In anticipation of the stressful week that we just survived, Howard and I purchased frozen food. We bough frozen lasagnas, chicken nuggets, hot pockets, and chimichangas. These are all items that we haven’t had for nigh two years because they’re too expensive. BUT this purchasing decision was actually the frugal decision, because while Hot Pockets are more expensive than home cooking, they are far cheaper than fast food or delivered pizza. We knew we would not have time, energy, or brainspace to cook. Also we didn’t want to have the added stress of having to negotiate the eating of food with children who’d rather do something else.
Sure enough, the kids wolfed down these food items with relish. Patches is young enough that he doesn’t remember the days when this was standard fare, but he’s definitely found a new favorite food group called “chicken nuggets.” Kiki rejoiced at the return of her beloved Hot Pockets. Link felt the same way about the chicken nuggets. Gleek actually sat still to eat these foods rather than bouncing around the room between bites. All of this forced me to remember why I served them so often during the Novell years. They were so convenient and argument free. Unfortunately convenience is expensive. With home cooked meals I can usually feed the whole family for $2 or less. Chimichangas cost $.90 each and our family will eat 8 or more during one meal. Fast food runs us $15 or more for one meal. We saved money by planning ahead for stressful times. (I would have saved even more by planning further ahead and freezing home cooked meals, but that just didn’t happen this time around.)
Today we ate up the last of the frozen pre-prepared food. All along we’ve been telling our kids that we bought these foods as treats for during “book week.” I fully expect to hear requests for more of them in the near future. I won’t be buying them. The point of a treat is that it is rare and special. If kids get chicken nuggets every day, then chicken nuggets stop being a treat. If kids get candy every day, then it stops being a treat. “daily treat” is something of an oxymoron, or at least it should be. I thought about keeping a stock of chicken nuggets in the freezer for “emergencies,” but when I KNOW there are nuggets in the freezer “emergency” gets redefined to mean “I don’t feel like cooking today.” If I don’t have convenient foods in the freezer I muddle through on cheaper options despite being tired. We’ll get more of these frozen foods when next we have a “book week.” Hopefully that will be within the next 6 months.
What about buying chimichangas by the bag, rather than individually? I picked up a bag of El Monterey chimichangas at Wal-mart today for . . . I think it was $1.50, but I can’t remember if that was before or after the sale. (It was a pretty hectic shopping trip.) There were ten in the bag, which feeds me for a week or two–maybe you could actually get one meal out of it. 😉 It still doesn’t quite compare to the price of home cooking, but it’s something.
What about buying chimichangas by the bag, rather than individually? I picked up a bag of El Monterey chimichangas at Wal-mart today for . . . I think it was $1.50, but I can’t remember if that was before or after the sale. (It was a pretty hectic shopping trip.) There were ten in the bag, which feeds me for a week or two–maybe you could actually get one meal out of it. 😉 It still doesn’t quite compare to the price of home cooking, but it’s something.
On the upside, home cooking is much more heathy than pre-packaged stuff. As a way to keep heat down in the house (old adobe with no a/c and high 80°s, outside of Albuquerque), we’re doing a lot more cooking out side. Did some nice tempura in the wok over propane today. Daughter loved it. Especially the broccoli. Go figure.
On the upside, home cooking is much more heathy than pre-packaged stuff. As a way to keep heat down in the house (old adobe with no a/c and high 80°s, outside of Albuquerque), we’re doing a lot more cooking out side. Did some nice tempura in the wok over propane today. Daughter loved it. Especially the broccoli. Go figure.
Chicken nuggets are easy to make. Make some herbed bread crumbs, cut the chicken into medallions or fingers, rub some italian salad dressing into the chicken (or shake it on, using a plastic bag), coat chicken with bread crumbs, sauté.
Vorn
Chicken nuggets are easy to make. Make some herbed bread crumbs, cut the chicken into medallions or fingers, rub some italian salad dressing into the chicken (or shake it on, using a plastic bag), coat chicken with bread crumbs, sauté.
Vorn
You can probably even freeze them prepared but uncooked.
Vorn
You can probably even freeze them prepared but uncooked.
Vorn
We’ve actually done something similiar. Howard and I loved them, but they didn’t have that processed-and-frozen flavor that the kids love so much. Go figure.
We’ve actually done something similiar. Howard and I loved them, but they didn’t have that processed-and-frozen flavor that the kids love so much. Go figure.
mmm, preservatives…
Vorn
mmm, preservatives…
Vorn
We bought them by the box, but they are individually-wrapped so they keep better. And they’re $9.00 for 18, so they come out to about 50 cents each.
They’re really, really good, too.
We bought them by the box, but they are individually-wrapped so they keep better. And they’re $9.00 for 18, so they come out to about 50 cents each.
They’re really, really good, too.
We tried exactly that.
1) I’m a deep-frying maniac. And when I get into the mood, I can make some fantastic deep-fried goodies. Unfortunately, it stinks up the whole house. On summer nights sometimes I’ll run the fryer out on the porch.
2) The freezing doesn’t work so well. They never come out tasting anything like as good as they were fresh.
3) The kids will eat the chicken nuggets I make, and they do like them. But since I have to a) cook them outside (see #1) and b) cook them fresh (see #2) they fall into the “we’re having a special meal” category, rather than they “Mom and Dad are too busy to cook” category.
We tried exactly that.
1) I’m a deep-frying maniac. And when I get into the mood, I can make some fantastic deep-fried goodies. Unfortunately, it stinks up the whole house. On summer nights sometimes I’ll run the fryer out on the porch.
2) The freezing doesn’t work so well. They never come out tasting anything like as good as they were fresh.
3) The kids will eat the chicken nuggets I make, and they do like them. But since I have to a) cook them outside (see #1) and b) cook them fresh (see #2) they fall into the “we’re having a special meal” category, rather than they “Mom and Dad are too busy to cook” category.
Come to think of it, we used to buy them that way, back in the days when we actually had a Sam’s Club membership.
They were yummy. Or, at least, my memory of my middle school self tells me that they were.
Come to think of it, we used to buy them that way, back in the days when we actually had a Sam’s Club membership.
They were yummy. Or, at least, my memory of my middle school self tells me that they were.
Oh yes – before the kids, we got frozen junk all the time. Now it’s a very rare and fun surprise when I bring home a box of Tostino’s Pizza Bites for my husband. Oh, and my son totally agrees on the chicken nuggets bit – those are one food we can almost always get him to eat. We have I think 3 nuggets still in the freezer from our “Mommy’s on bed rest” days. I hoard them for the nights my husband is at school until 10:30 at night, because I never feel like cooking for just myself. I’d rather just have leftovers (which of course, Pan won’t eat!).
Oh yes – before the kids, we got frozen junk all the time. Now it’s a very rare and fun surprise when I bring home a box of Tostino’s Pizza Bites for my husband. Oh, and my son totally agrees on the chicken nuggets bit – those are one food we can almost always get him to eat. We have I think 3 nuggets still in the freezer from our “Mommy’s on bed rest” days. I hoard them for the nights my husband is at school until 10:30 at night, because I never feel like cooking for just myself. I’d rather just have leftovers (which of course, Pan won’t eat!).
Yeah, Pan won’t eat my home-cooked nuggets. He also won’t eat the ones from ChickFilA which are probably the “healthiest” nugget choice out of the fast food restaurants.
Silly kids!
Yeah, Pan won’t eat my home-cooked nuggets. He also won’t eat the ones from ChickFilA which are probably the “healthiest” nugget choice out of the fast food restaurants.
Silly kids!
My husband is a big fan of frying his own chicken and potato wedges, and since we don’t have a fryer, we have to use our wok, which means our family room/kitchen room smells like goop for days. >.<
My husband is a big fan of frying his own chicken and potato wedges, and since we don’t have a fryer, we have to use our wok, which means our family room/kitchen room smells like goop for days. >.<
You know, it’s funny how you COULD buy ONE milkshake for $3. or $4. OR you COULD buy icecream on sale for $1., use the chocolate syrup and milk in your fridge and have 4 FULL glasses of milkshake for EVERYONE! 🙂
The more you think about it all, the less you really want to eat out.
(except for that part where someone else cooks the food for you…)
You know, it’s funny how you COULD buy ONE milkshake for $3. or $4. OR you COULD buy icecream on sale for $1., use the chocolate syrup and milk in your fridge and have 4 FULL glasses of milkshake for EVERYONE! 🙂
The more you think about it all, the less you really want to eat out.
(except for that part where someone else cooks the food for you…)