How to Resist the Temptation of Takeout

Here’s what helps me resist the temptation of takeout: make my favorite Chinese takeout recipes at home! Not only is this a huge money-saver, I can easily make the best Chinese recipes quickly and simply without losing any of the amazing flavor. Doesn’t seem possible, does it?  Then check out this list of 26 Takeout Dishes to Make at Home – these are traditional Chinese food recipes made simple with Mr. Food’s quick and easy cooking philosophy!

It’s no secret a main requirement for any meal I cook is that it be fast and easy. So you can imagine how often I hit the easy button by ordering takeout. And as if takeout couldn’t get any easier, now there’s sites like GrubHub.com and Delivery.com that allow you to order online from tons of  restaurant menus in your area – and opt for delivery straight to your door (for a fee and/or minimum order price). So….you can imagine how often I upgrade my laziness from takeout to delivery.

But with this list of 26 Takeout Dishes to Make at Home, I don’t have any excuses about how “fast” and “easy” takeout is! Plus, all the best Chinese takeout recipes are there. My absolute favorite is Sweet and Sour Chicken. I admit, I was skeptical that a home version could taste as perfectly tangy as my favorite takeout place. But the sweetness of the honey combined with the fresh vegetables and soy sauce was a fantastic treat. Personally, I like a lot of pineapple in my Sweet and Sour Chicken. Usually, Chinese restaurants don’t share my preference. But making it for myself, I was free to add as much pineapple as I wanted! (This dish would be more appropriately called Sweet and Sour Pineapple with Chicken.)

Between prep and cooking, this meal was done in under 15 minutes. With takeout, I can sometimes wait an hour or more for an order, a the best part – the sweet and sour sauce -  is more of a glaze-y goo by the time it arrives at my apartment. This is one recipe I know I will make again and again. For all the money I’m saving on ordering out, I don’t even mind springing for a box of almond cookies to go along with my at-home “takeout” dinner!

You can find even more easy Chinese recipes on MrFood.com like Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry, Sesame Chicken, and Egg Drop Soup. Don’t waste another dime on takeout – make these simple, yummy recipes at home.