Food Crapext_2442230September 6 2014, 03:51:47 UTC
My mom used box macaroni and cheese to make what I call "make-shift spaghetti." For each box of mac and cheese you brown 1 lb hamburger, slice or dice (your preference) a small onion and fry with the hamburger. In a separate pan cook the macaroni noodles til done. In a bowl, crush a 15 oz can of whole tomatoes or use stewed or Italian tomatoes. When macaroni is cooked, drain and put in the bowl with the tomatoes. Add the onion and hamburger mixture, the cheese from the macaroni and a half stick of margarine. You can also add a little milk. Mix it all together and you have "make-shift spaghetti." Anyway, that was my mom's box helper. She probably used about 8 boxes--there were 8 of us kids plus my mom and dad, so it was a lot of people to feed. I make it sometimes (ONE box, of course) but it doesn't taste the same as mom's. Yet, when I visit my kids, that's what they want me to make. Too many carbs, but it tastes so good. It's one of my comfort foods
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I cook batches of stuff between academic quarters when I have more time. Then I freeze it in portions of two or three servings. Soups, stews, and lasagne all freeze really well.
With this approach the only brainpower I need to make dinner when I'm overloaded with school stuff is just to remember to pull something out of the freezer and put it in the fridge for 24-48 hours to let it thaw. (You could thaw stuff in a microwave, too, I suppose, but I avoid microwaving any food stored in plastic.)
Maybe it's something that could work for you during your academic breaks? Of course, I'm a student and my time is pretty much my own during breaks. It may be different for you, but I would hope there is at least a little less pressure on the breaks than during the academic semesters.
Processed food is loaded with salt, too. I don't know if you are supposed to be avoiding sodium for your high BP but it's easier to avoid salt by avoiding processed foods.
Sorry to hear you've been so busy. That sounds stressful.
Mr Moth and I have between us five adult children (who know everything), nine-going-on-ten grandchildren, three elderly parents, two dogs, two cats (one ostensibly the live-at-home daughter's), a hamster (mine), a mortgage...and a partridge in a pear tree
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I have it so much simpler, being single and living alone (with two dogs). I'm cooking and freezing for myself. I don't mind eating leftovers or thawed food, I like my own cooking just fine. I have fewer dietary restrictions, and no one else's to accommodate, unless I have company and they need accommodation (which is very infrequent). I'm pre-diabetic, so I avoid loading up on simple or refined carbs.
That is good news, that you aren't one of the unlucky high BP patients who needs to severely restrict salt.
My nieces are here for meals sometimes, but they love my cooking. And they aren't picky eaters. I hope that never changes. They are seven and ten now, but who knows what's in store when they become adolescents. Not just with food preferences, but with everything.
Sounds super challenging to find the (culinary) least common denominators for your family. Argh.
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With this approach the only brainpower I need to make dinner when I'm overloaded with school stuff is just to remember to pull something out of the freezer and put it in the fridge for 24-48 hours to let it thaw. (You could thaw stuff in a microwave, too, I suppose, but I avoid microwaving any food stored in plastic.)
Maybe it's something that could work for you during your academic breaks? Of course, I'm a student and my time is pretty much my own during breaks. It may be different for you, but I would hope there is at least a little less pressure on the breaks than during the academic semesters.
Processed food is loaded with salt, too. I don't know if you are supposed to be avoiding sodium for your high BP but it's easier to avoid salt by avoiding processed foods.
Sorry to hear you've been so busy. That sounds stressful.
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That is good news, that you aren't one of the unlucky high BP patients who needs to severely restrict salt.
My nieces are here for meals sometimes, but they love my cooking. And they aren't picky eaters. I hope that never changes. They are seven and ten now, but who knows what's in store when they become adolescents. Not just with food preferences, but with everything.
Sounds super challenging to find the (culinary) least common denominators for your family. Argh.
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Sometimes I buy a new helper just to see what it tastes like, and then try to create a facsimile version on my own.
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