When you JUST don't want to cook ....

[Stinky The Clown]

..... what do you do? Not eat? Order in? Go to a restaurant?

If you either order in or go to a restaurant, what type?

Sparkly and I were pretty fried today. We ordered Chinese.

[bearfan454]

1. The old standby bologna sandwich works if you're too tired to cook.

Of course Chinese is good too.

[NMDemDist2]

2. that's why I keep stuff in the freezer

my microwave is my friend on those days

I made cottage pie Sunday, we had it again tonight and I froze two portions for another day. Right now in my freezer I can microwave:

Lasagna
Beef Stew
Cottage Pie
Fiesta Chicken
Chicken Soup


We also like those "french bread pizzas" so there is a box of those in there

If I'm totally bushed, hubby makes us BLT's (we buy that already cooked Hormel stuff he can just microwave) or PBJ's LOL

if all else fails we order pizza or chinese too :)

[SOteric]

3. I keep already cooked pasta in the fridge.

(I tend to do some prep and batch cooking in the kitchen on Sundays and Thursdays). All I need to do is heat a bit of water, toss the pasta in the hot water for a minute or two (it's already cooked, I'm just reheating it) and then put some sauce or some cut fresh veg on it.

I actually spend very little time making nightly meals.

[Lugnut]

4. Chinese is good

Pizza delivery works for me too.

[ironflange]

5. I was just discussing this with Mrs. Ironflange

We've just noticed how we eat out much less now that we did in days gone by. Except for Thursday dinner, when we have to eat and drive (meaning McDonald's), we almost never eat out anymore. Instead, we're just as happy with something frozen or spaghetti with jar sauce, etc.

[merci_me]

6. Not eat?!?!??

We order in or go out. If we go out, when we're tired and in the middle of a work project, it's usually to a little seafood place for grilled scallops (for me) or sometimes, if it's before 6pm and the seniors 2-4-1, we'll go to IHOP for his omelet and my Swedish crepes. Or if we're famished, one of the Middle Eastern buffets.

If we order in, usually Chinese or Middle Eastern, unless it's really late and then we opt for one of the many the late night Thai places or Mexican taquerias.

Mary

[Nicole]

7. freezer is full of pre-cooked dinners

Since I cook for one, I alway have left overs so I freeze them for the days I don't want to cook.

If I order out, it's usually a sub or a pasta dish from the local Italian place that delivers.

If I go out, it's fast food drive through. That means Whataburger or Sonic. If I am too tired to cook, I am usually too tired to dress up to dine in.

[Mandate My Ass]

8. Leftovers

I always have them.

Pizza or chinese in a pinch. We actually have some good Chinese that delivers in my neighborhood. Not as good as Chinatown but much better quality than the usual corner Chinese take-out places. The best pizza place in my neighborhood doesn't deliver. Go figure.

[eyesroll]

9. I usually have some convenience food on hand...

If I'm out already and I know I won't wanna cook, I might drive through somewhere (on rare occasions).

These days, though, if I'm eating out, I'm doing it socially rather than to avoid cooking.

[ernstbass]

10. Soup or sandwich

can't afford to order out often

[cmf]

11. Leftovers in the freezer

or I will make marinara sauce to eat on spaghetti or frozen ravioli. We live in a small town so our order-in/ take-out options are very limited.

[Stinky The Clown]

12. Last night's Chinese was awful!

Same place ... same owners ..... same crew. But the food was not too good. It has been repeating on me since last night.

Ugh

[merci_me]

13. I had a bad experience with Chinese Sunday night.

Same great place, but I ordered in the wrong thing.

They have a fantastic veggi lo mein, but for some reason I decided to order the pork lo mein. The lo mein had slices of Chinese barbecued pork, which they had spiced with 5-spice. I hate 5-spice but there was so little pork and loads of noodles, so I left the pork and ate the noodles anyway, since the 5-spice wasn't too terribly pervasive in taste, just the aroma. Until later that night. Yikes, I brushed my teeth 3 times before bed and still I laid there tasting 5-spice.

Mary

[Stinky The Clown]

14. They say that if you eat Chinese you're hungry in an hour .......

...... not hardly. At least not the low end neighborhood take-out places. That food is heavy and has real staying power. The meal that gives and then keeps on giving!