packet vs fresh food?
Mar 10th 2008, 9:46 pm
#46
Sursum corda
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Richmond Hill, GA USA
Posts: 38,860
Re: packet vs fresh food?
We don't always cook instant items per se - but tonight was a good example. I got home from class at 8:30 and OH had been organizing a room upstairs that's being turned into an office. What's for dinner? Boxed macaroni and cheese with cheddar, tuna, and broccoli thrown in.
Gourmet? No. But it was fast and contained a protein and a veggie. Tomorrow we'll probably cook something and will then eat the leftovers on Wednesday. That tends to be how it goes around here.
Gourmet? No. But it was fast and contained a protein and a veggie. Tomorrow we'll probably cook something and will then eat the leftovers on Wednesday. That tends to be how it goes around here.
Mar 10th 2008, 11:26 pm
#47
Guttural Brumerican
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: The Mile High City
Posts: 1,312
Re: packet vs fresh food?
Nothing wrong with soup for dinner!
2x cans organic garbanzo beans, 1x can organic tomatoes, 1x can organic sweetcorn, 1x packet of organic vegetable broth, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne, paprika to taste. Prep time 5 minutes, cooking time 15-25 minutes = 1 dinner for 2 and lunch for 2 the next day.
2x cans organic garbanzo beans, 1x can organic tomatoes, 1x can organic sweetcorn, 1x packet of organic vegetable broth, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne, paprika to taste. Prep time 5 minutes, cooking time 15-25 minutes = 1 dinner for 2 and lunch for 2 the next day.
Mar 11th 2008, 4:01 am
#49
L2, GC, Surrey, OH, TX!
Joined: Aug 2007
Location: Surrey to Dallas (via Ohio)!
Posts: 6,363
Re: packet vs fresh food?
Delia Smith has just started a new series in the UK which is about how to cheat. That is do some cooking but use some precooked or pre prepared items to reduce the overall time spent. It was almost 'spun' as encouraging the non cookers amongst us to actually do a 'bit' of cooking rather than just warming in the ding. Ie using frozen mash on top of pre cooked salmon fillets to make salmon pie etc. The first episode was last night and the stuff looked quite edible. She wasnt using any old tat however - the mash was just potatoe, butter milk and salt and pepper - she read out the packet ingredients. She also made a shephers pie with a tin of Marks and Spencer minced lamb.
Mar 11th 2008, 4:08 am
#50
Sursum corda
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Richmond Hill, GA USA
Posts: 38,860
Re: packet vs fresh food?
Tonight is left over pizza, 
Mar 11th 2008, 4:10 am
#52
WTF?
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Homeostasis
Posts: 79,413
Re: packet vs fresh food?
Hmm..I always look at expiration dates when I buy food. Never had a problem finding a date. You can usually figure out the expiry by looking at the code, once you get used to looking at them. By law, I believe they have to place an expiration, or 'best used by' date on the package.
box of crackers
jar of honey
bag of pretzels
jar of almonds
protein bar
pint of milk
can of fruit cocktail
prepackaged deli turkey meat
bag of soy nuts
Every single one of them has an expiration date scanned on to the package.
In my lunch I have a frozen package of Gortons grilled fish fillets and it has "best if used by April 2009" actually pre-printed on the package itself.
Mar 11th 2008, 4:14 am
#53
WTF?
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Homeostasis
Posts: 79,413
Re: packet vs fresh food?
Coincidentally, Delia's just come out with a new cooking series that emphasises the use of prepackaged foods to cut down on prep/cook time (eg shep's pie made with pre-packaged mash). On UKNova for those so inclined.
She also talks about "food, faith and football." (Mon the Canaries!)
She also talks about "food, faith and football." (Mon the Canaries!)
Last edited by Leslie; Mar 11th 2008 at 4:17 am.
Mar 11th 2008, 4:16 am
#54
WTF?
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Homeostasis
Posts: 79,413
Re: packet vs fresh food?
Why is everything in packets?
In the supermarket the other day i even seen egg whites and egg yolks in a box already prepared! Is it only me that has a problem with E numbers and additives? I don't like the thought of me becoming so lazy that i would reach for a packet or box of quick and easy food rather than cook it from scratch.
Do i need to chill a bit more?
A little more insight would do me the world of good!!
In the supermarket the other day i even seen egg whites and egg yolks in a box already prepared! Is it only me that has a problem with E numbers and additives? I don't like the thought of me becoming so lazy that i would reach for a packet or box of quick and easy food rather than cook it from scratch.
Do i need to chill a bit more?
A little more insight would do me the world of good!!
Mar 11th 2008, 4:21 am
#55
WTF?
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Homeostasis
Posts: 79,413
Re: packet vs fresh food?
Delia Smith has just started a new series in the UK which is about how to cheat. That is do some cooking but use some precooked or pre prepared items to reduce the overall time spent. It was almost 'spun' as encouraging the non cookers amongst us to actually do a 'bit' of cooking rather than just warming in the ding. Ie using frozen mash on top of pre cooked salmon fillets to make salmon pie etc. The first episode was last night and the stuff looked quite edible. She wasnt using any old tat however - the mash was just potatoe, butter milk and salt and pepper - she read out the packet ingredients. She also made a shephers pie with a tin of Marks and Spencer minced lamb.
Mar 11th 2008, 4:34 am
#56
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,903
Re: packet vs fresh food?
Something we do about once a week is make a frozen pizza (Freshetta self rising is yummy) .... I add a little bit fresh cheese, italian seasonings, onions and pressed garlic. It makes a big difference in the taste and only takes a couple of extra minutes. I've always done stuff like that when I didn't have time to make a full meal from scratch.
Mar 11th 2008, 4:40 am
#58
baby catcher
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Gilbert, AZ.
Posts: 55
Re: packet vs fresh food?
Mar 11th 2008, 4:44 am
#59
WTF?
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Homeostasis
Posts: 79,413
Re: packet vs fresh food?
That's why I do try to cook as much as possible from scratch. Anymore, prepackaged or restaurant food is a "treat" for me rather than a way of life.
