Forums » Smalltalk » "Cooking" tricks

I need to stop giving restaurants all my extra money. And today I had one victory in that department. I discovered that...Campbell's vegetarian vegetable soup is really tasty if you add pepper to it. Who would have thought, right? It's so simple. Normally it's too tomatoey. But with pepper (we have the fresh pepper-cracker thingy), it tastes all delicious and complex, allowing you to taste the other flavors (in my opinion). I could eat this every night, until I get burnt out on it. But it could be like my main thing to eat. And then I would save zillions of dollars that go to restaurants. I normally don't cook at home because food I cook doesn't taste that great, and it takes more time than I have. But heating soup in a microwave takes less time than going through a drive-thru. So that, I might actually do every day.

So my ask here is, do any of you know any tricks for making easy-to-make food actually taste good enough to tempt me away from the restaurants?

Tip 1: Add pepper to vegetable soup


Aaaaand...go!

Spaghetti cheap easy fun. Boil the pasta 8 minutes. Get the sauce of whatever you prefer. I use onions mushrooms tomatoes. Dinner in 10 minutes.

Thank you, SexySultry.

I hate to admit this, but that's still more work than I'm willing to do. Lmao. BUT I will heat Raamen Noodles in a bowl in the microwave.

I will put cheese on a tortilla and heat it up in the microwave.

But yep maybe I can get used to making simple things like spaghetti.

I do have one trick for spaghetti I've heard.


Supposedly if you toss it with olive oil and parmesan cheese after you get it out and before you put the sauce on, it makes it taste more restauranty. I've tried it once and it is yumm.

I love parmesan cheese I'll try that next time. Sometimes I use red wine into the sauce.

I guess I’m out of the party here as I prefer to chef up nice dinners. I’ll be reading though.

Well...if there's anything you think of that super easy, you know what to do.


And you're still definitely IN the party. Just cuz you are. Cuz we say so. Right SSB?

A million dollars says theres a restaurant out there somewhere making hundreds even thousands of dollars by simply adding pepper to vegetarian vegetable soup

Alright, I’ll stay and party...

Tortillas
Cheese
Tomato
Spring onion.

Put a big over olive oil on a tortilla, put shredded cheese on it, put tomato slices or chunks on it, cut a few green inions on it. Heat it, fold it. Viola...

I'm not sure if it's really a "trick" but since you mentioned ramen...

I like to go to Pho shops and ramen restaurants, but when I don't have that kind of cash on me I make do with what I have at home. Try putting half of a hard-boiled egg and some sliced meat and veggies in your ramen. It's filling, it requires some effort, but it's simple.

Yepper❤❤

Those pre-cooked rotisserie chickens that most grocery stores sell are usually reasonably priced and pretty good. Pair with some kind of side... a veggie or a potato (either can be microwaved).

You'll most likely have leftover chicken... I like to add mine to ramen noodles or over lettuce for lunch or dinner the following day.

In the pasta realm... raviolis or tortellinis (bought frozen) are just as easy as spaghetti (just boil them) and are a nice change of pace.

Also, do you own a crock-pot? This is one of the easiest recipes (I've made it several times and it turns out good every time!): https://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/root-beer-pulled-pork-sandwiches/

Quick and easy lunch: Peanut Butter and bologna sandwich. Sounds gross, right? I sure thought so. But it's surprisingly good.

Girl I'm all about the crock pot. It still requires a little prep depending on what you make (chopping veggies, adding spices, etc.), but it's minimal work for a great dinner.

Birdseye also makes these pretty tasty Voila! frozen pasta dinners that you just throw in a pot or skillet and heat up

Oh god. As someone who loves to cook and loves cooking for other people this makes me want to live with you just so you can have home cooked meals everyday 😭😭 come pick me uppppp I'll bring the groceries!!!

Awwwww lol Wish I could! Sometimes we try but it never tastes as good as the restaurants tho! But I'll bet yours does!

Yeah my Aunt does that. I need to learn the ways. She does it beans. Supposedly super easy. Thanks for the reminder!

Thanks

Hahaha probably!

Yeah...yum.. good one

Hmmm might try this. That's a creative idea and the egg provides protein. Good idea.

Marie callender pot pies. Turkey vegetables the pie crust. 5 minutes in the microwave. This advice is coming from miss drive through herself. LOL