Don’t you just love to grab a box, throw it in a pan, and have dinner ready! Well, of course, a convenient meal is a must with a busy family. Having a supply of ready-to-go meals in your pantry is a convenience, to be sure. But, the expense is way beyond most family’s budgets. So, what are you supposed to do when your hungry family comes running through the door after a hectic day of activities?
How can you afford to have your meals conveniently prepared on a tight budget? By creating an inexpensive alternative to those store-bought pre-packaged foods. Stocking your pantry with your own homemade variety of these foods will save you an enormous amount of money and give you the opportunity to choose healthier ingredients to serve your family.
It’s amazing just how many boxed foods you can make at home in your own kitchen. Rather than roaming through your grocery store’s aisles grabbing overpriced cardboard boxes of quick meal solutions, create a couple counterparts easily in your very own kitchen and save an unbelievable amount of money while maintaining the convenience factor.
Let’s look at a couple recognizable meal ideas that start out with your own pre-packaged mix. Of course, this is just something to start you, the inventive cook, on your way to creating quick, healthy, and inexpensive meals for your family.
Red Beans and Rice Mix: This dish is one of the most versatile meals you can make. You’ll start with your dry mix and create a variety of dishes from the basic mix, including Cajun favorites like jambalaya, using anything you want including beans, sausage, chicken, vegetables, or seafood. Of course, you may want to just add the beans and stick with the basic dish.
Suggested mix ingredients: 1 cup long grain brown or long grain white rice, 1 tablespoon dry onion flakes, 1 tablespoon dry celery or celery seed, 1 tablespoon dry green pepper, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 2 chicken bouillon cubes, 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper, 1/4 cup bacon bits. Experiment with other ingredients, just being sure you use all dry ingredients. Follow the rice cooking instructions, add beans, vegetables, meat, or any other ingredients you want.
Rice & Roni Mix: Another classic boxed ready-to-cook dish. Make this dish as you would typically the store-bought version, or add diced chicken, meat, and vegetables to fill it out a bit. This mix creates a one-dish meal that can be easily improved upon to fill up your family’s tummies.
Suggested mix ingredients: 3/4 cup long grain brown or long grain white rice, 1/4 cup broken spaghetti or vermicelli, 1 tablespoon dry onion, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning, 1 tablespoon dry parsley, 3 chicken flavored bouillon cubes or 1 tablespoon powdered bouillon. This is a basic ingredient list for this classic side dish. Experiment with the flavors, then add other fresh ingredients to create your own special dish.
Creamy Parmesan Rice Mix: Want a kid-friendly dish? This rice dish is nice and creamy and cheesy, making it perfect for kids. Because you use powdered milk, you can include it in the ready-to-use mix, rather than using fresh milk when the dish is prepared. You will really appreciate having this mix waiting for you in the pantry when your hungry little ones’ are patiently waiting for dinner.
Suggested mix ingredients: 1 cup long grain brown rice or long grain white rice, 2 teaspoons chicken or vegetable bouillon, 2 tablespoons dry milk powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (dry in canister) not freshly grated. You may be happy with this dish just as it is, or you may wish to improve on it with the addition of some vegetables or meat.
These mixes and the cooking instructions will vary depending on your personal likes and dislikes, and the amount of rice in the mix. Taste as you go and don’t be afraid to tweak the ingredients. When you prepare the dish just follow the cooking instructions for the amount of rice used. Add other ingredients as you wish, making sure that everything is properly cooked before adding.
When you find out just how easy it is to make your own homemade “boxed dinners”, you’ll start searching for ways to make all your family’s favorite dishes using these convenient dry mixes. Won’t it be great to grab a package out of your pantry, mix in some meat, chicken, fish, or vegetables and have a brand new meal in no time at all, and for a fraction of the cost?
Pre-packaged meals are a big help on those busy nights when everyone is coming home after work, school, and all those other activities. Just a couple ready-to-use mixes in your cupboard is all you need to quickly mix up a hot, nutritious meal for your hungry family. Now you don’t need to stock up at the grocery store on those expensive boxed dinners. Making your own homemade versions of your family’s favorite meals is a shortcut that you can appreciate on a hectic night, not only because it’s fast and easy, but because you made it with love… at a fraction of the cost!
Store-bought boxed meals cost a small fortune. You can have convenience and save your budget by using a quick and easy homemade Mix For Red Rice and a homemade Mix For Garden Vegetable and Rice . With a few basic ingredients you can create mixes that are ready when you are, and your hungry family, at a fraction of the cost!