Watcha making for dinner tonight!?

[MaybeBabyMustache]

Leftover ground beef tacos. I did manage to use up the last of a few things, which always feels nice (looking at you, jarred salsa that my parents bought when they were in town.)

[midweststache]

Lentil soup & roasted broccoli.

[41_swish]

How often are you all doing a Costco/Sam's Club trip? As a single person without a spouse or kids I am about once a month for meet and pantry items.

[Kmp2]

We're doing a sheet pan gnocchi, with brussels sprouts, broccoli, and chickpeas in a lemon dill sauce. The recipe calls for meatballs, we may add some of the frozen swedish meatballs, but definitely won't be making the ground chicken from scratch meatballs... chicken is pricy!

[couponvan]

It's Frugal February, so we're eating from the freezer/pantry as best we can.  DH gets his annual bonus in March, so February we usually try to be careful. Tonight it's chicken and veggie soup.

Every month is frugal when you are a mustache!

I’m a wannabe, so February is my try to be better. Today was kung pao broccoli and xiao long bau soup dumplings. Not as good as Din Tai Fung, but they were in the freezer!

[middo]

Hot again here in Australia (where it isn't flooding) so the BBQ is getting a workout.  Tonight will be wraps (or kebabs, or gyros or yiros or souvlaki depending on where in Australia you live).  Fresh flat breads made from scratch, some left over roast from the freezer cut up and turned on the hot plate, and some salad (lettuce, capsicum or bell peppers, tomatoes, shredded cheese and Greek yoghurt).  Time to start the flat breads soon. 

[crocheted_stache]

How often are you all doing a Costco/Sam's Club trip? As a single person without a spouse or kids I am about once a month for meet and pantry items.

Roughly every other week for DH and me, which is usually about how long until we start running low on key ingredients like milk. We pushed it to three weeks during the pandemic in an effort to limit total exposure. For us, it's a 2-mile trip and where most of our groceries come from. We're also pretty good at sticking to the list and not also coming home with the shiny object(s) of the month.

[41_swish]

That seems fair. I think it's just hard to buy stuff from the wholesale clubs and not let it go to waste.

[crocheted_stache]

That seems fair. I think it's just hard to buy stuff from the wholesale clubs and not let it go to waste.

We buy mainly shelf-stable stuff (toilet paper, laundry detergent) and single-ingredient, multi-purpose foods (milk, veggies, meat, flour, etc.)  We mostly don't buy a bag of pre-made potstickers. Yeah, it sometimes means a week when everything we cook has broccoli in it, but that works for us. Or, if we only need one meal's worth of sweet potatoes on eggplant, maybe we get that somewhere else.

I think I'd still shop at Costco if I were single, but I haven't really tried that lately or long.

[41_swish]

That seems fair. I think it's just hard to buy stuff from the wholesale clubs and not let it go to waste.

We buy mainly shelf-stable stuff (toilet paper, laundry detergent) and single-ingredient, multi-purpose foods (milk, veggies, meat, flour, etc.)  We mostly don't buy a bag of pre-made potstickers. Yeah, it sometimes means a week when everything we cook has broccoli in it, but that works for us. Or, if we only need one meal's worth of sweet potatoes on eggplant, maybe we get that somewhere else.

I think I'd still shop at Costco if I were single, but I haven't really tried that lately or long.

I definitely do shop there as a single 20 something, but I just make sure I am very intentional. I like buying the shelf stable stuff you mentioned as well as meat for the freezer and pantry items. Some of the huge bags of produce, especially potatoes, can be hard to get through by myself.

I have actually just started making huge batches of stuff and freezing half of it for later to minimize waste.

[crocheted_stache]

That seems fair. I think it's just hard to buy stuff from the wholesale clubs and not let it go to waste.

We buy mainly shelf-stable stuff (toilet paper, laundry detergent) and single-ingredient, multi-purpose foods (milk, veggies, meat, flour, etc.)  We mostly don't buy a bag of pre-made potstickers. Yeah, it sometimes means a week when everything we cook has broccoli in it, but that works for us. Or, if we only need one meal's worth of sweet potatoes on eggplant, maybe we get that somewhere else.

I think I'd still shop at Costco if I were single, but I haven't really tried that lately or long.

I definitely do shop there as a single 20 something, but I just make sure I am very intentional. I like buying the shelf stable stuff you mentioned as well as meat for the freezer and pantry items. Some of the huge bags of produce, especially potatoes, can be hard to get through by myself.

I have actually just started making huge batches of stuff and freezing half of it for later to minimize waste.

The times when I've done it, I've found cooking for one pretty challenging. Cut up one onion, and put enough other stuff in the pot to be in proportion to that, and it's four or six servings, which can get pretty monotonous if eaten sequentially, or go bad if not. There's also the motivation factor. When there's nobody else to care, it's tempting to settle for cereal for dinner, or whatever else is the easy default.

DH and I try to cook in batches with enough leftovers for a day's lunch or two, and most of that cooking happens on weekdays. In between, we have some easy go-to things that don't require serious cooking, including burgers in a pan on the stove (sometimes with mushrooms and teriyaki sauce), tuna sandwiches (sometimes toasted), and eggs or egg burritos when eggs are a little more available. I should also remember more often than I do, to "decorate" a potato or sweet potato (microwaved if need be) with whatever's in the fridge on nights that are too busy for "real" cooking.

[Josiecat22222]

Tofu Satay with Peanut Sauce and Gyoza with cucumber salad

[41_swish]

Chicken gnocchi soup!

[MaybeBabyMustache]

How often are you all doing a Costco/Sam's Club trip? As a single person without a spouse or kids I am about once a month for meet and pantry items.

Roughly every other week for DH and me, which is usually about how long until we start running low on key ingredients like milk. We pushed it to three weeks during the pandemic in an effort to limit total exposure. For us, it's a 2-mile trip and where most of our groceries come from. We're also pretty good at sticking to the list and not also coming home with the shiny object(s) of the month.

We still have one very active teen at home, and Costco is our primary grocery store. We got weekly & purchase: produce, dairy & meat. As needed, we replenish house hold supplies. And, because we are near Napa, we often get really great wine deals, so that.

For dinner tonight, DH grilled burgers.

[couponvan]

Costco rotisserie chicken tacos-cooked in the salsa for flavor. Low carb tortillas, and thinly sliced Costco romaine lettuce. Daiya fake cheddar for the cheese to stay low calcium. Under 500 calories.

Blackberry deconstructed cobbler for dessert.

[41_swish]

Costco rotisserie chicken tacos-cooked in the salsa for flavor. Low carb tortillas, and thinly sliced Costco romaine lettuce. Daiya fake cheddar for the cheese to stay low calcium. Under 500 calories.

Blackberry deconstructed cobbler for dessert.

I am glad I am not the only person who uses the rotisserie chicken for tacos

[Sugaree]

Chicken pesto with roasted veggies. 

[couponvan]

Tonkatsu ramen bowls with chicken and sliced hard-boiled egg, because we're "fancy" in the days of $6/dozen chicken eggs.

[Josiecat22222]

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019681-cheesy-white-bean-tomato-bake

I'm eating these beans as leftovers tonight. Made them last night and they are delicious! Could add sausage or kielbasa for meat eaters.  I served mine with fried eggs and a baguette.  10/10 would recommend.  (if you choose to make it, I recommend increasing the tomato past to a full 6oz can)

[couponvan]

Chicken and wild rice soup. It’s snowing and cold. Soup weather.

[Serendip]

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019681-cheesy-white-bean-tomato-bake

I'm eating these beans as leftovers tonight. Made them last night and they are delicious! Could add sausage or kielbasa for meat eaters.  I served mine with fried eggs and a baguette.  10/10 would recommend.  (if you choose to make it, I recommend increasing the tomato past to a full 6oz can)

This looks delicious and I definitely will try it. My SO laments the amount of beans I cook but I love 'em!

[Serendip]

Made this last night to use up some basil & broccolini and it was fast and tasty.
https://thefoodietakesflight.com/basil-garlic-oil-noodles/#recipe

Tonight will be tofu tacos.

[Runrooster]

I have barely cooked anything in the last two months.
Busy at work, sick, problems with the heat.
I put a couple of things in the freezer in December, did my monthly batches of idli/sambar. One pot of bean soup. lots of bagels.

I'm starting to feel caught up, so I made a list of things to cook:
hummus, date chutney, chili, salmon rice, couscous salad.

I had planned on making shakshuka, but with eggs at $4/dozen, I can't bear it.
I made falafel from scratch on Xmas, and have ingredients for more, but I want to ease back into cooking.

[turketron]

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019681-cheesy-white-bean-tomato-bake

I'm eating these beans as leftovers tonight. Made them last night and they are delicious! Could add sausage or kielbasa for meat eaters.  I served mine with fried eggs and a baguette.  10/10 would recommend.  (if you choose to make it, I recommend increasing the tomato past to a full 6oz can)

This one is in our regular rotation as well, but we usually use chickpeas. Delicious either way!

[41_swish]

I made burrito bowls. It has been in the rotation for ages. I can make it 95% as good as Chipotle. One meal there makes roughly four at home.

[Serendip]

Leftover (homemade) indian food..complete with naan bread. Flavourful with lots of veggies and legumes.

[couponvan]

We are having vegetable soup with random vegetables in the house and leftover stock that needs to be used up.  It's raining, so it is a perfect day for making this.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

I made burrito bowls. It has been in the rotation for ages. I can make it 95% as good as Chipotle. One meal there makes roughly four at home.

@41_swish - any inspiration for your prep, or recipes to share?

[41_swish]

No specific recipe, but my chipotle order is definitely my inspo.

I do white rice with cilantro and lime. I do chicken thighs seasoned with carne asada seasoning. I do some corn beans salsa and homemade guac with salsa

[MaybeBabyMustache]

Thanks! I have some Chipotle fans at my house, so it would be fun to be able to replicate it at home.

As for tonight, totally uninspired but do need a recipe. I'm going with orange chicken & cauliflower rice.

[41_swish]

Thanks! I have some Chipotle fans at my house, so it would be fun to be able to replicate it at home.

As for tonight, totally uninspired but do need a recipe. I'm going with orange chicken & cauliflower rice.

To get close try something like this:

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/146000/lime-cilantro-rice/

https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/how-to-make-copycat-chipotle-chicken-at-home/

For guac I just use avocados lime and salt. A

Add corn beans salsa and hot sauce as you see fit. I also add nonfat plain Greek yogurt or sour cream depending on what's in the fridge.

It ain't perfect, but its dang close to chipotle

[couponvan]

wagyu beef spaghetti sauce.  I got a smoking deal on wagyu beef at Costco.  It had to have been a mislabel, but not my problem. I will serve that over pasta with a spinach and beet salad to use up some winter beets.

[grantmeaname]

The US doesn't respect other countries' controlled origin appellations almost as a rule - you probably found American Wagyu, which is crossbred with Angus and not raised in the same way. But good beef is good beef and it's still probably far better than your average feedlot cow.

[Sandi_k]

Penne with gouda cheese, chicken, broccoli, and lemon pepper for zest. Yummy.

[couponvan]

The US doesn't respect other countries' controlled origin appellations almost as a rule - you probably found American Wagyu, which is crossbred with Angus and not raised in the same way. But good beef is good beef and it's still probably far better than your average feedlot cow.

Definitely American wagyu. Good point. I have had Japanese wagyu in Japan, just to be able to say I tried it.

[grantmeaname]

How was it? If you didn't like it I'll happily take the leftovers off your hands :)

[couponvan]

How was it? If you didn't like it I'll happily take the leftovers off your hands :)

It was good, but I don't know if it's worth the extra price you'd normally pay.  At $3.99/lb, it was totally worth a try as it was cheaper than regular hamburger.

[reeshau]

How was it? If you didn't like it I'll happily take the leftovers off your hands :)

It was good, but I don't know if it's worth the extra price you'd normally pay.  At $3.99/lb, it was totally worth a try as it was cheaper than regular hamburger.

We have taken to subbing 1/2 sweet italian sausage for our bolognese sauce.

[grantmeaname]

I adore italian sausage and would heartily agree, but sadly fennel is a no go for the other eaters in my household.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

I had a bunch of veggies that I needed to use up, so I made this easy chicken stir fry. Added a lot more broccoli & carrots. Served with rice.

https://www.budgetbytes.com/chicken-stir-fry/

[41_swish]

I am having some trout with potatoes and Brussel sprouts! A classic Sunday meal for me

[Josiecat22222]

In the midst of a grocery store challenge (in which we try to challenge ourselves to eat all the foods in the house without going to grocery store).

Homemade pizzas with some less favored low carb wraps as the crust.  Toppings include various cheeses languishing in the cheese drawer, some browned sausage pulled from the depths of the freezer and some jarred pizza sauce in the back of the pantry.  Also seen on the table were some old chicken nuggets, pork chops and carmelized onion.

DS is headed to college in the fall, so we need to change our shopping habits and we've committed to eating down the stores and getting rid of the "garage fridge" over the course of the summer. 

[midweststache]

Inspired by a blog post from a few weeks ago, we trialed Chicken Paprikash (DH called this a version of Goulash he had as a child, and the flavor gave me strong xillenial Hamburger Helper flavor vibes). The most expensive items were the chicken (on sale!) and the Hungarian Paprika (it takes, like, 4 TBSP) so I think we ended up with 6 services for ~$15.

This got two thumbs way up from the whole family, so it will likely make it into a solid rotation for rainy/cold days. We made up some green beans and sliced up an apple to add some fruit/veg to the meal.

(Not the blog post inspo, but the recipe we used: https://www.daringgourmet.com/chicken-paprikash-paprikas-csirke/)

[Sugaree]

Prepped a relatively healthy version of Cajun shrimp alfredo for the week using cottage cheese Cajun alfredo, broccoli, and shrimp. 

[MaybeBabyMustache]

In the midst of a grocery store challenge (in which we try to challenge ourselves to eat all the foods in the house without going to grocery store).

Homemade pizzas with some less favored low carb wraps as the crust.  Toppings include various cheeses languishing in the cheese drawer, some browned sausage pulled from the depths of the freezer and some jarred pizza sauce in the back of the pantry.  Also seen on the table were some old chicken nuggets, pork chops and carmelized onion.

DS is headed to college in the fall, so we need to change our shopping habits and we've committed to eating down the stores and getting rid of the "garage fridge" over the course of the summer.

@Josiecat22222 - we will be in a similar situation in the fall with both of our teens out of the house. Many of the items we keep on hand in the freezer won't be necessary. There are days like earlier this week when DS18 came home with four bonus friends at lunch (no notice) & I had to whip together a quick meal. That requires a certain amount of easy prep food.

As for tonight's dinner, assuming it doesn't take us seven hundred years to get back from Tahoe in a snow storm, it's going to be an easy meal tonight. I need to get laundry going & get packed for tomorrow, as I'm flying out for a trip to Sedona. I'm thinking orange chicken & cauliflower rice, both from the freezer.

[41_swish]

I made a big batch of homemade soup. I just threw together a bunch of veggies that were going bad with ground beef and chicken stock. It is pretty tastey and I will get a few meals out of it

[Josiecat22222]

tonight is another night of using up bits and bobs....

-salad with corn/black beans/chk'n nuggets to use up bagged salad and canned goods from pantry
-roast beef and cheese grilled sandwich with leftover chili mac soup (using up odd ends of cheese and freezer bread and canned soup)
-finally, made a big batch of brunswick stew (because it's rainy and cold here) which also uses up a freezer pack of homemade pulled pork, cans of creamed corn, diced tomato, peas, lima beans).  The stew will feed us for several meals

[midweststache]

It's BEAUTIFUL today so we're grilling. The only thing we didn't get at discount on our weekly shop was, shocking, apples - the only thing on sale were Fuji and DH cannot stand Fuji apples so we paid the big bucks (more than $1.49/lb) for a type he'd actually enjoy.

Breakfast was avocado toast (with leftover avocado from taco night and bread from soup this weekend) and a banana, and lunch will be the last of the soup and bread. So... a pretty delicious day at home.

[41_swish]

I made some chicken Caesar wraps with homemade flour tortillas. It was definitely worth the work. I think I will try doing a Caesar dressing from scratch next.

[Serendip]

Had a kidney bean burrito with sautéed pine-mushrooms and homemade salsa. very tasty and made from things I had in the fridge/freezer.