Do People Think That Take Aways Offer Value For Money Today

[gollob]

When the first take aways came out they were roughly half the price of a meal in a restuarant. Now today you can go out for a meal cheaper than a take away
Perhaps the problem is too many people earn so much money and it does matter anymore

[New Judge]

//...added to that is that you can dine in your pyjamas in the comfiest chair//

Good grief! I don't advocate dressing for dinner but you eat a meal in your nightwear? Uuurrgh!

I don't eat takeaways. Mrs NJ are perfectly capable of cooking good meals from scratch or minimally prepared ingredients. If we want somebody else to cook and clear up for us we'll eat out. Avoiding cooking isn't the principle aim. We enjoy the occasion - getting washed and dressed nicely (no, not a dinner jacket -except on New Year's Eve - but some nice casual clothes). We like meeting the proprietors and staff; a few drinks and a chat. In short we enjoy the occasion. Most food doesn't travel well. I've had some occasionally when visiting relatives (their idea not mine). By the time it arrives it is is usually lukewarm and has lost its texture and appeal. Even during "Lockdown One" when we couldn't eat out for four months, we didn't resort to takeaways.

[Vagus]

Tomorrow nights takeaway will be our second since the first proper lockdown in March.
We both enjoy a Chinese takeaway, probably because we don’t often have one and I could never be bothered to try and cook one at home with all the different dishes and side dishes.
I’m not a fan of Indian takeaway although we’ve had a few supermarket ones, in a bag for two people, which have been nice for a change.
The only pizzas I like are the extra special type supermarket ones, I’m not a fan of basic ones.
I really can’t remember the last time we had fish and chips from the chippie as I’m always disappointed in them.
I agree with Prudie really, it’s not about value for money, it’s about convenience and something you wouldn’t cook at home...and being able to eat it whilst sobbing out in front of the telly.

[douglas9401]

Maybe go for comedies when eating, Vagus. :-)

[Vagus]

Ha ha, took me a minute:)

[alavahalf]

Tilly .. okay you have to spend a fiver buying the six spices, but with these you can do .. I dont know how many curries. Loads !

This serves 2..

1 onion sliced into chunks ..
1 chicken breast cut into pieces ..
1 pepper chopped into small chunks..
I tin of plum tomatos ..
1 tsp of cummin seed.. level
1 tsp corriander .. level
1 tsp garam masala .. level
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp fenugreek
Chilli flakes .. that is entirely up to you.

Heavy pot ..
Fry the onion until soft.. just 5 minutes.
Add chicken .. cook until it is no longer pink.
In with the pepper .. give it a few minutes and keep stirring.
In with all the spices .. dont let it stick and turn it over with a spoon.
In with the tin of tomatoes, bring it to the boil .. turn it over with the spoon.
On with the lid and turn it down to a simmer !

A mouthfull of wine .. and you are almost done !

Let it bubble away for 10mins. If you want it to thicken up, move the lid a over a little to let the steam escape.
It's up to you, but at this stage, it's done.
Pour in half a cup of natural yoghurt and stir through, just before you are about to serve.

Thats it !

You can make it a bit more sexy adding garlic and ginger, but the basic curry with the 6 spices is a great starting point .. toasting the spices and crushing with a pestel and mortar will attract some attention .. they smell amazing !

Obviously you will already have done the perfect fluffy rice.
1 cup of basmati rice (FOR 2) well rinsed under water.
1 and 1/2 cups of water in the pan, straight in with the rice. Lid on.
Bring to the boil ... then turn it off .. thats it !
After 10 mins give it a stir to fluff it up and put the lid back on.
By the time the curry is ready the rice will be perfect.

Dish it out ..
.. I bet you will be reaching for Jamie Olivers.. 'Ministry of Food' .. thats where I got the recipes for mixing all the various curry spices.
It really is easy .. I would recommend that all takeaway fanatics do it just once !

[Giggsie]

Alavahalf thank you I’m going to try this one.

[alavahalf]

Dont forget your flat breads .. https://www.inspiredtaste.net/46128/no-yeast-flatbread/

[barry1010]

Cod is expensive to buy from the fishmonger or supermarket so I don’t think that chip shops are over charging. I typically pay £10 for a cod loin for 2. Fish and chips is the only take away food I buy and that is only at the seaside or a local chippy twice a year where they still use dripping.

[dave50]

If you want to make a genuine curry yourself at a fraction of the cost of a takeaway and much more fun making it yourself try this website:
Www.thismuslimgirlbakes.com

[woofgang]

actual link http://www.thismuslimgirlbakes.com

[Zacs-Master]

Just Eat have raised all the prices.

[woofgang]

the only thing i miss about takeaway takeaway (no one delivers round here) are the HUGE king prawns that the local Indian place uses in their biriani. They were peeled and butterflied and so succulent.... you got 3 or 4 in a single portion. Bigger than any i have seen to buy anywhere since I lived in NJ where king prawn size is measured by count....how many make up a pound in weight. the lower the number the bigger the prawn.

[Zacs-Master]

Aren’t prawns measured in pints?

[pixie374]

I agree with most others, it's more as a treat for convenience, than value for money. Sometimes we make "takeaway" food here, but if it's been busy and my daughter is doing a nightshift etc, sometimes it's just easier.

It probably also is value for money generally... if you worked out the time and money of going out to buy ingredients, prepare, cook, wash up and so on.... it depends how much you are happy to pay for someone else to do that for you.

[barry1010]

Only ready to eat as a snack in a pint glass, Zacs. A fishmonger or supermarket wouldn't sell prawns that way.

[ummmm]

Cod isn't too expensive. You can get two loins from Tesco for less that £5.

[emmie]

i confess to the odd takeaway on the way home from seeing friends, that if its lateish, but i don't ever get takeaways otherwise

[Zacs-Master]

You sure about that, Barry?
https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/big-and-juicy-pint-of-prawns-msc/807189-629420-629421

[emmie]

at my brothers we had fish and chips all round, average cost 11 quid.

[barry1010]

Unless it is fish and chips the thought of take away food repels me. I couldn't imagine having it delivered. I like my food cooked fresh and piping hot, not stuck in take away containers and a thermal bag. I don't like pies from the chip shop because they have usually been kept hot and gone soggy and I wouldn't risk a chicken quarter.

The take away food shops in my area don't look enticing. I batch cook a lot of different meals that I freeze - that is my idea of convenience food.