topic What Convenience/Frozen/Canned Foods Do You Use? in Kitchen

What Convenience/Frozen/Canned Foods Do You Use?

Sooner — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 19:59:27 GMT

The thread on cooking made me want to ask: I love Amy's little frozen Mexican style dinners and hubby thinks their burritos are a treat occasionally. We usually have those with a big salad.

We also use a frozen pizza occasionally (Amy's too usually) and add more veggies to it.

Other than that, we use lots of frozen broccoli, peas, and mixed veggies. I tried the frozen kale too and it wasn't bad. I buy about 75 percent organic frozen veggies and stock up on sale. I don't use many canned veggies now, although I have a real passion for canned peas (that I can't explain) and beets! LOL!!!

I make a lot of home made chicken stock, but do use the boxed chicken and beef stock too.

Lots of canned beans and tomatoes are always on hand too, and canned okra for "emergency" gumbo! Sometime 'ya just gotta have it! I also keep tuna in bags (Wild Planet) and cans and canned (for patties!) and frozen salmon and other fish, but won't buy from Asian sources. I spend a lot of time reading when I buy groceries.

We add to that fresh fruit and veggies. All the things above are pretty much our whole pantry system! Well, other than the staples.

Re: What Convenience/Frozen/Canned Foods Do You Use?

WRXtoo — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 20:26:12 GMT

My latest favorite thing are frozen Foster Farms Grilled Chicken Strips. Already-grilled strips of chicken in a zipper bag--you just take out what you need. I thought they'd be dry and tasteless but they're not! They are moist and tasty, and I use them for quick tacos, salad topping, chicken salad, chicken for pasta... endless possibilities. Just pop them in a pan to warm them up and add whatever spices, etc. suits your dish.

And no dealing with raw chicken! (Bleaahh )

Re: What Convenience/Frozen/Canned Foods Do You Use?

jaxs mom — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 20:34:39 GMT

As I posted in the other thread I do can ground beef to use when I'm sick and want to make something like chili or tacos quickly. I also can dried beans for convenience but I mostly cook beans from dried. I can my own stock, jams and jellies and tomatoes but rely on store bought canned tomatoes in bad garden years. I buy canned refried beans.

Frozen, I will keep a couple pizzas for something fast. I freeze breadcrumbs and my homemade bread already sliced. I freeze extra garden produce like okra and wax and pole beans. My freezer is mostly meat and things like lemon rinds for zesting. I do buy potato flakes for quick mashed potatoes and for baking in some bread recipes.

Re: What Convenience/Frozen/Canned Foods Do You Use?

Marienkaefer2 — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 20:34:53 GMT

If I buy frozen or canned, it's organic. Like the o/p, I do buy Amy's frozen, usually the pizza, Mac and cheese, and the risotto. Those are "fillers" for nights when I haven't had time to prepare anything, or we're running low and need to go to the grocery store. I also buy Amy's refried beans, and baked beans. I also keep on hand a few bags of organic frozen veg...broccoli, peas, and a stir fry mix. I don't really like frozen veg, but they come in handy fir a stir fry or quick soup, or as a quick side.

Re: What Convenience/Frozen/Canned Foods Do You Use?

Sooner — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 23:07:30 GMT

Some of the stir fry mixes are pretty good to use in a pinch. I get the all-veggie ones and add my own chicken to it. Fresh is better, but these are easy to put together and great to have on hand.

I need to make a note of the ones I like better, because when I get to the store I can never remember!

Re: What Convenience/Frozen/Canned Foods Do You Use?

chickenbutt — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 23:11:20 GMT

On 2/15/2015 Sooner said:
Some of the stir fry mixes are pretty good to use in a pinch. I get the all-veggie ones and add my own chicken to it. Fresh is better, but these are easy to put together and great to have on hand.

I need to make a note of the ones I like better, because when I get to the store I can never remember!

This sounds good. Are they frozen? Do you need to have a wok?

Re: What Convenience/Frozen/Canned Foods Do You Use?

scotnovel — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 23:19:29 GMT

I also like the Amy's Mexican items from time to time. I use a lot of frozen vegetables, including Kroger brand mirepoix. The mirepoix comes in 8 oz bags (as I recall) and are as cheap as $1 apiece some of the time so I can stock up then. That is far less than what it would cost to store or buy fresh and, as a base for certain kinds of soups, for example, they are just as good as fresh.

I also buy prepared extra firm tofu and use it for a lot of different things including as a thickener for soups or stews or with stir fry vegetables as a main course.

Re: What Convenience/Frozen/Canned Foods Do You Use?

Kachina624 — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 02:22:49 GMT

My ""go to"" meal when I don't feel too hungry or like cooking is a can of Campbell's Chunky Chicken Corn Chowder soup. It's very filling and low in calories plus I love the flavor.

Re: What Convenience/Frozen/Canned Foods Do You Use?

FastDogWalker2 — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 02:38:09 GMT

Frozen veggies, pasta sauce, canned black beans and canned corn - I think that is about it.

Re: What Convenience/Frozen/Canned Foods Do You Use?

missy1 — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 02:42:26 GMT

SpaghettiOs, refried beans, chicken tenders-frozen, garlic bread......

Re: What Convenience/Frozen/Canned Foods Do You Use?

Tigriss — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 03:39:00 GMT

Well, the hot chocolate I'm drinking now. Dark Chocolate Swiss Miss made with a bit of boiling water and the rest milk and marshmellows.

Frozen veggies are super great, but canned are good for a quick dinner. I like package meals from Amy's and the like for quick meals for work or tired evenings. Pasta sauce, pasta, canned beans, dried beans, box rice mixes like dirty rice and jambalaya and yellow rice for a quick chicken and rice, bread, muffin and brownie mixes, canned soups.....mainly the usual fair.

We don't have a nice farmer's market, co-op, or a selection of organic produce. We have some, so I do buy that, but if Harvey's or WalMart doesn't carry it, we are out of luck.

Re: What Convenience/Frozen/Canned Foods Do You Use?

brewhaha — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 03:40:23 GMT

Frozen cheeseburgers from Sam's Club.

Re: What Convenience/Frozen/Canned Foods Do You Use?

Eliana — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 04:35:02 GMT

Marie Calendar's chicken pot pies for nights that nobody wants to cook. Always a box of Velveeta shells and cheese and a couple packs of Knorr rice sides, canned beans, frozen steamable veggies. I usually make a pot of chili on Sundays for work lunches, and grill chicken breasts to have for quick meals. I leave home at 6:10 a.m. and don't return until 7 p.m., so some nights I'm just not that into making dinner.

Re: What Convenience/Frozen/Canned Foods Do You Use?

Sooner — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 05:26:55 GMT

On 2/15/2015 chickenbutt said:
On 2/15/2015 Sooner said:
Some of the stir fry mixes are pretty good to use in a pinch. I get the all-veggie ones and add my own chicken to it. Fresh is better, but these are easy to put together and great to have on hand.

I need to make a note of the ones I like better, because when I get to the store I can never remember!

This sounds good. Are they frozen? Do you need to have a wok?

You don't really need a wok--a nice skillet will do! They have different combos of ingredients: peppers, onions, broccoli, little corns, sugar snap beans, etc. You just find what you like.

Most have a "sauce" packet, which I throw out. If I want sauce, I use a little soy sauce, cornstarch, and ginger mixed with cold water and throw that in at the last. I also sometimes use a little sherry in the mix! Sometimes, if I have added some pineapple or just want a little sweet, I'll add Harvey's Cream Sherry! LOL!!! Works for me! I always add a little sesame oil to the stir fry as I cook it--just a little but it gives it that flavor restaurants get.

Lots of brands make these--Sam's usually has the big bags of them. Just find one that appeals to you and try it out! We have found them great to have on hand--and they are good in a quick soup too!

Re: What Convenience/Frozen/Canned Foods Do You Use?

Sooner — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 05:28:28 GMT

On 2/15/2015 FastDogWalker2 said:
Frozen veggies, pasta sauce, canned black beans and canned corn - I think that is about it.

I love that black bean and corn salad--it has chopped bell peppers (red is best I think) and a little onion and an oil and vinegar dressing. I could eat a ton of that stuff. Someone I know also puts pasta in with it, and that's good too.

Re: What Convenience/Frozen/Canned Foods Do You Use?

goodstuff — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 06:00:21 GMT

I always keep store brand frozen veggies (plain with no seasoning or additives) in the freezer; that way I'm in control of what seasonings, fats, or sauces I add. I keep some canned vegetables for occasional use, too. I don't use a lot of mixes and prepared meals, except I keep a few Marie Callendar TV dinners in the freezer. DH likes those occasionally when I'm not at home to cook dinner.

Re: What Convenience/Frozen/Canned Foods Do You Use?

Sooner — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 06:58:54 GMT

I think frozen veggies are better than they used to be. I am really going away from most canned veggies. We have always done a lot of fresh, but some times you just can't. (Pun not intended, but I'll take it! LOL!!!)

Re: What Convenience/Frozen/Canned Foods Do You Use?

OkeyDokey — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 07:26:00 GMT

We eat frozen vegetables quite often. I use canned kidney beans from time to time in chili, but much prefer dried varieties if I am making beans and rice. I also use ready-to-drink protein shakes. We have done away with frozen pizza at our house because the quality of the brands we used to purchase has tanked. Making pizzas with flat bread and fresh ingredients is how we prefer our pizza these days, though we rarely eat it anymore. I love frozen tilapia filets because they are super convenient to season and bake from frozen.

Re: What Convenience/Frozen/Canned Foods Do You Use?

AmyKnits2 — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 16:12:58 GMT

I use frozen veggies and fruit (for smoothies) in the winter.

I really like Trader Joe's for any frozen meals although the portions are a bit small for hubby.

I buy DiGiorno pizza occasionally when on sale and I have a coupon. I got them for just under $3 each last time! They are decent.

I buy canned black beans, refried beans, diced tomatoes and Progresso soups mostly. I do buy some canned pasta sauce (Paul Newman or Prego) which I doctor up a lot with spices, meat, canned diced tomatoes (more texture) etc

I also buy ice-cream in the summer!

Re: What Convenience/Frozen/Canned Foods Do You Use?

Sooner — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 19:05:12 GMT

OH! MAGNUM bars!