Rethinking Canned Dinners

Let's face it, canned dinners are seductive. They're easy to make ,without any fuss or pots . Open one for a quick lunch or dinner. However they,re not that perfect.Canned meals do have their downsides. what to do? Be choosy and informed the next time you shop for them.

Don't get me wrong.Some tinned dinners like Spaghetti-os are still quite good.They pretty much taste the same as when they first came out in the mid Sixties. For me, they're a great lunch and a throwback to my childhood.Other canned foods like Underwood 's devilled ham and devilled chicken are perfect. The meat tastes like it was freshly ground and has the perfect creamy texture for spreading. Both meats are my favorite to work with, and I love creating salads with them. The same goes for Swanson's chicken chunks.Add a cream sauce and canned veggies and it's perfect for Chicken a la King. The problem comes from the canned ravioli , namely Chef Boyardee''s version. The chicken stuffed ones looked good , on the picture. In reality , absolutely not. The sauce was as fiery as an arribiata , in fact so much so I had to scrape it off the pasta to eat the pasta.The sad part was that there was no warning. I just figured it was a regular sauce. It wasn't which ruined it for me.Then there was the ravioli's texture.It was mushy . The squares were starting to separate as it was being heated up and I ended up with goop.

I'm all for convenience over convention. However I think there are better alternatives to canned dinner You can try  the TV or microwave kind like Stouffer's. Their lasagna is actually pretty close to the homemade kind, full of meat, a pulpy sauce and chewy - not smooshy,  noodles. Also their meals for one are creative and well thought out, with both the execution and nutrition.Marie Callendars also has some excellent meals, from their pot pies to their signature Italian dishes .Again, like Stouffers, these have a homemade taste. You can make from  scratch instant meals. Stir fry is one of the quickest especially if you buy from the salad bar or already cut veggies. Just add soy and dried ginger. Minute rice is another easy meal to whip up. Add veggies, and any leftover meat. Spice up with saffron or oregano and voila  you have a tasty dinner. Eggs are one of the most versatile ingredients and the  simplest to cook up. Have breakfast for lunch or dinner with a quick scramble, bacon and toast. A frittata can be whipped up in seconds. Add Parmesan and mushrooms, and serve with rounds of toasted Italian bread.

 Be judicious when you shop for easy to prepare meals. Sometimes the best ones are the homemade kind. If you're too busy  to cook, then try the ones recommended. The last thing you need is a bad dinner after a frazzling day.