Are you a full prepper or a shortcut taker?

[debodun]

I buy already shredded cheese and carrots (if needed), bagged lettuce washed an cut up, frozen veggies all ready to go, instant rice and instant puddings, etc. I'm a lazy cook and would rather spend a little extra and not have to go through all the food preparation.

 

[Lon]

I buy all my cheeses pre sliced, frozen veggies, bagged salads, all fruit is fresh, rice cooker for my rice. Living alone and cooking for one it's much easier.

 

[NancyNGA]

Depends.

I shred cheese, peel and dice onions, chop lettuce, and peel and slice carrots, potatoes and sweet potatoes.

Otherwise do frozen or canned vegetables. Don't care for the frozen packages already seasoned.

Always instant pudding. Sometimes instant mashed potatoes to go along with soupy frozen dinners. Never instant rice.

Cakes and desserts *always* from scratch, because it's just too easy to buy them. There must be pain involved with eating desserts. (My rule.)

 

[Ruth n Jersey]

Most everything I do from scratch. Once in awhile I buy baby carrots in the bag if the price is right just so I can just reach in and grab a few for snacking. Instant rice I have on hand when dinner is almost done but I forgot to cook the rice. All baking done from scratch except when the hubby has to have a doughnut. I don't like deep frying at all so he buys them once in awhile.

 

[RadishRose]

Shredded cheese is treated with a chemical to prevent it from solidifying and "going back to the cheese". I do buy it sometimes if I'm in a big hurry, but I think it loses some of it's flavor.

Frozen vegetables are just fine and often have retained more vitamins than "fresh" that's been sitting around for days.

I agree with Ruth, baby carrots on hand- hey, a healthier snack than a piece of cake.

If you don't mind the extra money, the time saved prepping food can be spent cleaning the kitchen.

 

[Aunt Bea]

It depends.

I buy some single serving items, frozen vegetables and bag salad. When they are available I try to buy local fruits and vegetables in season and prepare them myself.

I usually buy shredded cheese because I won't eat it as a snack, if I buy a chunk or sliced cheese I end up eating it and it literally goes to waist, LOL!

 

[SeaBreeze]

The only things I use shredded cheese on are homemade nachos or tacos and I just buy the bag of shredded mild cheddar for convenience. I buy fresh produce for salads, never pre-bagged, for some reason those are often recalled for salmonella or ecoli or something like that. Mostly use frozen veggies to serve with beef or lamb in a hot meal, but sometimes by fresh cauliflower instead. No instant rices or mashed potatoes. I know what Bea means about the chunk cheeses, we buy Gouda and Danish Creme Havarti that way, and it's easy to slice away at them until they're all gone, and your pants are digging into you. :fat:

 

[Butterfly]

I mostly do everything from scratch.

 

[nvtribefan]

Almost everything from my kitchen is prepared from scratch. I've given up on cooking hominy, however. It takes hours even in the pressure cooker.

 

[dearimee]

I chop and prepare all peppers, onions, celery and freeze. I make big pots of mashed potatoes, rice and garden veggies and freeze in individual portions. GDs love fried baloney in sandwiches so I fry the whole pack and freeze. Beef patties, soup, baked chicken, etc. I do buy grated cheese because to grate it myself if it touches my fingers it will mold. On occasion I buy ready sauces and precooked sausages. I like my own cooking All in all I'm a prepper and a shortcut taker.