DiscussionsBudget-Friendly Tips & Tricks

Hello Everybody,

I've always thought that cooking at home rather than eating restaurant or carry-out food was always the best option for meals on a budget, but lately I've been seeing some pretty spectacular deals at a lot of sit-down chain restaurants, and it seems like every fast food place has a dollar menu these days. 

So, I've been wondering, is cooking at home still the most economical choice for you? 

I still think in the long run it pays off to cook your own food, and not just in terms of my pocket book. To me, it's fresher, healthier, and I have control over what goes into the meals I create. 

I do have some restaurant food favorites that I've created at home that are pretty close to the real thing and cost a lot less per serving. Here are some of my favorite faux-restaurant recipes: 

Thai Chicken Pizza

http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/thai-chicken-pizza/63477788-fd4b-4bca-9172-156d93a358e4/

Easy Garlic Cheese Biscuits

http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/easy-garlic-cheese-biscuits/cd491913-2e6b-44f5-ab80-98900a3fdec5/

New York Style Cheesecake

http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/new-york-cheesecake/d5b33ff2-9f49-4414-bda4-4ce2fcd5cd29/

Mushroom and Spinach Fettucini

http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/mushroom-and-spinach-fettuccine/17bcd851-bcea-4a1d-9044-a2b0e33eb8c9/

Asian Chicken Salad

http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/asian-chicken-salad-with-peanuts/389957a8-7326-4ef1-aa45-8d9c19b19cf2/

Have you ever tried to create a recipe restaurant at home? How did it turn out? Are there any foods you love that make more sense to make at home rather than order out? 

I have recreated a lot of restaurant favorites at home for a lot less, but some of them ,I would never try. It is more economical to make them at home, but not easy or quick. I save most of them for the restaurants, cause eating out is for special occasions.

I agree there are some things that are to time consuming and difficult to recreate- and unfortnately being a single mom working betwen 10 and 12 hours a day ad going to college and active in Boyscouts, it can be so hard to force myself to cook and cleanup- we eat way to much take out- but we are trying to use this as a pathway to teach my new teenager to cook- Iv'e always told my sons that no woman in their right mind wants a man that cannot pull his weight around the house, cooking cleaning and helping with the family etc. i also taught them Momma won't always be there to make sure that you eat right.