Dining In with Takeout

manyhats

Tue, Nov 22 2011, 9:48 pm

So ....... I've decided not to cook .

This past week my husband and I ate the same thing every night.

The chicken special: 2 bbq chickens , coleslaw , cucumber salad (@ $20) and an additional $5 for a package of 9 potato knishes.

I am willing to make a fresh salad and serve fruit..

I'm thinking of buying Meal Mart's Mon Ami frozen dinners and eggplant parmeson from pizza shop.

My husband does not eat red beef.

Please share more ideas.

TIA

Bracha

bnm

Tue, Nov 22 2011, 11:53 pm

my grocery sells oven ready meat and chicken, already marinated and spiced, just pop it in the oven, see if you can find those.

bag of lettuce and bottle of dressing

the shelf stable meal mart meals are pretty good- I recommend the stuffed chicken without the bone and the turkey and chick peas

baked sweet potato fries- find it in the freezer section of your supermarket

Amital

Tue, Nov 22 2011, 11:58 pm

I don't understand. You aren't cooking, and are looking for ideas to take out? From a restaurant, or your grocery store? Long term?

You could get more creative with that chicken, and roll it into enchiladas or drop into canned soup. In fact, maybe canned soup, a salad, and crusty bread are a good option for you!

Can you clarify?

manyhats

Wed, Nov 23 2011, 9:59 am

bnm,
I do the bagged lettuce with Mauzone dressing. Regarding raw marinated chicken, I heard they do not use fresh poultry .

Amital,
I want to give the illusion that I put some effort into dinner and also to offer variety.
I am only interested in the bbq chicken in the takeout stores. That is what my husband will eat.
We can not eat that every day.
I also would like to do it nicely, AND economically So restaurant meals are not so practical.

Is it doable?
I take this on as a challenge and it amuses me.

Bracha

jelly belly

Wed, Nov 23 2011, 11:15 am

Frozen Tabachnik soups- they taste pretty good, and are actually healthy. You can also buy different bags of frozen vegetables and steam. Then serve with melted cheese, bottled dressing, or soy sauce. Frozen falafel balls can be easily baked and stuffed into pitas. I would suggest looking through the freezer section in your grocery to see what else you like.

1Life2Live

Wed, Nov 23 2011, 11:56 am

lol- I "cook" like this all the time! Some ideas:

1. frozen breaded fish. Just pop it into the oven. You can serve with 5-minute couscous and a bag of frozen veggies
2. Tabachnik vegetarian chili is a good meal. Just put rice, cheese and the chili on a plate (in that order) and you have a meal.
3. homemmade pizza/calzones. buy the Trader Joe's pizza dough ($1) and make pizza or roll the dough with veggies and cheese for a calzone. Stock up and store it in your freezer.
4. easy crock-pot meals where you just dump everything in a pot

I'll let you know if there's anything else I can think of.

1Life2Live

Wed, Nov 23 2011, 11:57 am

Meal Mart stuffed cabbage is also really good. Cheaper in Costco, if you can find it there.

manyhats

Wed, Nov 23 2011, 3:07 pm

jelly belly and 1lifetolive,
Your names go with this thread!

Thank you both for your ideas. They are practical . Perhaps I'll muster up the will to do them.

It's much easier to just pop something completely ready in microwave. Chicken and potato knish with salads - from last week- wasa real winner!

Any more ideas ? Easy , Shmeezy? Pleasy?

CK2

Wed, Nov 23 2011, 3:15 pm

I've got an easy one -
penne a la vodka.
1 jar vodka sauce
1-2 cups heavy cream.

Heat up and mix with cooked pasta.
Sprinkle in parmesan cheese and you'll really feel like your eating out.

manyhats

Wed, Nov 23 2011, 3:37 pm

Ck2,

Thanks. That does sound easy. I would not like to have any cream. Maybe cottage cheese instead.

Simple1

Wed, Nov 23 2011, 3:47 pm

Pour bottled sauce on chicken cutlets and broil till done. Put in a roll with your favorite sandwich fillings.

No boil baked ziti on this site.

Rinse yukon or red potatoes. Cut in half. Put oil and spice and bake uncovered till done.

Baked sweet potatoes (pierce whole potatoes with fork or knife, bake till done.)

Frozen veggies -cook as directed.

Long skinny packages of soup mixes (the ones with the split pea or barley etc.)

Or look in the freezer or take out section of grocery for ready made meals.

CK2 that looks good - and easy.

manyhats

Wed, Nov 23 2011, 4:45 pm

Simple 1,

I like the grilled chicken idea. I could buy the thin cutlets to cut down on the preparation time. Served as a sandwich with soup/salad and supper is ready.

One question: Does the chicken come out tender?

Thanks for your input.

Bracha

Blueberry Muffin

Wed, Nov 23 2011, 4:53 pm

I use the Dagim ready breaded fish fillets all the time! so delicious! so easy and no mess of breading fish... so worth it!
we like them heated thru or in a wrap - like a fish taco.
I also defrost perogies and just saute them in a bit of olive oil and add garlic and basil the last two minutes of cooking.
A local supermarket near me sell foccacia with vegis on it - I just heat it in the oven and then sprinkle cheese on the top.
Trader joes makes yummy vegetarian meatless nuggets.
I tend to serve that with alexia sweet potato fries.
Costco sells Amnons frozen Pizza, and black bean burgers and vegi patties... easy! by itself - or in wraps with dips and slaws.

Simple1

Wed, Nov 23 2011, 4:55 pm

manyhats wrote:

If you don't overcook it, and also cook it right before serving, it should come out good.

Fabulous

Wed, Nov 23 2011, 6:24 pm

Simple1 wrote:

manyhats wrote:

If you don't overcook it, and also cook it right before serving, it should come out good.

If you have a George Foreman you can also put the chicken there and also pre made burger patties.

manyhats

Wed, Nov 23 2011, 10:35 pm

Blueberry Muffin,
Excellent ideas. I,m a member of Costco and live close to Trader's Joe.

Simple1,
Will do. Thanks

Fabulous,
Thanks. Do you think I can use a gill pan; I don't have a foreman.

manyhats

Wed, Nov 23 2011, 11:24 pm

Fabulous,

I intend to use oil. Otherwise the cutlet would be dry.

I'd soak the pan overnight and wash it in the morning, Thanks for your input.