It all starts with a recipe downloaded off the Internet.
Then there’s the new item on the grocery store shopping list, the big soup pot or fancy barbecue tools you haven’t used in a while, and about an hour of commotion in the kitchen.
Finally everyone takes a seat and out pops a steaming slab of lasagna or some glistening T-bone steaks with fancy side dishes. And as drinks are poured, plates are filled, and everyone starts digging into the meal, somebody lobs up the big question.
“Hey, what do you think this would cost in a restaurant?”
And it’s a great conversation, because now in addition to the feeling of eating good food with friends or family, you get a nice little bonus Cheapskate High, too.
AWESOME!
Photo from: here
I don’t think I’ve ever contemplated the cost of a home-cooked meal with my family, but I do know that I get all warm and fuzzy when I cook for my Pop, and he says, “This is good, isn’t it? Better than what you’d get in a restaurant.” (:
I’ve been teaching my daughter about money and making her aware of how much things cost lately. This was actually the first thing that we talked about. I took her to the store and we were buying stuff to make our own chicken nuggets and she asked why we just couldnt go to McDonald’s. So the lesson started. I showed her what all $15 could buy at a store compared to McDonald’s. She was very surprised. If you do it right, you have 3 meals for one whole day for a family of four plus a little extra to snack on compared to only 2 or 3 people eating out.
Did I mention that the picture of the meat is grossing me out. I like my meat very very done. Hubby likes his a little pink and that even grosses me out.
I am so with you on this one…big UGH! I like my meat positively charred dry to the point it has no resemblance to any meat ever seen!
Last Sunday I made a huge pot of a knock-off Olive Garden pasta e fagioli. I made enough for a family meal, another family meal in the freezer, two lunches for me, and two future lunches for me in the freezer. I don’t know what the total cost of that one pot was, but I know it was under $10. Go me!
I don’t think I’ve ever had this conversation before. I’ll try to remember to bring it up at dinner tonight. I wonder how this conversation would go if the person who made dinner is a chef at a resturant? They’d probably know all the answers.
First generation families know a delicious home cooked meal can reach the 5 star status of the most expensive meal. Sometimes this is because it is so superbly prepared, but often it is because the taste combines with deep warm memories of family sharing together and the special ingredient we add – love.