Please settle an argument....Do most families

[mom2rtk]

I make them help me prepare supper - measure out the rice, etc. So they are learning self sufficiency skills that way.

My post was tongue in cheek. There are many ways to teach self sufficiency.

 

[CdnCarrie]

I do not think it is gross to reheat and eat leftover meat which was cooked and served and not finished---but no that is not what we do. My family would not find just a plain piece of meat appetizing, so it would not be served at my house. I might well cook some meat as an ingredient in a future meal at the same time as cooking the meat for tonight's meal, but the falvaours/spices would be different. We would not enjoy unflavored meat which could then be reaosnably used later in something else---so, for us, once it is served "on the table" it is really meant for consumption that night (if it is cooked/mixed. Plain raw veggies, fruit, etc can go in and out as fillers).

I do tend to shop more often than a lot of people---I like fresh veggies, and minimal waste, and our schedules are all so haphazard, if I bought food for a week at a time, I'd have to guss at who all would be home when and end up with food going to waste, or havnig to run back to the store anyway.
But, I don't buy meat every day even though I prefer not to freeze it (I don't like how that affects the texture, plus then I would still have to know by the night before who all will be home for dinner the next night, which is often not possible in our family). A package of meat bouhgt at our local store usually has 5 or so days of freshness in the fridge.

So, the way we cook: maybe I pick up two of the standard packages of chicken breast "schnitzle" (smaller, flat pieces of chicken breast) at Aldi on Wednesday. They'Re 400 gramms and normally have 4 pieces in them.
Maybe on Wednesday DH messages late afternoon to say he is roped into a bussiness dinner and will not be home, so DS and I make his favourite pasta dish, using two pices of chicken. I put the other two pieces from the open pack, raw, into a container in the fridge for another day.
Thursday we have fajitas. I use up the open chicken plus pull one from the next pack.
friday DS goes out with friends and isn't home. Perfect time to make pot stickers that DH and I love and DS doesn't. Plus, we probably have cilantro leftover from fajitas so we can use that up (or most of it, putting the rest on pizza on the weekend)
1 to 1 1/2 pieces of chicken is about perfect for the filling for those when it is just DH and I. I might decide to cook all three pieces of chicken remaining, cutting one in half first and seasoning the pieces we will not use in pot stickers for BBQ chicken pizza toppping on Sunday, or I might put the raw chicken in the fridge and cook it while the dough is rising on Sunday.

No left overs. No waste. No shopping for meat daily. (yes, lots of chicken---I don't eat pork or beef, we tend to eat a lot of chicken). Not how you do things, which is FINE, but not wasteful either.

I have tween/teen boys. I buy in bulk from Costco or the butcher! Or buy part of a cow.

Isn't it more common in Europe to buy meal ingredients daily vs NA where we have massive freezers? I wonder if they have less food waste?

 

[cabanafrau]

I make them help me prepare supper - measure out the rice, etc. So they are learning self sufficiency skills that way.

You won't be sorry about that when they're grown. Mine began to seriously learn how to make things probably in middle school and by high school age I would assign them to make dinner some nights during the summer breaks. When they took off for college and moved into off campus living cooking wasn't a learning curve they had to face.

 

[CdnCarrie]

My post was tongue in cheek. There are many ways to teach self sufficiency.

Absolutely!
I keep telling my older one that he should be taking over one meal a week. Even if it's hot dogs and KD or tacos I think it would be beneficial to have teens participate in meal prep.

 

[design_mom]

If we are grilling and I konw that I can use the grilled meat later for a different recipe, we'll occasioanlly grill extra. For instance, grilled chicken on Monday with extra chicken to make something that rquires pre-cooked chicken on Wednesday (quesadillas, chicken noodle soup, salad with cold chicken, etc). I consider that "meal prep," not necessarily leftovers.

However, when my in-laws grill, they grill everything under the sun -- steaks, chicken, pork chops, bratwurst, etc... all at the same time. The grill is full and sometimes they have to cook it all in shifts. Then they eat reheated meat all week. Steaks today, warmed up pork chops tomorrow, warmed up bratwust on Thursday, etc. I would not like that.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Some of us are very good at cooking the amount actually needed/wanted

The fact that we often have leftovers doesn't have anything to do with our inability to cook the actual amount needed or wanted. If you want to figure out fractions of ingredients by all means do so. For us it's simply easier to make the recipe in general for what it calls for.

We do however often account for half the recipe when for example something calls for 4 chicken breasts--we'll have 2 and adjust accordingly. The chili recipe is so complicated to halve it my husband finally wrote on the recipe what half of it is. If the recipe didn't taste so darn good we wouldn't deal with the hassle lol.

Now if someone was always cooking the full recipe and had enough leftovers for a full meal plus lunch, etc and always threw it away that would be different.

When you only have 2 people you tend to become limited unless you only search for recipes for 2 people and only eat from those.

 

[cabanafrau]

If we are grilling and I konw that I can use the grilled meat later for a different recipe, we'll occasioanlly grill extra. For instance, grilled chicken on Monday with extra chicken to make something that rquires pre-cooked chicken on Wednesday (quesadillas, chicken noodle soup, salad with cold chicken, etc). I consider that "meal prep," not necessarily leftovers.

However, when my in-laws grill, they grill everything under the sun -- steaks, chicken, pork chops, bratwurst, etc... all at the same time. The grill is full and sometimes they have to cook it all in shifts. Then they eat reheated meat all week. Steaks today, warmed up pork chops tomorrow, warmed up bratwust on Thursday, etc. I would not like that.

I don't think I would like something served directly off the grill that was cooked with a big variety of other meats at the same time because I think there would be a crossover/meshing of flavors that wouldn't appeal. I've been to big cookouts where there's hamburgers/hotdogs on the grill together and that's not a big deal. But I don't like the taste when hamburgers and chicken breasts are grilled at the same time. Maybe it's just my weird quirk, but I just don't like that.

 

[aprilgail]

Ye I know most people go out to eat, we don't, we eat at home and only go out occasionally.

We eat dinner out very often but especially when my daughter was younger- I worked full time and when I got home there was no way I was wasting time cooking when I could be enjoying my daughter- most days in the nice weather I would come home, change and we would head out and grab something to eat on a blanket at the beach or on a picnic table at the park. When she was in school we would head out and sit back in a restaurant and talk about our days. It worked out much better for us that way and we both enjoyed it. Once she got older we would go to the local beaches in the evening and listen to all the bands they had playing and eat at the beach huts.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

That's definitely an issue here. We just have the upper compartment of a standard size fridge as our freezer. We live in a 90 year old house and really have nowhere for a second fridge or a deep freeze. It makes a difference. Some weeks when I go grocery shopping I feel like I'm playing a big game of Jenga when I get home and try to put it all away.

Maybe a silly thing to think about but when we had our house built we looked for house plans that had an alcove in the garage that a deep freezer could go. That's also where the required GFI outlet in the garage is wired into. Honestly we've yet to use the deep freezer but it's something we can use. At this point we've only been making freezer meals in 2 to 3 meals at a time. Freezer space makes a big deal in what you can realistically do with leftovers or store-bought meals or freezer meals.

 

[NHdisneylover]

It's so nice if you can get to the store frequently! I think I read before that you can walk to your store, is that right? Such a benefit to living in that type of community where you can just run by the store every day or two. You're fortunate! In retirement I would love to be back in the city in part for that reason.

I do my main shopping once a week or so and usually cook in the next day or two whatever I've bought. I generally plan for these days when I'm off. I or DH might run by a store on our way home from work to pick up a few things mid-week if we need something, but that's generally not more than once a week or so, either. Subsequently we usually have a shopping cart full when we go (at least for the main shopping). I envy the people who just have a few items in their arms, as my grocery shopping is always such a production! (I shop for my mother, too! And now I'm cooking for her, as well, which has added challenges.)

We also don't seem to have a lot of freezer space. Even though we have two side by sides (one in kitchen and one in cellar), they are the smallest ones you can buy and the freezers are tiny. I've debated getting a big freezer but our electric bill is high enough running two households as it is (we have an in-law apt attached onto our home which also has a full sized fridge). So we make do. But that's in part why leftovers work for us. (DH and I also both grew up with depression-era parents, two of whom were quite underprivileged, so it was ingrained in us that not much goes to waste! Even at 93 my mother was upset recently when she was in rehab when she couldn't eat all the food they were giving her and it had to be thrown out. She's still talking about it weeks later. We asked for smaller portions - mainly so she wouldn't be so upset each mealtime - and they told us it was a "Medicare regulation" that they couldn't do it; fraudulent or something. Imagine?!)

Work and school schedules obviously have so much to do with this subject. We're all at different places during a discussion like this. And backgrounds play a part as well.

Yep--we do live walking distane to two smallish grocery stores and I can bike to a bigger one and to a farm stand which is owned by a few small local farmers and a dairy---they have vending machines which sell fresh milk and eggs pretty much always and might have sausage, chicken breast, pottoes, yogurt, resh jams, etc---I love it.
we are a one car family and did not want to invest in a sceond car (cost of car, gas, insurance, maintenance, etc) so being waking distance to the store was a requirenment for me when we bought. Oddly, even in the US; most of my adult life i have lieved walkng distance to a grocery store. I think New Hampshire and wyoming were the only times that was not the case. We'Ve always put an emphasis on choosing housing which reduces our need to spend time in a car to get places.

ANyway, yes, having stores nearby certainly plays into how anyone cooks. In my case, it also helps that everyone in the family enjoys cooking---and everyone is good at opening the fridge or cupoboard, glancing at what ingredients there are, and coming up with something to make which uses what is there and is tastey. We'Re also all pretty good about informing each other about who will be home and when (including if someone is bringing a friend home, etc) and any of us can stop at the store and grab an extra package of somethign on the way home if added people are coming for dinner (or we just make more side dishes or a starter), etc

I have tween/teen boys. I buy in bulk from Costco or the butcher! Or buy part of a cow.

Isn't it more common in Europe to buy meal ingredients daily vs NA where we have massive freezers? I wonder if they have less food waste?

lol yeah, my youngest is 20 and just slowing down on all that.
I guess it is more ocmmmon to shop more frequently here---I am far from teh only person filling just a backpack or some bags on my bike when I check out and lots of homes (ours included) wouldn'T even have a space for a freezer (I never owned one in the US either). Heck, my American sized, side by side friedge with ice maker is somerhting people comment on when they visit---even it is big for the area (thought they are getting bigger in general)

 

[cabanafrau]

Yep--we do live walking distane to two smallish grocery stores and I can bike to a bigger one and to a farm stand which is owned by a fwe small local farmers and a dairy---they have vending machines which sell fresh milk and eggs pretty much always and might have sausage, chicken breast, pottoes, yogurt, resh jams, etc---I love it.
we are a one car family and did not want to invest in a sceond car (cost of car, gas, insurance, maintenance, etc) so being waking distance to the store was a requirenment for me when we bought. Oddly, even in the US; most of my adult life i have lieved walkng distance to a grocery store. I think New Hampshire and wyoming were the only times that was not the case. We'Ve always put an emphasis on choosing housing which reduces our need to spend time in a car to get places.

ANyway, yes, having stores nearby certainly plays into how anyone cooks. In my case, it also helps that everyone in the family enjoys cooking---and everyone is good at opening the fridge r cupoboard, glancing at what ingredients there are, and coming up with something to make which uses what is there and is tastey. We'Re also all pretty good about who will be hme and when (incldung if someone is bringing a friend home, etc) and any of us can stop at the store and grab an extra package of somethign on the way home if added people are coming for dinner, etc




lol yeah, my youngest is 20 and just slowing down on all that.
I guess it is more ocmmmon to shop more frequently here---I am far from teh only person filling just a backpack or some bags on my bike when I check out and lots of homes (ours included) wouldn'T even have a space for a freezer (I never owned one in the US either). Heck, my American sized, side by side friedge with ice maker is somerhting people comment on when they visit---even it is big for the area (thought they are getting bigger in general)

I guess if you're a frequent shopper that's a pretty ideal set up. Even if I could so easily walk to get such good quality groceries I can't imagine fitting that into my schedule. I did shop more often when my children were young and I was a stay home mom. I had to adjust when I went back to work and now that they're grown I have responsibilities for our elderly parents, I'm really trying to get together more regularly with different groups of friends and I am devoting some time to a social effort I think might help our community tackle some issues.

 

[design_mom]

I don't think I would like something served directly off the grill that was cooked with a big variety of other meats at the same time because I think there would be a crossover/meshing of flavors that wouldn't appeal. I've been to big cookouts where there's hamburgers/hotdogs on the grill together and that's not a big deal. But I don't like the taste when hamburgers and chicken breasts are grilled at the same time. Maybe it's just my weird quirk, but I just don't like that.

You'd probably hate a cookout at my in-laws' house then. After they cook all the different meats, they pile them all in a big roaster pan or a big platter and everyone takes what they want. So, not only was your hamburger cooked on the same grill as chicken, you might have to unearth it from a pile of pork chops to eat it!

Edited to add: Having it all cooked on the same surface doesn't bother me in the least. And neither does having it mixed up on the platter... as long as nobody makes me eat it reheated later.

 

[Floridaman999]

I was gonna offer an opinion but I didn't have any leftover.

 

[cabanafrau]

You'd probably hate a cookout at my in-laws' house then. After they cook all the different meats, they pile them all in a big roaster pan or a big platter and everyone takes what they want. So, not only was your hamburger cooked on the same grill as chicken, you might have to unearth it from a pile of pork chops to eat it!

No, I'm good thank you. I already ate.

Just came from the dentist, can't eat for four hours.

Getting ready for my colonoscopy.

Have a terrible toothache and can't really chew anything.

Need to work on some more fresh ideas before the next invitation.

 

[NHdisneylover]

The fact that we often have leftovers doesn't have anything to do with our inability to cook the actual amount needed or wanted. If you want to figure out fractions of ingredients by all means do so. For us it's simply easier to make the recipe in general for what it calls for.

We do however often account for half the recipe when for example something calls for 4 chicken breasts--we'll have 2 and adjust accordingly. The chili recipe is so complicated to halve it my husband finally wrote on the recipe what half of it is. If the recipe didn't taste so darn good we wouldn't deal with the hassle lol.

Now if someone was always cooking the full recipe and had enough leftovers for a full meal plus lunch, etc and always threw it away that would be different.

When you only have 2 people you tend to become limited unless you only search for recipes for 2 people and only eat from those.

I was responding to comments that those who do not eat leftovers must be throwing food out and being wasteful: some people might do that, but it is not how many of us no leftovers people do it. If you prefer to cook in larger quantities and have leftovers, by all means do so! But those who do not use leftovers do not necessarily waste food---at least some of us just cook only what is needed, and, again, that is what i was respoding to.

I rarely measure anything and generally use recipes for guidelines only (except baked goods)---I know that is not how everyone cooks and that is FIne:

 

[gotomu212]

I'm snickering at this because I don't serve cereal for supper either. The point is I don't serve anything on those nights; we just fend for ourselves and eat whatever's easy and catches our fancy. Sometimes cereal appeals or there's always canned soup or cold cuts or maybe a frozen dinner, or cheese and crackers and fruit or whatever.

You are clearly doing it wrong then. I put it in the fancy china, light the candles, call everyone to the dining table and ask if I can interest them in a blueberry special K appetizer or if they’d like to go straight to the Raisin Bran entree. If anyone is feeling adventurous we finish with a Lucky Charm dessert. For holidays I’ll sprinkle the champagne glazed blueberries in. We then obviously throw away any cereal left in the box because ewww leftovers.

(the champagne blueberries are a legit think I make for brunch)

 

[luvsJack]

I don't think I would like something served directly off the grill that was cooked with a big variety of other meats at the same time because I think there would be a crossover/meshing of flavors that wouldn't appeal. I've been to big cookouts where there's hamburgers/hotdogs on the grill together and that's not a big deal. But I don't like the taste when hamburgers and chicken breasts are grilled at the same time. Maybe it's just my weird quirk, but I just don't like that.

I honestly never noticed a taste when they are grilled together. We do fill the grill and usually do chicken, burgers, sausage and either ribs or pork chops at the same time. But not necessarily for leftovers just because all the kids and their families and a few extras are at the house.

If its just me and dh, we tend to do steaks or ribs but not both.

I do love leftover BBQ (because we don't usually grill food and not use a sauce) so its ok with me if we have some leftover.

 

[barkley]

Subsequently we usually have a shopping cart full when we go (at least for the main shopping). I envy the people who just have a few items in their arms, as my grocery shopping is always such a production!

imagine what my cart looks like- with the exception of random dairy/produce/a great stock up sale on a particular item-i only shop once a month (and hit at least the grocery store/trader joes/costco in the same run-so the car is stuffed). people think i'm feeding a small army (their jaws drop when they ask how many kids i have and i reply-just the one living at home now ). but it works for us.

Some weeks when I go grocery shopping I feel like I'm playing a big game of Jenga when I get home and try to put it all away.

i like that! when i visit my dd and she goes to pull something out of her overly stuffed small fridge freezer i'm always thinking 'oh man, is this going to be a 'kerplunk' moment'-and sometimes it is).

 

[NotUrsula]

Properly made homemade cream and cheese sauces reheat just fine. We prefer home made sauces as we know what's in them, not filled with a bunch of crap to make the look pretty.

Whoosh.

I was referring to microwaving them. Cream separates when microwaved.

Where on earth did you get the impression that I think that commercially-made sauces with emulsifiers are better food? In direct reply to another poster who mentioned that microwaving a cream sauce changed the texture, I simply stated that commercial sauces don't behave the same way -- they are engineered to be microwaved from a frozen state without changing texture.

The chemistry of how a particular food's texture reacts to microwaves really doesn't have much to do with it's nutritive qualities, which are a different aspect to be concerned about. There are many whole foods that retain their texture just fine in a microwave without any help from emulsifiers, but cream isn't one of them.

FTR, yes, I grew up poor and was poor as an adult until a couple of years after my marriage. (Student debt and a disabled parent to support.) My father's definition of personal success was that he could provide generous meals 3X daily every day, and in return for that, we were expected to be careful with what he had worked so hard to earn. My parents were not "clean-plate club" people like DH' parents, their rule was that you did not take what you did not intend to eat, so that someone else in the family could have it, and someone else always was there to do so. Throwing away food that is not spoiled tends to make me cringe, but over the years I've gotten to the point where I can throw away less-expensive ingredients. Having to throw away expensive ones still makes me grumpy for at least a day.

 

[Anchored]

Not really. We have 6 people eating meals in my house, two growing boys and a girl in puberty so they will eat every bite that I cook
If I cook something that no one is really a fan of and they leave leftovers, they def aren't eating it the next day
We eat sandwiches (turkey, pb & j etc) for lunches