Orangelad, your time is valuable, and it is a good thing to connect with your food by preparing it yourself.

As to your time conundrum, make simple and easily prepared food.

Choosing between rice and cooscoos, well rice takes 20 min and cooscoos 5, lasanga and regular pasta, etc....

I believe that that is the answer to your question simply put. Save money by bying your materials low, save money by valuing your time highly. There ya go, making it on both ends.

I just plain like to cook, and prefer my food to most restaurants anyway (too greasy, too salty, portions too large).

I certainly save money on food itself (oatmeal for breakfast is cheap) but more than make up for it with cookbooks, cooking equipment, and cooking classes.

If we go out to eat, we like to go for sushi or Indian (at least until I build that tandoor) - something I can't recreate at home.

i think its cheaper to eat in...but since i cant cook....that makes it a little difficult i get bored eating baked potatoes everyday...i have started only eating out at locations that give me FF miles so that even though im spending more $ on food, i am getting 10 FF miles for each $1 i spead at the restaurant...