The Baking Queen

Serving convenience foods to your family is, well, convenient. With kids returning to school and starting all those hectic after-school activities again, having a few ready-to-go meals stashed in your cupboards is a definite must have. Unfortunately, those boxed meals really can ruin your family’s budget and rob you of your hard-earned cash.

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.

Several popular boxed meals are easily duplicated for a fraction of the cost of buying the store-bought ones. Here are just a few examples of how you can make some classic dishes that I’m sure you’ll recognize.

Red Beans and Rice Mix: This is a classic meal that is very versatile. By mixing just a few dry ingredients together in an airtight container, you create a ready-to-use version of the boxed meal that is so popular. This traditional Cajun dish is perfect to expand upon with the addition of sausage, seafood, chicken, meat, vegetables, or whatever you want.

Suggested mix ingredients: 1 cup long grain brown or 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 flavored bouillon cubes, 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper, 1/4 cup bacon bits. This is the basic dry mix suggestion, but you may want to experiment with some of your own ideas for ingredients. Use the rice cooking instructions, then add your beans, and any other ingredients you have choose.

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 white rice, 1/4 cup broken spaghetti or vermicelli, 1 tablespoon dry onion, 1/4 teaspoon garlic, 1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning or a combination of dry thyme and dry sage, 1 tablespoon dry parsley, 3 chicken flavored bouillon cubes or 1 tablespoon powdered bouillon. Again, this is a basic suggestion for a dry mix recipe for a classic dish. Experiment with the flavors and the addition of meats and vegetables to create your own specialty.

Creamy Parmesan Rice Mix: This dish is very kid-friendly because it’s cheesy and creamy. Powdered milk makes the creation of this dry mix possible. Cooking up a traditional side dish like this will be a snap with the mix all ready and waiting for you in your cupboard.

Suggested mix ingredients: 1 cup long grain brown rice or white rice, 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon, 2 tablespoons dry milk powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 cup grated dry Parmesan cheese (in canister) not freshly grated. Prepare this dish as is or add other ingredients, such as diced cooked chicken or mixed frozen vegetables, to create a full meal.

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 get comfortable creating your own ready-to-make dinners at home, you’ll quickly find new ways to make all your family’s favorite “boxed” meals at home! Homemade pre-packaged foods are the perfect opportunity to experiment with all sorts of new and creative dishes. Add seafood, spices, herbs, vegetables, or anything you want to create a dish that becomes your own specialty.

When you mix up a few batches of these meal-makers and have them ready in your pantry, you can deal with those hectic evenings when your hungry family is running in looking for dinner. Rather than having a supply of those expensive store-bought boxes of quick meals on hand, your own homemade versions of some of your family favorites will warm their tummies while keeping a few dollars safely tucked away in the budget. And, when you serve these homemade meals, you’ll be serving your family a hearty meal made with love… something the store-bought boxes can’t do,

Once you’ve discovered how easy it is to make your own homemade convenience foods like this Buttery Parmesan and Rice Mix and this delicious Beans and Rice Mix, you will wonder why you ever bought it in a store. Enjoy the convenience and the money saving bonus of making your own quick meals at home.

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