Stay In vs. Take Out: Gnocchi Dinner Challenge

     It's amazing to me how many conversations I have with my friends about the cost of eating out versus the cost of eating in.  I rarely eat out or order in, and in New York City - that's pretty freakin' rare!  Maybe once a week will I have dinner out with a friend or pick up lunch at work, but other than that, I cook every single meal that I eat.  And trust me; I eat well.  My lunches are quite often the envy of my office mates.  But as many times as I've had this debate with coworkers, friends, and family, either you believe that eating out for nearly every meal saves you money or you don't.  However, I've discovered this debate has nothing to do with money at all.

     "Sometimes it's cheaper for me to order in two meals than to go to the grocery store and buy everything to cook dinner!" exclaimed my friend Kosta, as we stood in line at the grocery store buying ingredients to make Ellie Krieger's Turkey Meatballs with Quick and Spicy Tomato Sauce and Whole-Wheat Spaghetti.