One dark and stormy night I was sitting at the laundromat going over my checking account when a realization smacked me in the face like a wet sock in the spin cycle: I was spending close to $100 per week on take out food. That's $400 a month! That's $5,200 a year! That's nuts! At that moment I swore an oath to reel in the food budget, to kick the take-out habit, to save my walking-around money for important things like beer and Stargate DVDs. Then I swore some more because I remembered that I knew absolutely nothing about cooking.

Still, finances are a powerful motivator and so I decided to give myself and my kitchen a chance. The original Solitary Refinement blog began as a record of my culinary odyssey, and has since evolved into the site you see here: a clearing house for easy recipes and kick-arse products (the Wonder Wash! the Spin Dryer!) designed to make your life easier and your wallet happier. Who could ask for more?

I'm Nick Ryan and I hope this helps.

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