what convenience foods are your favorites?

[ZenTherapy]

I tried some homemade italian dressings but they were far too watery for what I use them for (pasta salad, tortilla wrap sandwiches, etc).

You could make the sauce denser by warming it up a bit in a pan - usually you put a bit of olive oil before.

[ZenTherapy]

i love canned soups! And sofficini (frozen)

http://picnica.ciao.com/it/7097306.jpg

[Jessesbride]

I buy some convenience food. I buy jar sauce, mac n cheese, canned pineapple and tomato soup in a can. I don't make my own salad dressing most of the time either. That's just a few.

Name the convenience foods that are in your house that you don't mind buying (even if you can make it yourself).

I would have to say.... pizza, spaghetti sauce, bread, & salad dressing... oh & kraft mac & cheese... Oh! & lasagna, meatballs, & enchiladas!

There are more I'm sure... but sometimes convience just trumps! as it saves time!

Kim

[TIFF-TIFF]

kindey beans,peanut butter,bread,spaghetti sauce

[mhope]

rice a roni ( don't eat plain just mix with stuff in it)
bread
ice cream
soups
tomato sauces
chips
broths sometimes
frozen fries
frozen vegetables
mayo

[Sassyclass]

pizza, soup, ravioli, Bertolli dinners(love these).

Cat

[Debbie-cat]

pizza
doritos

[WV_mom_of2]

Ditto a very substantial portion of the above, but I don't have a twinge of guilt. I consider many of them not convenience foods, but "ingredients."

I think of convenience foods as things I could relatively easily make myself, like a can of ready to eat soup or a frozen lasagna. Admittedly, some other things, like salad dressings and pickles and pasta I could make if I wanted to, but after a lifetime of it, I am TIRED of cooking. I believe wholeheartedly in shortcuts if they are not very expensive.

I agree with this! I have been cooking, doing dishes, etc. since I was three! My grandma used to love to tell the story of how at three I would put a skillet on the stove and insist that she help me make eggs. I had to stand on a wooden crate to do it, but I did! I still love to cook, but sometimes I just want a break! I use alot of convenience foods to make my meals at home. I am a busy woman and I like having things that I can throw together at a moment's notice. And when I'm working in the summer I need things on hand that dh or dd can cook and things that dh can pack into his lunch(like canned pastas).

I buy.........

Hamburger Helper/Tuna Helper meals

Rice a Roni

Bread

Spaghetti sauce

Boxed potatoes (scalloped and au gratin)

Cake mixes and frostings/brownie mixes

Mac and cheese

Canned kidney beans

Pork and beans

Frozen pizzas

Flavored oatmeal packets

Waffles

Chicken nuggets

French fries

Canned soups for cooking (tomato or cream of mushroom)

Canned pastas

Salad dressings

Mustard, ketchup, mayo, bbq sauce, taco seasoning packets, peanut butter, jelly

Most of these are bought in off brands. I don't feel bad about buying them because they are helpful to me and I still manage to keep my grocery budget at or below what most people spend for a family of four.

[Cricketlegs]

I buy condiments and canned goods and pastas like most but I make meals from them. I don't have much that you just open one can and eat really except soup and gasp the evil raviolis lol.

That said--what can I not do without--easy....

INSTANT MASHED POTATOES!!!!

You can't pay me to peel cube boil and smush potatoes when they are right in that there box!

[Pemberleyan]

Basically all condiments except tartar sauce, plus creamy ceasar dressing, baked beans, cream soups, pizza sauce in bulk, chips, crackers, brownie and cake mixes, cereal, frozen french fries. I keep instant mashed potatoes on hand for DH, but instant taste never measures up to the real thing to me.