The lonely videogamer's guide to cheap cooking

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SuperGrafx
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Re: The lonely videogamer's guide to cheap cooking

Post by SuperGrafx »

PainAmplifier wrote:
Your welcome, let me know how it works out for you...and if you can think of some other flavorings to stick in the pot! I'm always looking for cheap ways to make things tastier, as I tend to get bored easy if I eat the same thing too many times in a row. .
I gave it a try over the weekend and it turned out pretty good. I used a large cast-iron dutch oven type pot to prepare the meal and the chicken turned out pretty juicy.
One question, do you keep the pot covered while baking it in the oven? I'm thinking of trying it uncovered to allow the chicken to crisp up a bit.
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PainAmplifier
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Re: The lonely videogamer's guide to cheap cooking

Post by PainAmplifier »

SuperGrafx wrote: I gave it a try over the weekend and it turned out pretty good. I used a large cast-iron dutch oven type pot to prepare the meal and the chicken turned out pretty juicy.
One question, do you keep the pot covered while baking it in the oven? I'm thinking of trying it uncovered to allow the chicken to crisp up a bit.

I use a deep steel pot with a glass lid myself, it's not airtight but it doesn't really allow a significant amount of air or moisture to escape. The top layers of chicken have a dry skin but juicy body, which is about where I like it with potatoes or on a bun. I'd like to add some sort of grate on the bottom to raise the bottom layers out of the drippings, but since I mix it all in a container for storage to east during the week I let it go. (That and my pot isn't big enough to fit that and all the chicken as well.)

Originally I actually added a little water to the bottom of the pot before cooking, but I found it entirely unneceesary as the chicken has enough water already in it. My first try at this ended up with waaaay too much water once the chicken had cooked. Practially drowning the chicken in it.

I've thought about how I'd make a dryer chicken out of it since it would work better for rice or taco meat that way, but I haven't worked out a good method for it yet. (Much less verified what would work.) I think maybe using just some foil to cover, but not seal the top (maybe leave some gaps) would help make a dryer, but not overly so chicken. But I've also thought about just laying the finished chicken I want dryer on a tray and putting it back in the oven for a bit longer.

At this point though, I think you may as well just bake the chicken in one of those oven trays w/a rack if you have them, as you could probably get a dryer chicken easier if they aren't stacked on top of each other. (All I have is a small glass one, not enough to do the entire pack of chicken in one go...)
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Obiwanshinobi
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Re: The lonely videogamer's guide to cheap cooking

Post by Obiwanshinobi »

The tomato kind of the aforementioned.

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Make no mistake; it's greasy. Raw onion and some edible grease (again - rapeseed oil here) are what the dish is primarily about. This time the pepper is white.
What I'm about to say will probably cost me some cool points, but the tomato kind is good for complexion. There, I said it. Obviously won't substitute for sobriety, sleep and walking outside; no food works like that I'm afraid.
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Re: The lonely videogamer's guide to cheap cooking

Post by Leader Bee »

SuperGrafx wrote:
PainAmplifier wrote:
Your welcome, let me know how it works out for you...and if you can think of some other flavorings to stick in the pot! I'm always looking for cheap ways to make things tastier, as I tend to get bored easy if I eat the same thing too many times in a row. .
I used a large cast-iron dutch oven type pot to prepare the meal
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.p ... tch%20oven
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SuperGrafx
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Re: The lonely videogamer's guide to cheap cooking

Post by SuperGrafx »

LOL at the post above! :lol:
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CMoon
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Re: The lonely videogamer's guide to cheap cooking

Post by CMoon »

Wanna make a great breakfast in 5 minutes? (I know you're all smart enough to figure this out, but it's taken years for me to realize I can do all this shit faster than I can drive to a breakfast joint.)

Split a bagel and throw it in the toaster oven. Heat your skillet up and throw a couple eggs, a tomato slice and some mushroom slices on there. Shape your coagulating eggs into a nice round bagel shape. Take your bagel out of the toaster and toss on all that goodness from the skillet. Top it with a slice of cheese (which will be auto-melted) and complete it with top half of the bagel. Eat that shit at work for maximum effect as everyone comments about you having an awesome breakfast. Really, no one else can take 5 minutes out of their morning?

Do this while you are making your coffee and packing up your lunch for maximum efficiency. I eat better than almost everyone else at my job, only because they can't apparently figure this shit out.
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Re: The lonely videogamer's guide to cheap cooking

Post by shmuppyLove »

CMoon wrote:Wanna make a great breakfast in 5 minutes? (I know you're all smart enough to figure this out, but it's taken years for me to realize I can do all this shit faster than I can drive to a breakfast joint.)

Split a bagel and throw it in the toaster oven. Heat your skillet up and throw a couple eggs, a tomato slice and some mushroom slices on there. Shape your coagulating eggs into a nice round bagel shape. Take your bagel out of the toaster and toss on all that goodness from the skillet. Top it with a slice of cheese (which will be auto-melted) and complete it with top half of the bagel. Eat that shit at work for maximum effect as everyone comments about you having an awesome breakfast. Really, no one else can take 5 minutes out of their morning?

Do this while you are making your coffee and packing up your lunch for maximum efficiency. I eat better than almost everyone else at my job, only because they can't apparently figure this shit out.
If you want it even faster, crack the eggs into a small microwave-safe bowl, beat a bit, then microwave for about a minute. Spray the bowl with a bit of cooking spray or rub it with butter to make cleanup a snap.
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Re: The lonely videogamer's guide to cheap cooking

Post by Ex-Cyber »

shmuppyLove wrote:If you want it even faster, crack the eggs into a small microwave-safe bowl, beat a bit, then microwave for about a minute. Spray the bowl with a bit of cooking spray or rub it with butter to make cleanup a snap.
This. Automatic bagel-compatible shape if you use the right bowl size. I've usually had to microwave it in two passes though so that I can cut up the ring that forms on the outside and stir it back in so that it doesn't form an overcooked ring on the outside and salmonella city inside. Such an enormous hassle that it takes like 10 seconds.
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SuperGrafx
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Re: The lonely videogamer's guide to cheap cooking

Post by SuperGrafx »

Any further updates to this?
I really enjoyed reading the entries in this thread. Let's keep it up
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mesh control
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Re: The lonely videogamer's guide to cheap cooking

Post by mesh control »

newest easy bake creation:

INGREDIENTS : Please read this like Kid Rock and Guy Fieri are eating each other out in the room next to you.

Code: Select all

Quinoa - BUY THAT SHIT IN BULK MOTHER FUCKER
Water - NEVER PAY FOR FUCKING WATER
One Package of Soy Chorizo - ANIMAL LIBERATION MOTHER FUCKER
shredded Kale - "VARIATION UNDER DOMESTICATION, MOTHER FUCKER. MAN CREATED THIS MONSTER PLANT WITH THICK LEAVES AFTER DEEMING IT AMAZING. FUCK YOU." - Charles Darwin - I usually get 4 bunches at the farmers market for $1.50/per bunch, and rip them to shreds when I get home.
One Avocado - HOLY FUCK THIS IS A FRUIT, SHIT. - mash bawitabadamagnadiggydiggy it. 
Brocolli sprouts - I like these more than alfalfa sprouts. larger sprouts = better. If you grow your own, good for you. 

- Take 1 cup of quinoa and wash it through a strainer.
- 1 1/4 cup of water (i don't measure, so just estimate)

------Mix in a pot and bring to a boil. Once it begins to boil, reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer for about 10-12 minutes until the water is evaporated and the quinoa is fluffy.

-While that is simmering, squeeze 1 package of soy chorizo and mash* a large package of extra firm tofu (or 2 eggs) into a large pan. Cook until it's as done as you want it to be.

------By now the quinoa should be close to done, so remove it from heat and fluff.

Now, get a large bowl and lay the kale at the bottom, then add a layer of quinoa, followed by the chorizo-tofu mix, then add the avocado putty and finally a throw some sprout on top. I also recommend adding salsa on top, unfortunately I don't have a blender or the counter space to make any.
lol
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Ed Oscuro
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Re: The lonely videogamer's guide to cheap cooking

Post by Ed Oscuro »

mesh control wrote:

Code: Select all

Water - NEVER PAY FOR FUCKING WATER
Words to fuckin' live by.
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Re: The lonely videogamer's guide to cheap cooking

Post by trap15 »

What about when your tap water smells like chlorine?
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mesh control
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Re: The lonely videogamer's guide to cheap cooking

Post by mesh control »

filter it. filter it long and hard

or make sure there isn't a fish in the percolator, etc.
lol
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Ed Oscuro
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Re: The lonely videogamer's guide to cheap cooking

Post by Ed Oscuro »

trap15 wrote:What about when your tap water smells like chlorine?
you're paying for the chlorine, obviously

mesh, I thought filtering removed the hardness... :o
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CMoon
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Re: The lonely videogamer's guide to cheap cooking

Post by CMoon »

mesh control wrote: or make sure there isn't a fish in the percolator, etc.
What the hell? A twin peaks reference?
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MOSQUITO FIGHTER
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Re: The lonely videogamer's guide to cheap cooking

Post by MOSQUITO FIGHTER »

I wanna try this thing out. It cooks your eggs and toast. Back to Basics TEM4500 4-Slot Egg-and-Muffin Toaster
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Re: The lonely videogamer's guide to cheap cooking

Post by spoot »

MOSQUITO FIGHTER wrote:I wanna try this thing out. It cooks your eggs and toast. Back to Basics TEM4500 4-Slot Egg-and-Muffin Toaster
Heh, I have one of these types of units.....will heat up PRECOOKED sausage patties too.
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ED-057
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Re: The lonely videogamer's guide to cheap cooking

Post by ED-057 »

2013 eh? Was it that long ago?

Cabbage is one of my new favorite foods. It's only 50 cents/pound. I used to consider anything under $3/lb to be a fine deal but lately I've been looking into ingredients which cost even less.

lentils - $1.40/lb

Lentils and chopped cabbage together make a good soup. If you have extra seasoning pakcets from instant ramen laying around, you can make use of those too. Cabbage is also an integral part of holupki casserole.

refrigerator biscuits - $1.75/lb

Not bad, but you can make your own biscuits with all-purpose flour ($.50/lb), milk, butter, and baking powder. Butter is like $4/lb but maybe it could be omitted or substituted (I haven't tried it)

potatoes - $1.40/lb
chicken drum sticks - $1.25/lb

Chicken and biscuits, with mashed potatoes and carrots can be a cheap meal.

Last month apples were selling for $1/lb. I made a lot of apple crisp.

Dried beans are around $1.50/lb. Baked beans, bean and bacon soup, beans and rice, etc.
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Re: The lonely videogamer's guide to cheap cooking

Post by Stevens »

Nice resurrection. I always love seeing threads like this, especially when their birth and death preceded my arrival here AND its posters don't post here anymore.

Anyway cheap and easy? Roasted whole chicken with your choice of roasted vegetables. I usually season the chicken (just salt), chop up the greens (take your pick - broccoli, cauliflower, or brussel sprouts are it nine out of ten times). Season and add a fair amount of either olive or coconut oil (you can use whatever you want really, that's just what I use here) and make sure everything is lightly coated.

The greens are usually in a roasting pan, but I like to roast the chicken in cast iron.

Time in the kitchen - less than 15 minutes.
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MintyTheCat
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Re: The lonely videogamer's guide to cheap cooking

Post by MintyTheCat »

Hook yourself up with a caring lady-friend who will cook for you out of the goodness of her heart and save $$$$ ;)
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drauch
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Re: The lonely videogamer's guide to cheap cooking

Post by drauch »

Man, looking back when I cared... Now I'm just a fat fuck that does nothing and eats garbage. But man, I do loooooove eating garbage.
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Re: The lonely videogamer's guide to cheap cooking

Post by moh »

drauch wrote:Man, looking back when I cared... Now I'm just a fat fuck that does nothing and eats garbage. But man, I do loooooove eating garbage.
it ok, I’ll still bang u even tho ur a fat sack of shit
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MintyTheCat
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Re: The lonely videogamer's guide to cheap cooking

Post by MintyTheCat »

moh wrote:
drauch wrote:Man, looking back when I cared... Now I'm just a fat fuck that does nothing and eats garbage. But man, I do loooooove eating garbage.
it ok, I’ll still bang u even tho ur a fat sack of shit
I'd have trouble living with myself if I was fat and ate trash :D Same goes for your partner: never tolerate it.
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Re: The lonely videogamer's guide to cheap cooking

Post by Zen »

MintyTheCat wrote:
moh wrote:
drauch wrote:Man, looking back when I cared... Now I'm just a fat fuck that does nothing and eats garbage. But man, I do loooooove eating garbage.
it ok, I’ll still bang u even tho ur a fat sack of shit
I'd have trouble living with myself if I was fat and ate trash :D Same goes for your partner: never tolerate it.
Yeah, drauch! Kill yourself!

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Stevens
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Re: The lonely videogamer's guide to cheap cooking

Post by Stevens »

I like occasionally eating garbage too. That is what Saturdays are for, should I want something not on my normal menu.
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drauch
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Re: The lonely videogamer's guide to cheap cooking

Post by drauch »

Thank you moh, I will always love you <3

I sleep pretty good at night. I basically just don't want to buy new pants for work, but otherwise I'm pretty okay with being a fat fuck who eats garbage, although I find it hard to watch action movies or Fist of the North Star and wonder what could have been. My partner is VR porn, so it tolerates me, just like I tolerate it when the resolution isn't as good as it should be.

I still have a chunk of years left before the suicide.
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moh
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Re: The lonely videogamer's guide to cheap cooking

Post by moh »

eating shit (literal feces) is positively correlated with getting the juicy 1CC
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