Is it Really Cheaper to Eat at Home?

Maybe I need to take a class in how to shop. As much money as I spend at the grocery store, it has to be cheaper to eat out.

For instance, we love the restaurant The Melting Pot. (This is not an ad.) The trouble is, when you get the works it's expensive and you pig out. So I got this new electric fondue pot I've had my eye on (I had my mother-in-law's 1970s model where you need liquid fuel - harder to find than Sterno cans -- and though others might find it easy to use, I don't. Plus it was my mother-in-law's so I tend to have this uncontrollable twitch that comes over me when I use it, and that's a dangerous thing when you've got lots of long, pointy forks and liquid fuel.) Anyway, I've got this new fondue pot burning a hole in my pocket, so I've decided we're going to have a Melting Pot weekend at home.

The difference here is that I'll spread the courses out over a couple of meals, so it won't be so calorie-intensive. But I've just been to the grocery store to buy the ingredients for the Gruyere and emmenthaler cheese fondue (with fresh veggies and bread cubes and a salad), the filet mignon and veggies for the broth fondue (with fattening homemade dips that required more ingredients), and the chocolate fondue with fruits.

I paid a million dollars at the checkout. Admittedly, I don't usually buy gourmet cheeses and fancy meat, but I always spend a lot at the grocery store -- just for three people. (Even when I'm not buying cat litter.) Why is it that when I decide to cook a nice meal at home, it costs more than eating out? 

Well, at least we'll be spared the public spectacle of the three of us fighting over the last little bit of cheese in the pot. Or what we do to the chocolate.... I guess the privacy you get at home is worth the extra cost and effort.

If you're a Melting Pot fan, I found the recipe for their Green Goddess dip here. (I sort of wish I didn't know what was in it -- no wonder it's so good.)

Comments

[groovyoldlady]

Oooo. The dip sounds heavenly!

Btw, what/who IS a green goddess?

[Enola]

Oh yum. My frozen pizza doesn't sound so good now. The melting pot here closed down. Which saddens my taste buds, but is a benefit for my wallet. Hope you enjoy your meals

[Angry]

Hi... I've just popped in via Sassy's and thought it rude if I don't introduce myself. (And of course you're most welcome to drop in to my place anytime and leave a hello for me.)
But I mainly wanted to say that I like what I've read here and at your horsey one, you appear to have a very healthy outlook and write it down with a wonderful turn of phrase... so if you’ll have me, I’d like to come and visit on a regular basis.
Because you're quite up front here with your Christianity, I thought I should let you know that I'm an agnostic... an agnostic that has sometimes prayed to God just in case. What does that have to do with anything...? Nothing and everything, depending on your view point I guess.
Anyway, I look forward to visiting here again soon.
Angry.