Ddh4mster's Blog

Live by Cooking, not by Instant Ramen or Frozen Food

May 27, 2011 at 5:06 pm (Other)

Okay I am creating this blog here to further explaining some conversation that I have with friends off in twitter several days ago, one of the most fundamental things we need to survive and that is to EAT! Although actually we can survive just by water but then again no energies or other stuff you need for your bodies.

Anyways this is a long read so I do hope this will help. I do not quote that much from other site, this is just a personal experience I would like to share with you guys, and as disclaimer there might be something you find it disagree-able, but I don’t mind, please let me know, after all being disagree and agreeing with something sparks conversation no? Also most of these are a view for living alone a single.

okay lets begin.

As some of you might have known, I’ve started to live alone now. Living alone, shucks … since I have take care of everything including cooking, I used to have my sister to do the cooking but not anymore and with my spending habit on my… ahem… expensive hobbies, eating tends to be a bit of an issue. Often my fellow friend will mentioned instant noodles or frozen foods are way to go. I would somewhat disagree into that notion now, if you ever looked into their nutrition facts, you’ll surprise how much bad stuff they have that is a no go.

This only only 1/2 block, do the math and double the stuff!

As for instant noodles goes, it’ll be best to mix it with something healthier, if you Google for ‘Ramen Hacks’ you’ll find some site that will give you a good tip to make your Ramen more healthier. Since Ramen is not the topic here I’ll leave at that. I have not much comment on frozen food, they claim healthy and all that, but with healthier ones comes with more expensive frozen food, the cheap ones are not that healthy at all.

In any case, I cant agree more that sometimes good way to save is actually by cooking inside your own house, there’s nothing wrong with eating out with friends and family sometimes, but cooking yourself is still a best bet, unless if you don’t have enough spare time to cook then this would be a trouble, or if you are prioritizing something else than your body needs, you’ll have problem. and plus cooking by yourself tends to be healthier than eating outside, imagine all those grease and oil they are using on restaurants especially Chinese fast food ergh… and here’s an example

looks delicious? probably? but, its super greasy!

I’ve started my first week with this food, a mishmash of different kind of stuff, and I assure you its super greasy, price wise well only about $5 and check it out I can eat it 2x (the other half I put off for lunch). But then again, if I had to put up to that kind of greasy food. I worried about my body wellness.

Then on the next week here’s what I tried to make, a spaghetti with pre-made curry, which I just need to reheat the curry pack and pour it in, but ended up turned into something else hahaha… talk about mix-ed feelings on cooking turned into something else. I pretty much just cooked it random stuff whatever that is available on my fridge at that time.

Doesn’t look that bad right?

The next week I’ve decided try do cook something else. Went to store and looked around at that time I’ve found the Japanese curry block and this time I calculate their cost (approximation), unlike my previous spaghetti and pork bun.

• 2 carrots, 2 potatoes, 3 broccoli crowns costs less than $3.00
• 1 lbs of boneless chicken costs about $3.50
• House Curry blocks costs about $4.00

now with all these ingredients bought I’ve spent total of about less than $15 in the end.

Went home and prepare everything and here’s what I’ve cooked.

Better looked Curry  (sorry bad photo >.<)

Not too bad right? and guess what? I’ve cook almost entire pot! which allows for another 5 to 6 servings. If you went out for a food you’ll spend at least $15 for 1 Japanese curry meal, by cooking at home you’ll spent less than $15 that will give you 5 to 6 Japanese curry meal. If you are resilient enough and don’t mind eating the same thing all over, then you’ll be good to go.

and the next couple weeks I went to groceries shopping and here’s what i got

• box of tofu (some people don’t like this, I know, but heck they are good for your health :p) and they cost about $2.00
• 1 lbs of ground pork costs about $2.50
• 1 pack of hot dog sausages about $2.00, but only used about 4 sausages
• mushrooms, veggies etc about $6.00 (more veggies this time)
• Mabo Tofu sauce and a stir fry sauce costs about $6.00

this time I’ve cooked for 2 different dish and that costs me less than $20.

Mabo tofu with a some crushed red peppers & mushrooms

So the first one I’ve cooked Mabo Tofu with only 1/2 of the mentioned above ingredients, while the other half cooked for the second dish (I don’t know what i should call it though).

In any case once done, those two are separate into the ones I’ll put into freezer and the ones I’ll put on regular fridge, since I will be eating those two dish for two weeks.

okay so I’ve covered some dishes that I’ve cooked within 3 different weeks and add them out they’ll cost less than about $40. Now if its just dish you wont be full, so for that you’ll have to buy rice. With $20 you can get a 20 lbs decent Jasmine rice or about 15 lbs for those high quality good tasting Japanese/Korean rice. If you want healthier then by all means go for the brown rice, though i am no expert on that, cant say much about it.

Dish that I don’t know what to call

So in the end total approximation spending for almost a month worth of food is about $60. If we go back with a calculation for a decent meal for $15 a plate that’s only good for 4 meal but with cooking yourself at home you’ll save so much more. Wouldn’t you call this a saving?

There you have it, with these experiences I’ve beginning to like cooking. However it is wrong to say that I refuse to go out and eat. I will do so when hang out with friends and when I am not at home, but when I can go home and cook why not?

So for all the Otaku out there, don’t be lazy! start to cook! it’ll save some monies so you can spend them into something else.

and that is the fried rice I cooked 2 weeks ago

Thanks for reading ^_^/