exact same.  That's right, we ate at home more, spent the same on groceries, and saved $350 in one month.  Incredible.

Thanks for the inspiration!

Your welcome... and have a scoop more motivation too

To calculate monthly expense compounded over ten years, multiply the price by 173.
-MMM

$350 a month for 10 years is:
$60,550

[Cookie78]

I'm starting over at day 1 again.

Went to visit my grandma this weekend and as I was there she fell and broke her hip just before lunch. I ended up at the hospital with her all day and needed to buy some food at Tim Hortons. I even had a couple Tim Hortons gift cards that I rarely get the chance to use so I thought I was going to get away with not having to spend money at restaurants! But they wouldn't/couldn't accept gift cards at that particular location (they don't have the little machine thing). Oh well. $7.50ish for a much needed turkey club sandwich, apple fritter, and a tea.

Also, the surgery went very well and she's recovering great and in good spirits. And she was so thankful I was able to be there with her, so it's $7.50ish well spent.

[Missy B]

I came here to say that precisely one month ago, this post inspired me to stop wishing we didn't spend so much on groceries/dining out, and start cooking more at home.

30 days later, I'm happy to report that we spent $350 less in October than our average month, and our grocery spend was the exact same.  That's right, we ate at home more, spent the same on groceries, and saved $350 in one month.  Incredible.

Thanks for the inspiration!

I'm spending the same on groceries too, because I'm eating the food I used to throw out, food that went bad because I was grabbing takeout on the way home from work. Feels really satisfying to finish everything instead of pitching the last bit because it's questionable.

[Miss Prim]

When I was working, I used to love to go out to eat.  Now that I am retired, I find that food at restaurants just does not taste that good anymore.  Since I have more time now, I am cooking more at home and trying new recipes to perfect them and find that they taste better than anything I have eaten at a restaurant lately! 

I also grew most of my food this summer and canned or froze it and the taste of home grown produce far outweighs what you can get in the store.  I am trying to cook more seasonally too, as that is the way people lived before produce that was normally only eaten in season became available all year round.  Just because one can buy fresh strawberries year round does not make them flavorful.  Produce tastes so much better in season and becomes something special to look forward to.

                                                                      Miss Prim