Drive Thru Dinners: How to Make Take Out Terrific!

Going out to eat should be voted the great American past-time. With work hours, children, and family obligations it gets more and more difficult to find the wiggle room to prepare family meals. So out we go to the various restaurant chains in search of a quick meal to eat in or carry out. Sometimes you can pick up something quick to make the rest of the meal at home easier to prepare, or to stretch the dollar a little by combining with something from home.

Our first restaurant stop will be the Wendy's drive through. You can get some of the best chili going from Wendy's. Ask them to give you cheese and diced onions on your chili. At home all you will need to do is put on a pot of pasta. This can be spaghetti, angel hair, or any pasta of choice. Reheat the Wendy's chili in the microwave and ladle over the drained pasta onto plates. Serve with crackers and butter on the side for a quick, yummy, easy fix meal. Two orders of the Wendy's chili will stretch to serve four with the addition of the pasta.

If you enjoy Lo Mein from your local Chinese restaurant and you like cabbage, get ready! We are going to make a real delicious dollar stretcher with that Lo mein. Get a large order of Lo Mein as take out. At home you will chop up half a head of cabbage. Heat a small amount of olive oil in a large skillet until hot. Stir in the cabbage gradually; keep it moving until it looks translucent. Add the Lo mein to the pan, tossing, and stirring. As soon as the Lo mein noodles are warm remove from heat and serve. This large skillet of Cabbage Lo Mein will easily serve four. You could spin this Lo Mein add-on recipe your way. Stir fry summer squash, zucchini, or your favorite veggie, add the Lo Mein and voila! Dinner is served.