There’s a woman on television that takes a few store bought ingredients, combines them with stuff in her pantry or fridge and calls them homemade. I hear her eponymous show is a big success, even earning her an eponymous magazine. Self-titled lines of cookware and packaged foods are sure to follow.
I don’t like her. For one thing, she’s too skinny to be eating any of the stuff she “cooks”. You can never trust a skinny cook. I also think the food she puts together looks like plastic. Biscuits from a refrigerated tube will never taste homemade. Convenient? Yes. Delicious? No.
I think Miss Eponymous has the right idea about using short cuts to create a great meal. I just think she could choose better ingredients. I am a big fan of convenience foods. I am a busy wife and mother of two elementary school-aged kids. So, I know a thing or two about being short on time. Sure I relish the time I get to while away the afternoon roasting, braising, sautéing and poaching, but I realize there are only so many hours in the day.
But, I am also passionate about getting good food into the people I love. Food is more than fuel—it’s a way to change our moods, to communicate with others, to hit the reset button at the end of a busy day. In my opinion, there are far too many chemicals and non-food ingredients in the food we are sold today. Once you start reading labels, it’s pretty hard to go back to those biscuits in a can.
Convenience foods get a bad rap these days. And for the most part, I would tend to agree that these pre-packaged dishes have served to dumb down our taste buds while fattening us up and destroying our connection to real food. So what are our options? Herewith, a few of my personal favorites:
1. Two lines of Indian foods—Kitchens of India and Tasty Bite—provide excellent one-dish meals that are shelf-stable, preservative-free and loaded with flavor. Each package usually serves two and costs under $3.50. Most are vegetarian or vegan as well.
One of my favorites is Kitchens of India’s Mild Chili Pepper Curry (Mirch Ka Salan) which I use as a base for a dinner for four (plus leftovers for lunch the next day.) In a large skillet over medium high heat, saute one pound of boneless cubed chicken pieces (breast or thigh meat) until cooked through. Add contents of two packages Mild Chili Pepper Curry and warm through. Serve over brown rice and add some garlic roasted cauliflower. This is a meal you can easily make for under $15, with ingredients you can pronounce and feel good about feeding your family and friends. Add some naan for an authentic meal.
2. Fish tacos—My family loves these. They’re great for an easy weeknight supper or perfect for that batch of margaritas you’ve been wanting to whip up. Start with a package of Whole Catch Mahi Mahi fillets from Whole Foods Market. Defrost, rinse and pat dry. Season with your favorite taco or seasoning blend. We like the Tequila Lime blend found at the fish counter. Grill the fish (or bake in the oven) while you whip up the slaw. Toss a bag of shredded cabbage blend with two tablespoons of 365-brand Chipotle Ranch dressing and two tablespoons fresh lime juice. Serve in the warmed tortillas of your choice. Want more condiments? Add some fresh guacamole or pineapple-mango salsa from the Produce department. Don’t forget to pick up some extra limes for your beer.
3. Rotisserie chicken—I think we might have a whole generation of folks who will have no idea how to roast a whole chicken at home. As easy as it is roast your own bird, it’s even easier to pick one up on your way home. Sure it’s great in its current incarnation but the possibilities of what you can do with that bird are limitless.
• Strip the meat from the bones and add to your favorite Thai coconut milk-based soup. Add some leftover rice and it’s a meal.
• Smear a large piece of flatbread or naan with pesto. Add some shredded chicken and a handful of grated Italian cheese (Parmesan, mozzarella, Pecorino, etc.) and run it under the broiler for an upscale pizza.
• Make chicken-not-crab-cakes. Mix some of the shredded meat with a little mayonnaise, chopped green onions, red pepper and bread crumbs. Form into patties and bake for a few minutes. Place on a bed of lettuce and drizzle with dressing.
I hope some of these suggestions help you out in the kitchen. Besides, I’m not looking for my own television show or magazine; I just want to feed you good food.
Christiana Roussel lives in Crestline and is a lover of all things food-related. You can follow her culinary musings on-line at ChristianasKitchen.blogspot.com or on Facebook (ChristianasKitchen) or Twitter (Christiana40).
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