Cooking food in batches

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sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
Dec 11, 2013 11:19 AM
I'm currently trying to avoid eating out at restaurants partially due to the concern that it just straight up is not healthy(and expensive). However, the problem is I don't have a lot of time to cook when I get home from work. How does the OC handle making dinner and work lunches on low amounts of available free time?

Lately I've been using the crock pot to make shredded pork and then stir frying a few vegetables(mostly onions and peppers) but I'm looking for more variety. What are your tips? What are your recipes?

: thumbup:
Dec 11, 2013 11:19am
Raw Dawgin' it's avatar

Raw Dawgin' it

Just Ain't Care

11,466 posts
Dec 11, 2013 11:25 AM
sleeper;1551955 wrote:I'm currently trying to avoid eating out at restaurants partially due to the concern that it just straight up is not healthy(and expensive). However, the problem is I don't have a lot of time to cook when I get home from work. How does the OC handle making dinner and work lunches on low amounts of available free time?

Lately I've been using the crock pot to make shredded pork and then stir frying a few vegetables(mostly onions and peppers) but I'm looking for more variety. What are your tips? What are your recipes?

: thumbup:
Eating out too expensive? You poor now? Thought you were Mr. Moneybags.

I know a lot of people will do meal prep on Sunday and cook enough meals for the week. Then they portion it out in tupperware.
Dec 11, 2013 11:25am
Commander of Awesome's avatar

Commander of Awesome

Senior Pwner

23,151 posts
Dec 11, 2013 11:27 AM
A cooking thread not made by belly. I am surprised.

I do salads, quick easy, healthy. I use hummus instead of salad dressing bc salad dressing is disgusting and horrible for you. I lol at people eating a salad with 16 oz of ranch on it. Roast chickpeas in the oven for added texture, flavor, etc....

Also, pasta. Can make an excellent pasta dish in less than an hour with enough to feed an army. Tons of veggies, etc...
Dec 11, 2013 11:27am
Heretic's avatar

Heretic

Son of the Sun

18,820 posts
Dec 11, 2013 11:29 AM
A lot of weeks, I'll cook a box of pasta and mix in mushrooms, bacon, jalapenos and banana peppers into the sauce and get about four lunches out of that. Doesn't kill too much time.
Dec 11, 2013 11:29am
M

MontyBrunswick

Dec 11, 2013 11:36 AM
2nd salad suggestion. Salads are boss
Dec 11, 2013 11:36am
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
Dec 11, 2013 11:39 AM
Raw Dawgin' it;1551961 wrote:Eating out too expensive? You poor now? Thought you were Mr. Moneybags.

I know a lot of people will do meal prep on Sunday and cook enough meals for the week. Then they portion it out in tupperware.
Just because I'm fairly well off doesn't mean I don't try to save money. I'm more concerned about the health issue than the money anyway.
Dec 11, 2013 11:39am
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
Dec 11, 2013 11:41 AM
dlazz;1551973 wrote:2nd salad suggestion. Salads are boss
Salads won't fill me up. I need moar calories bro because I spend time doing things other than driving my Hyundai and playing with a cat.
Dec 11, 2013 11:41am
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
Dec 11, 2013 11:43 AM
Commander of Awesome;1551965 wrote:A cooking thread not made by belly. I am surprised.

I do salads, quick easy, healthy. I use hummus instead of salad dressing bc salad dressing is disgusting and horrible for you. I lol at people eating a salad with 16 oz of ranch on it. Roast chickpeas in the oven for added texture, flavor, etc....

Also, pasta. Can make an excellent pasta dish in less than an hour with enough to feed an army. Tons of veggies, etc...
Pasta could work. Its calories dense, cheap, etc. What kind of veggies do you put in there?
Dec 11, 2013 11:43am
se-alum's avatar

se-alum

The Biggest Boss

13,948 posts
Dec 11, 2013 11:45 AM
Like RDI said, a lot of people cook on Sunday and portion it out for the week. Salads, Soups, and Pasta are all cheap and easy. I made Fettucine w/ homemade alfredo sauce the other day, and it priced out at less than $2 a portion(just goes to show the insane markups at restaurants). You can also grill up chicken and use it in many recipes throughout the week.
Dec 11, 2013 11:45am
M

MontyBrunswick

Dec 11, 2013 11:46 AM
sleeper;1551975 wrote:Salads won't fill me up. I need moar calories bro because I spend time doing things other than driving my Hyundai and playing with a cat.
You'd be surprised. You can make a pretty big salad for cheap.
Dec 11, 2013 11:46am
Heretic's avatar

Heretic

Son of the Sun

18,820 posts
Dec 11, 2013 11:55 AM
sleeper;1551977 wrote:Pasta could work. Its calories dense, cheap, etc. What kind of veggies do you put in there?
I ALREADY SAID WHAT VEGGIES I PUT IN!!!!!!

Heh, but yeah, pasta is a great way to go, since it doesn't take a lot of time to cook and is filling and tasty.
Dec 11, 2013 11:55am
Belly35's avatar

Belly35

Elderly Intellectual

9,716 posts
Dec 11, 2013 11:59 AM
If I was single and had to cook for myself, knowing what I know now… George Forman would be a standard method of cooking along with a Wok, crock pot and steamer.. ….

The usage of marinating meat is a great help in cook lower volume of food and having a variety of meats and meals. Marinating also lowers the time of cooking, and a steamer to cook vegs is great. Microwave potatoes bag is a quick way of preparing bake potatoes.

With two iron skillet I can have fried pork cops and fried potatoes in 30 minutes .. start to finish
Dec 11, 2013 11:59am
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
Dec 11, 2013 12:04 PM
Here's a bunch of pretty sweet sandwiches and recipes: http://imgur.com/a/PNQL0?gallery
Dec 11, 2013 12:04pm
TBone14's avatar

TBone14

Senior Member

6,383 posts
Dec 11, 2013 1:09 PM
Sometimes I will marinated a bunch of chicken breasts in a greek vinagerette and then grill them up on Sunday. Then I will make a homemade tzakaki sauce and throughout the week I will have chicken gyros, greek salads, lettuce wraps and things like that. I cook the chicken breasts to about 155 degrees (165 is considered done and safe for chicken) so when I either throw the in a pan with something else or microwave them they are just done. If not, by day 3 you can end up with some dry chicken if you overcooked them to start with.
Dec 11, 2013 1:09pm
like_that's avatar

like_that

1st Team All-PWN

26,625 posts
Dec 11, 2013 1:36 PM
Crock pot is awesome because you can prep the meal the day before and just turn it on before you leave for work. I have great recipes for the crock pot. As everyone else said, do your prepping on Sunday.

Try pearled cous cous. Add some black beans and garbanzo beans with some ground turkey. That should last a few days.
Dec 11, 2013 1:36pm
Raw Dawgin' it's avatar

Raw Dawgin' it

Just Ain't Care

11,466 posts
Dec 11, 2013 1:38 PM
sleeper;1551974 wrote:Just because I'm fairly well off doesn't mean I don't try to save money. I'm more concerned about the health issue than the money anyway.
So you're Jewish?
Dec 11, 2013 1:38pm
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Dec 11, 2013 1:41 PM
Smoothie in the morning.
Salad bar at lunch, with 16 oz. of ranch.
Glass of ranch for dinner.
Dec 11, 2013 1:41pm
M

MontyBrunswick

Dec 11, 2013 1:50 PM
Just get a big bag of pizza rolls.
Dec 11, 2013 1:50pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
Dec 11, 2013 1:53 PM
Raw Dawgin' it;1552056 wrote:So you're Jewish?
I like to think of myself as Warren Buffet. I have money, but I don't show it off(except to get women because women only care about money).
Dec 11, 2013 1:53pm
V

vball10set

paying it forward

24,795 posts
Dec 11, 2013 1:55 PM
sleeper;1552070 wrote:I like to think of myself as Warren Buffet. I have money, but I don't show it off(except to get women because women only care about money).
Dec 11, 2013 1:55pm
Belly35's avatar

Belly35

Elderly Intellectual

9,716 posts
Dec 11, 2013 2:15 PM
Belly Green Bean Stir Fry with onions and garlic
Ingredients:
• 1 pound fresh green beans
• 2/3 cups water
• 1 small Chicken bouillon (1 tsp)
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp cream sherry or dry white wine (I like using Cream of Sherry )
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp veg. oil
• 2 tbsp butter
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 Scallions, chopper or small onion also works or green onions
• Prepared in a skillet or wok
Preparation:
Mix soy sauce, sugar wine and set aside
Dissolve chicken bouillon in water over high heat in skillet or wok
Add green beans and simmer 5-8 minutes (green bean to the tenderness you like) until almost all the liquid has evaporated, drain beans, set aside
In the skillet or wok, heat oil and butter together
Add garlic and onions, stir fry until soft (1 minute)
Add the green beans, mix for (30 -45 seconds)
Sprinkle soy mixture over beans and stir fry for 1 or 2 minutes

Serve hot
Dec 11, 2013 2:15pm
Iliketurtles's avatar

Iliketurtles

Senior Member

8,191 posts
Dec 11, 2013 2:15 PM
ernest_t_bass;1552059 wrote:Ranch Smoothie in the morning.
Salad bar at lunch, with 16 oz. of ranch.
Glass of ranch for dinner.
FIFY

I very rarely ever cook anymore. But I do agree that crockpots, George Forman, and a rice cooker/steamer are awesome for cooking. The rice cooker/steamer is pretty underrated can't believe I never got one in college. Cooks rice perfect and is great to steam veggies in.
Dec 11, 2013 2:15pm
Belly35's avatar

Belly35

Elderly Intellectual

9,716 posts
Dec 11, 2013 2:18 PM
Belly Pork Chop / Chicken Breast Rub

1 ½ tablespoon Chile Powder
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon garlic power
2 or 3 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Mix together (will make a paste like rub) rub on meat and marinate meat 30 minutes or more … cook on a Grill / George Forman
Dec 11, 2013 2:18pm
Belly35's avatar

Belly35

Elderly Intellectual

9,716 posts
Dec 11, 2013 2:25 PM
Belly Teriyaki Sauce

¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup soy sauce
¼ tsp ground pepper
2 tablespoon catsup
1 tablespoon vinegar
2 rushed garlic cloves
Marinate covered in refrigerator few hour no less that 1 hour
Use this to marinate any steak, chicken or shrimp for grilling or George Forman
Can turn a round steak into a great cut and flavor
Dec 11, 2013 2:25pm
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Dec 11, 2013 2:39 PM
Iliketurtles;1552086 wrote:FIFY

I very rarely ever cook anymore. But I do agree that crockpots, George Forman, and a rice cooker/steamer are awesome for cooking. The rice cooker/steamer is pretty underrated can't believe I never got one in college. Cooks rice perfect and is great to steam veggies in.
Which one do you use?
Dec 11, 2013 2:39pm