TOTALLY GEEKED!

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

$100 a week

jlbear71 · Guru

I have not forgotten this thread. Been busy and should be able to come back tomorrow and help.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

My chicken slop recipe goes far.

You only need 3-4 chicken breasts and can feed up to 8.

3-4 chicken breasts (depending on size)
2 cans cream of chicken soup (I use organic, but you can use whatever you want).
1 can chicken broth (I use low sodium)
garlic
pepper
potatoes or rice - your choice

Just put the chicken breast in the crockpot, cover with garlic, and everything else. Cook on low 8 hours or so, and then take the chicken out and shred it (it may shred right in the pot), put back in sauce and spoon over potatoes or rice.

You'll have enough to feed everyone once, and leftovers for lunch for 1 or 2.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Sounds good.

I do something similar on the stove.

Cook the chicken, I've used every form of chicken, I take it out of the skillet, and add cream of mushroom soup, a can of water, mix with pan drippings. Then I stir in a 2 cans of rice, put my chicken back in, cover and cook till the rice absorbs the liquid. I'll add a little bit of butter if it gets too tight.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I will add veggies to it, too.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

It will change the consistency. We do a veggie on the side or a salad.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I generally steam broccoli and mix it in my rice just before serving.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

I do chicken noodle casserole. I have frozen chicken breasts in the freezer. OR sometimes i used canned if i am in a hurry. I always have chicken broth on hand so i just make my cream soup. Then i toss all that with precooked noodles and top with buttered bread crumbs and bake. That's a fave here.

Tignanello · My dog name is, Sasha!

My crockpot saves me loads of money - especially around spoilage. Sandwich meat always goes bad before I can eat it all because I get bored so easily. One weekend a month I spend a day making 1-3 crockpot recipes and then portion and freeze. Then I have lunch for a month. I don't eat much on days off and my staples are poached/sauteed egg on toast & cheese and another piece of toast with peanut butter. I've also developed a love of chicken/turkey dogs, so I do that once a week. I also have one really late night work schedule so will maybe pick up Subway on the way home.

I also bake (sometimes) at least once a week and take a small muffin to work for a snack. Have also started taking cereal as a snack (I keep milk at work for my coffee). Peas/cherry tomatoes and hummus are also a favourite although I seem to be losing interest in that one too.

I really really want a rice cooker.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

They make some pretty fancy rice cookers. However, I bought one for about $25 and it works just great. On/off cook. That's all I need. Depends what you want it to do.

Tignanello · My dog name is, Sasha!

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
They make some pretty fancy rice cookers. However, I bought one for about $25 and it works just great. On/off cook. That's all I need. Depends what you want it to do.

Just needs to cook the rice! My friend has a great one, but I'm too cheap/lazy to go get one. I have a pot and a stove that work just fine - as long as I don't screw it up!

What else would a rice cooker do with more than on/off and cook buttons?

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Well, i find it is so easy to use. And, cooking it on the stove requires paying more attention to it and sometimes it will burn on the pots and make them hard to clean, etc. This is literally turn it on and let it go. Sometimes i might check it and give it a stir. But, because it is so simple, i do tend to make more rice than i would if i was making it on the stove.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

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-- Edited by Lady Gaga Snerd on Monday 12th of December 2016 06:13:34 PM

Tignanello · My dog name is, Sasha!

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
Well, i find it is so easy to use. And, cooking it on the stove requires paying more attention to it and sometimes it will burn on the pots and make them hard to clean, etc. This is literally turn it on and let it go. Sometimes i might check it and give it a stir. But, because it is so simple, i do tend to make more rice than i would if i was making it on the stove.

Yeah, I screw up the pot kind often. Especially if just doing a portion or two.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

I have one similar to the one i posted. Just have good old Amazon plop one on your doorstep!

Tignanello · My dog name is, Sasha!

Ask some of the others on this board what happened a few years ago when they made an Amazon purchase suggestion and I accidentally had it send to my parents!!

I no longer take Amazon suggestions from all y'all!

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I loved the crock pot when I was working and the kids were little.

But, honestly, I don't think stuff tastes as good when cooked in it.

And 6-8 hours vs 2, maybe 3 in the oven.

It's preference. I know.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Some things are totally fine in the crockpot. Other things turn mushy. But, it is great when you are working and can come home to some good smelling food.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

It was a lifesaver for me. I loved it.

I have 2 crock pots, had 3 but one died.

I prefer using the oven.

I'm not knocking a crock pot.

Just saying I like cooking in the oven better.

I do use the crock for beans, soup, pulled pork, but I cook it in the oven and then put it in the crock with the sauce.

Tignanello · My dog name is, Sasha!

lilyofcourse wrote:
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!

You might have to be more specific for LGS. I don't think she was around for that. And, um, spoiler it ....

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Hmmm.... you ordered a sex toy and it went to the wrong address maybe?

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Tignanello wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!
You might have to be more specific for LGS. I don't think she was around for that. And, um, spoiler it ....

It's not my story to tell.

FNW · Guru

This is my favorite rice cooker for white rice:

<strong class="js-codeception-manufacturer">Nordic Ware</strong> Rice Cooker

1 cup rice, 1 1/2 cups water, 10 minutes on 50% power in microwave, perfect every time. Brown rice I prefer to do in my instant pot. But this little baby does great steaming veggies, too. I've been using it for probably 15 years.

chef · Guru

I've used my rice cooker on a whim to cook macaroni. It worked just fine.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I'm trying to understand why a rice cooker is different from a stewer on the stove.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

lilyofcourse wrote:
I'm trying to understand why a rice cooker is different from a stewer on the stove.

I like my microwave rice cooker. It cooks it perfectly, never gets burned to the bottom, and is easy to clean.

It also cooks in half the time.

-- Edited by Lawyerlady on Tuesday 13th of December 2016 04:25:53 PM

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

What rice are ya'll cooking that takes a long time to cook?

Even the brown, boil in bag rice cooks in 15 mintes.

I'm not being snarky.

I really don't know what rice ya'll are talking about.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

lilyofcourse wrote:
What rice are ya'll cooking that takes a long time to cook?

Even the brown, boil in bag rice cooks in 15 mintes.

I'm not being snarky.

I really don't know what rice ya'll are talking about.

OK, Lily, don't take offense, but boil in a bag rice is horrible. All the nutrients get boiled out and stay in the water when you lift the rice out.

Real rice - dry in the bag, takes 40 minutes to cook on a stovetop and 20-25 minutes to cook in the microwave.

Think of it as the difference between real grits and instant grits.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I don't guess I've ever seen dry rice.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

I cook white rice in my $20 rice cooker. Turns out great.

Once u try it , it is very simple. No rice sticking to a pan etc. You wanna save money then get one and dont buy rice in bags or seasoned etc.

-- Edited by Lady Gaga Snerd on Tuesday 13th of December 2016 06:17:34 PM

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I don't buy seasoned rice, they have too much sodium.

Of course I'm going to look into everything.

But like I said, it has to be practical.

How heavy is the rice cooker when full?

I have to be able to handle things with as little help as possible.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

It's lightweight and easy to use and clean. Get a simple one like i posted.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I was just reading how to use a rice cooker.

It's a lot of do's and don't's.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
It's lightweight and easy to use and clean. Get a simple one like i posted.

Lightweight is subjective.

A half gallon of milk is heavy to me.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

It's lighter than a saucepan.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

It's plastic?

FNW · Guru

Rice is sold where the dry beans are sold. I buy big bags of it. Saves money and you can season it anyway you'd like.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

You can buy small bags of dry rice or big huge bags. I usually just buy a 5lb bag. You can get enriched white rice in a bag anywhere like Dollar General, Walmart, etc. or the grocer.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

lilyofcourse wrote:
It's plastic?

Lilly. Go to Walmart and pick one up and look at it. They have them on display. It's thin metal with an very light weight nonstick insert.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I will.

After the 1st of the year.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

I think you will like it. It really is handy. I mean, some kitchen gadgets just make more work but i think it very practical and useful.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

I don't think it cooks brown rice that well. But i don't care for brown rice.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

I cook my rice in a Tupperware microwave rice cooker. It's plastic - very lightweight.

WYSIWYG · Guru

I love rice, My favorite white variety is Jasmine rice. I stick with that for everything except sushi. I also like saffron rice and wild rice (even though "wild rice" isn't actually rice at all!).

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

If you are a Jasmine rice fan and have a Trader Joe's nearby. For quick needs, they have a box of frozen organic Jasmine rice. Inside the box are 3 microwave pouches of Jasmine rice that cook in 3 minutes straight from the freezer and come out perfect.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

I never tried jasmine or other rice. Does it really taste any different?

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
I never tried jasmine or other rice. Does it really taste any different?

Americans traditionally eat long grain white rice. Other than brown rice, it is my least favorite.

I prefer Jasmine rice or basmati rice. Japanese restaurants use short grain rice. Jasmine rice is really better. You should try it. It's excellent under your stews.

FNW · Guru

I prefer Jasmine rice or basmati as well.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

So I just did shopping trip.

Using only store sales and discounts, I saved $80 on my groceries!

I have enough to last the rest of the month, except for the bread, milk and eggs.

My total after all the discounts were applied was $244.81.

I'm going to be feeding 6-9 people 3 meals a day.

And that's including Christmas dinner and holiday baking!

I really think I'm going to be able to get it down more with coupons.

I know I have a long way to go, but I think I can do it!