Hellobee Boards Topic: Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?

Hellobee Boards Topic: Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:32:23 +0000 kayakgirl73 on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333817 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 15:04:24 +0000 kayakgirl73 333817@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Bagged salad, baby carrots, taco seasoning, rice mixes, bottled Marinades (Wegmans and Trader Joes) have good cheap ones. Salad Dressing, mashed potatoes, stove top but not for a holiday meal., shredded cheese. A lot but if I don't use shortcuts we eat out which is even more expensive. JerricaBenton on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333763 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 14:46:23 +0000 JerricaBenton 333763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Shredded mozzarella is the only cheese I buy bagged. Even though I mostly prefer homemade salad dressings I still get major cravings for Good Seasons Italian Dressing that you make with the packets. I'm sure the sodium content is so high but it's a nostalgic thing for me. I also pay like, triple for canned beans from the brands that have the bpa free can lining because it just takes soooo long to cook dried beans (unless I'm making soup cuz that takes a long time anyway.) photojane on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333762 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 14:46:15 +0000 photojane 333762@https://boards.hellobee.com/ y'all are superwomen! pretty much everything I make involves almost entirely "shortcuts" - its too expensive and wasteful for us to buy fresh... it's just the two of us, and so much gets thrown away. DigAPony on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333760 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 14:45:48 +0000 DigAPony 333760@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I buy bagged salads but always add onion, bell pepper, and tomato to them. Sometimes I use jarred marinara instead of making my own. And I love the jars of minced garlic. According to some food blogs I read, this is apparently sacrilege, but I don't care! I do grate my own cheese, though--I think it tastes better and it's usually cheaper to buy the large blocks. Crisark on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333747 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 14:39:31 +0000 Crisark 333747@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I must be super lazy cause I use so many of the ones listed lol I work full time and have more than an hour commute. I don't have time for all that fancy do it yourself every day lol keiki_mama on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333737 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 14:33:48 +0000 keiki_mama 333737@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Bagged salads, pasta sauce, and diced canned tomatoes. Rainbow Sprinkles on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333729 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 14:29:23 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 333729@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Oh, and I guess taco seasoning and chili seasoning if those count as shortcuts! Rainbow Sprinkles on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333723 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 14:27:55 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 333723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Bagged salads, but that's it. My MIL only uses shortcuts (even at Thanksgiving she uses Stovetop stuffing and the potato flakes for mashed potatoes) and it drives me bonkers. lovehoneybee on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333710 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 14:24:47 +0000 lovehoneybee 333710@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I have a huge jar of minced garlic because we go through it like crazy. Bagged lettuce (usually an argula/spinach mix) that I add to, shredded cheese....I think that's it at the moment (and usually). heffalump on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333640 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 13:57:36 +0000 heffalump 333640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Depends how much time I have. Much more now that I have LO than I used to. mrs. bird on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333533 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 13:12:05 +0000 mrs. bird 333533@https://boards.hellobee.com/ tons!! i'm lazy and if it means i'm more likely to cook at home rather than ordering out, than i figure it's still probably saving some $$ and slightly better for us. i buy, not always, but often: bagged salad frozen veggies i can microwave in the bag the frozen cubes of garlic shredded cheese instant mashed potatoes waffle mix pancakes in a can (yes... in a can! they're organic =D ) taco seasoning ready to cook meats yea, so basically i'm lazy & get home from work at 7-730pm each night, if we want dinner, it's gotta be fast! i really should get better at preparing things ahead of time =( Mrs. Bee on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333479 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 12:50:48 +0000 Mrs. Bee 333479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ i read that full sized carrots are more nutritious, so i stopped buying baby carrots. i do buy minced garlic -- we go through obscene amounts of garlic! cheert16 on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333471 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 12:47:38 +0000 cheert16 333471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pre-peeled garlic, shredded cheese, frozen veggies, baby carrots (the carrots are the dogs treats though!) and sometimes if I am running short on time spice packets or premade mashed potatoes. I like to make things myself normally- but DH and I have opposite schedules so I tend to do alot of my dinner cooking in the crock pot so its ready when he gets home from work! immabeetoo on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333344 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 11:55:03 +0000 immabeetoo 333344@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Minced garlic for us, most everything else I don't. Shredded cheese has something added to it to keep from clumping that weird me out, though I don't remember the details now. Sometimes I'll buy precut watermelon if it looks fresh because the price seems to even out when you pitch the rind! I try to make as many shortcuts or 2 for 1 meals as I can - love freezer meals! @habesbabe this is the taco seasoning i love :) Taco Seasoning • 1 tablespoon chili pepper • ¼ tsp garlic powder • ¼ tsp onion powder • ¼ tsp red pepper • ¼ tsp oregano • ½ tsp paprika • 1 ½ tsp cumin • 1 tsp salt • 1 tsp pepper HabesBabe on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333302 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 11:41:16 +0000 HabesBabe 333302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Grated cheese, sliced cheese (for burgers), bagged salads, marinated meats (carne asada from the Mexican grocer! yum), Costco rotisserie chicken, taco seasoning. @Thehistoryofus: Let me know how your taco seasoning comes out! I'd love the recipe! Andrea on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333294 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 11:38:14 +0000 Andrea 333294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Same as everyone else, mostly cheese and bagged salads. Sometimes I will buy pre-cut fruit salad. T-Mom on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333253 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 11:18:43 +0000 T-Mom 333253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It is interesting to hear what people think of as "short cuts"... I think I buy a lot of short cuts then if shredded cheese is one. Frozen veggies! Also we buy pre-cut fruit sometimes, and the other day I purchased pre-diced butternut squash. It pains me to pay more but.. It actually saved me the hassle of injuring myself trying to chop one up myself :-), and it never quite works out for me to cook with the frozen kind. Meridian on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333222 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 10:56:29 +0000 Meridian 333222@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Shredded cheese, minced garlic, chili seasoning mixes... never thought those were "shortcuts" since those all still involve a lot of cooking! But I guess they sort of are... blackbird on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333175 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 10:24:32 +0000 blackbird 333175@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I never thought of shredded cheese, garlic, and bagged salad as shortcuts, ha! i guess they are! Otherwise, I'm not sure what else I use...sometimes i keep sauces in my pantry. But I usually do such simple meals, that shortcuts wouldn't help. Mrs. Pen on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333165 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 10:20:46 +0000 Mrs. Pen 333165@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mrsbells: I only buy grated mozz too. Otherwise I buy blocks of all the cheese. Sometimes I buy bagged salads too if I'm not feeling creative enough to throw one together myself. I also buy Franks Buffalo sauce for my wings because it's SO good and I've never been able to make a buffalo sauce that actually tasted buffalo-ish. I buy dried fruit a lot for snacks too - I've never tried drying my own fruit and would have no idea how to do it. April_Showers on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333149 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 10:12:27 +0000 April_Showers 333149@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I use a few....shredded cheese, preminced garlic, pre-chopped onions/veggies/fruits. Mostly because the cost is actually cheaper than doing it myself, and we don't have to throw out as much. chopsuey on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333144 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 10:09:10 +0000 chopsuey 333144@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yep! Shredded cheese, bagged salad, pre peeled garlic.. Smurfette on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333123 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 10:01:52 +0000 Smurfette 333123@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Shredded cheese, bagged salad, baby carrots, jar of preminced garlic, box flavored rice, instant mashed potatoes. I don't have the time during the week to do any cooking unless it involves shortcuts. autumnlove on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333120 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 10:01:07 +0000 autumnlove 333120@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @MungBean: Oooh, I forgot about garlic! :-) I buy bags all the time unless I am roasting whole bulbs in the oven! Baby Boy Mom on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333118 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 09:59:41 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 333118@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Nope not really. There aren't that many that I could get here, and those that I can are usually less nutritious than the original. Alivoo01 on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333113 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 09:56:17 +0000 Alivoo01 333113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We purchase quite a variety of shortcuts, but mainly because it makes making/prepping dinner much quicker for those long days and you just don't want to spend more than 30 minutes in the kitchen! Shredded cheeses, instant mashed potatoes, pre-made pot pies/pizzas/lasagnas, etc. pinkcupcake on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333104 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 09:53:18 +0000 pinkcupcake 333104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Bagged salads but that's about it. Oh and pre peeled garlic :) yoursilverlining on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333086 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 09:42:48 +0000 yoursilverlining 333086@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Hardly, hardly ever. We buy our hard cheese (parmesan, etc.) from a little Italian grocer that grates them fresh when you buy it - I used to buy the pregrated stuff but it seems to have less flavor than freshly grated. Sometimes we'll buy a marinated pork loin if its on sale. The one thing I can't stand because I think its the biggest gimmick in the world are spice mixes or flavor mixes. They are so expensive if you break down what you really get; I don't know why they bug me so much but they do. I think they are such a rip-off. tororojo on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333079 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 09:40:29 +0000 tororojo 333079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Bagged salad for sure! We go through phases where we buy a whole head of lettuce/bunch of spinach, but then it sits in the fridge and goes bad because it's such a pain to wash. Also I buy baby carrots. Mrs. Pickle on "Do you buy shortcuts in the kitchen?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-buy-shortcuts-in-the-kitchen#post-333064 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 09:32:06 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 333064@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We marinated meats on occasion, but that's all.