Childhood Friends

Every once in a while we go off the sensible adult diet and head back to childhood faves.There's that one food that turns us into Marcel Proust and his madeleines. Is it bad? Not if it's a brief foray into throwback eating. It's just a nice way to remember our culinary pasts.

One of the biggest American kid foods was and still is Spaghettios.Who doesn't love it as it celebrates its' fiftieth year. It's a mix of big and small pasta hoops that at times fit perfectly in each other like Russian nesting dolls. As an adult ,it's a tasty nostalgic return. It's also a quick hot meal on a Friday  night.It is low in calories however has a whopping 630 grams of sodium. Unfortunately there are no boxes of uncooked pasta hoops where you can make your own. You can make your own Spaghettos from scratch but it is labor intensive. Better stick with the real deal and have  it two or three times a year. Another food of our kittenhoods (and here's an interesting fact , a cat's favorite food is the one it first ate during his or her kitten phase) is Chef Boyardee. Everyone has  eaten a can of this famed pasta on a Friday night or Saturday lunch .One of the most favorite and often bought are the ravioli. we all loved the tiny bity size, often mushy squares , brimming in chopped beef and simmered in a saucy tomato sauce.There was also the spaghetti too, always a treat for lunch or quick Sunday supper.There was an actual Chef Boiardi, Hector who came to New York in 1914 and first worked at the  famed Plaza Hotel. Give him a lot of credit. He introduced Italian food to all of America during the 1920s , allowing families to have not only variety, but also nutrition in their lives.

No matter where you are in the world, fish  fingers or fishsticks were probably a big part of  your childhood diet. It was a Friday favorite and an introduction to the British classic fish and chips.The company still makes fish sticks however they have been given a healthy twist, Gone is that oil soaked crust and in its' stead  a baked low calorie meal. The side of chips has been gotten rid of as well. If you 're craving something similar ,Jake's Wayback Burgers has a  dish with three pieces of fluffily battered cod deep fried to an oily crisp . A generous side of fries is also offered. Of course every Yank grew up with  SwandonTV dinners. These were a wild mix of differently made  meats, sides and dessert. The originals were tasty, cooking up in metal trays which produces crispy stuffing and brownies.The turkey was always the best because it has an ample amount of gravy and turkey slices.Swanson also had corn  niblets , improved by a massive glob of butter on top. Then there was Rice-A-Roni, that quick mix of pasta bits and rice, flavored with all sorts of spices  - and  - well additives.It was a real treat as it accompanied roast chicken or a slice of steak. Even better was when the steak juices mixed with it ,

We're all like Marcel Proust, One whiff or bite of a childhood fave brings us back to a happier time. It's always nice to go back, if only for a quick meal.

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.