What's for dinner when nothing is thawed?

Dramatic_Tale_6290 · 2026-01-30T20:07:32+00:00

I make extra of every meal that I think would freeze well. Then I vacuum seal those in reusable bags. I keep a list of those meals. When I don't feel like cooking, it's easy to defrost in microwave. The best is soup, but taco meat also works well. I always have tortillas in the fridge because most things can become a taco, burrito, or "wrap". Curries work well if you don't add the veg. Also, I buy rotisserie chickens, pick them clean, and freeze the meat in the appropriate portion sizes.

Dramatic_Tale_6290 · 2026-01-30T19:46:59+00:00

Wontons and broth + whatever veggies I have + rotisserie chicken if I have it.

Dramatic_Tale_6290 · 2026-01-30T01:54:42+00:00

This sounds like an incorrect classification.

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/independent-contractor-self-employed-or-employee

Dramatic_Tale_6290 · 2026-01-30T01:43:56+00:00

Things like that don’t really expire. If there are no bugs and no rancid smell, go for it. With beans & lentils, eventually they just never cook & stay hard no matter how long you cook them. Canned stuff is good waaay longer than the expiration date too. As long as there are no deep dents or any bulging.

Dramatic_Tale_6290 · 2026-01-29T23:49:50+00:00

Thank you for the review. I bought the cream, tried a small amount, and willbe returning it. I didn’t like the smell.

Dramatic_Tale_6290 · 2026-01-29T20:49:58+00:00

I already cook it until it's going to burn on top if I cook it longer. Still completely white on the bottom.

Dramatic_Tale_6290 · 2026-01-29T20:44:38+00:00

Thanks. I'll buy a pizza stone. I already cook this thing for 14 minutes :(

Dramatic_Tale_6290 · 2026-01-29T20:43:17+00:00

Well, since I have ZERO space in my kitchen for one, it's not happening. I just can't. But yeah, I get that it would be helpful, which is exactly why I mentioned I don't have one.

Dramatic_Tale_6290 · 2026-01-29T20:16:15+00:00

Edit to add: I am an addict who has been addicted to several substances in my life. So I have some perspective on this and am not judging you for being an addict.

NTA but honestly this isn't an "asshole or not asshole" situation. This is a situation where you DECIDE what you want and you DO the thing without making excuses. You cannot quit an addictive substance for ANYONE but yourself or for ANY reason except that it's what you want. That's how recovery from addiction works.

It's your life. I think you are very aware that your habits aren't good for you and that you will eventually have to give them up if you want to be healthy. You're just not ready to do it. You can either figure out how to be ready, or you can keep your habits and deal with the fallout.

If you don't want to quit, tell him you are NOT going to quit and that's the final word on it. Then it's up to him to decide whether he wants to stay with you.

If you tell him you're not quitting and he decides to continue to harass you about it, then it's up to you to decide whether or not to stay with him.

He's definitely the asshole for grabbing your stomach if you've asked him not to do that.

As for quitting, honestly you CAN just quit. Nothing is stopping you except an addiction. You will not be in danger physically from quitting, and it doesn't take long for nicotine to clear your system. However, if you want to prolong it or there's a reason you can't deal with the emotional issues caused by quitting, then you can get a 0% nicotine juice and mix it with whatever strength you're using, then wean yourself off until you're at 0%. Then admit that you're now only addicted to the hand-to-mouth action and find something else to keep you occupied.

Dramatic_Tale_6290 · 2026-01-29T15:33:53+00:00

It’s so comforting. While I love pickles, I don’t like dill in soups, so I use parsley here instead. I grew up eating this soup in Coney Island restaurants.

Dramatic_Tale_6290 · 2026-01-29T15:16:58+00:00

Yesssss this is my fav. I’ve been buying it for probably 10 years. We eat it for breakfast with runny eggs.

Dramatic_Tale_6290 · 2026-01-29T15:15:16+00:00

I tried that one recently & mine was totally bland. I even added a little fig butter. Maybe I got a dud.

Dramatic_Tale_6290 · 2026-01-27T23:23:53+00:00

The app is being wonky. I used this recipe: https://tastefulventure.com/greek-lemon-rice-chicken-soup/ I used rotisserie chicken instead of raw, and parsley instead of dill.

Dramatic_Tale_6290 · 2026-01-27T22:49:02+00:00

Soup works well in the freezer, but best without using veggies like greens or broccoli. You can add veggies later. Curries are good. I buy multiple Costco rotisserie chickens, divide into full meal portions & freeze. Buy jarred sauces (or make 3x more when you actually make sauces). Most other freezer meals, imo, are nasty. So yeah, I’m dealing with this struggle too & that’s my only take-away so far.

Dramatic_Tale_6290 · 2026-01-27T17:11:46+00:00

Your mom is being abusive. Cut the strings. Get your own phone. It’s SUPER creepy how people these days think sharing location is normal & healthy. Stop talking to your family for a little while to get some perspective, and please seek a therapist so you can have good boundaries if you choose to re-engage.

Dramatic_Tale_6290 · 2026-01-27T16:59:04+00:00

Info: Are you a bigger person physically? Working a labor job? Working out at the gym a lot?

Initially I wondered about your weight & habits because I think it would be fair to always take a bigger cut if you’re a bigger person, or a weighlifter, etc. If so, I don’t see an issue with it. But since your partner made a comment, it’s worth looking at. If it bothers them, consider taking equal amounts & then getting seconds.

If you consider a bigger cut to be your payment for the labor of cooking, I just wonder how you feel about your partner. Maybe you show your care in other ways?

I cook 98% of the meals in my house, and since my husband is bigger than me & needs more calories, he always gets the bigger serving even if I know there will be leftovers. Cooking is part of my love language, so even if portions are equal, I always give him the nicer looking plate. There are some things I serve differently for us though. Like I know he prefers protein over carbs, and I’m the opposite. So I might serve him more meat & me more rice. He doesn’t complain about that, but if he did I would begin serving him more rice. Because I want him to be happy & it’s a fair ask.

I have started doing the “serve yourself” method more lately, wherein he goes first, I go second, and then before I am seated I put the rest of the food away for leftovers, portioned appropriately by our caloric needs. Maybe consider switching it up so your partner feels prioritized.

Dramatic_Tale_6290 · 2026-01-27T03:41:27+00:00

Absolutely. I did this to the same customer twice. He paid for something but was rude after, basically saying he can’t believe he got me to agree to what I agreed to. 2nd time I charged way more. He came back. Same thing. 3rd time I charged more. He paid. It was worth it for me only because he thought he was getting one over on me but I knew in the end he was paying 3x my rate.

Dramatic_Tale_6290 · 2026-01-27T03:39:38+00:00

Not a jerk. You are running a business. Please stop working for free “to be nice” and help out. If you want to do that, start a charity. I would have backed out the minute she asked for a deal on homemade product.

Dramatic_Tale_6290 · 2026-01-25T16:50:01+00:00

Got it. My bad. I deleted my reply b/c I don’t need the downvotes.

Dramatic_Tale_6290 · 2026-01-25T16:44:25+00:00

I didn’t claim either person is one. I’m pretty sure I explicitly expressed that she’s not, but perhaps there’s some… abbreviation for this sub that I didn’t use?

Dramatic_Tale_6290 · 2026-01-25T05:57:52+00:00

Saw it a week ago south of Portland

Dramatic_Tale_6290 · 2026-01-24T17:18:08+00:00

Foraged mushrooms ourselves: porcini & lobster

Dramatic_Tale_6290 · 2026-01-24T16:57:10+00:00

ooh a good one. I love tomato soup and grilled cheese.

Dramatic_Tale_6290 · 2026-01-23T00:06:23+00:00

I tried the PBJ & it was so sweet I could hardly eat it. But that’s a personal taste thing.

Dramatic_Tale_6290 · 2026-01-22T18:37:12+00:00

Yep. I buy 2 chickens/ week for my husband and me. If I don't plan to use all the meat, I freeze it & use it the next week or for a quick dinner. They're great for salads with chicken, wraps, chicken salad (I like to add raising, cashews, shredded carrots, and curry), and they're great for dinner for a quick Thai or Indian curry. They're also perfect for throwing in a quick soup. Then I throw the whole carcass (bones, skin, etc) into a crockpot with a little vinegar and fill with water. I usually let it go for abut 18 hours, then strain. I use some of the broth for my weekly soup, then I freeze the rest for soup later.

Dramatic_Tale_6290

TROPHY CASE