I know most of you if not all are serious foodies.

Just wondering if there are any box, frozen or store bought foods that are decent. I'm looking for deserts and side dishes. Just to make it easy. My Granddaughter is coming for a week. The entrees will be homemade but, will cheat with the rest, if I can.

I've never tried this but, I bought a box of Duncan Hines Deluxe Carrot Cake... well it's deluxe! I'll give it a test shot before she comes. Oh well, Poppi can take it to work for his buddies :)

Today I made meatballs and gravy that I'm freezing and will use for lasagna when she's here. Ashley isn't a foodie but, she won't eat pork or beans. Her one request was chili - NO beans! Otay baby! She loves potato pancakes and pierogies but, I'm not into grating or making dough. Have a great recipe from the Frugal Gourmet but, not going to make it this time.

To make it easy for me, Grandpoppi wants to just order in or go out to eat but, I want to cook for her! And have snacks to nibble while we catch up.

Or maybe you guys have some easy homemade sides and deserts. Any ideas welcomed.

...... convenience foods at the soopermaket. I dare say most people who post here are not averse, out of hand, to such products.

We have found very nice convenience foods with both Costco's and Safeway's house brands - Kirkland and Safeway Select/Primo Taglio.

There are also plenty of very nice items not of those brands.

Have at it! And let us know what you find.

Skip the frozen foods section and look for the in-store prepared foods and some of the refrigerated prepared foods. I haven't gotten a single stinker when I've gone that route on "it's too damn hot to cook" days.

If you do go the frozen foods route, just be careful how much salt is in the stuff, it can be a huge amount.

Thanks for the reminder about salt.

I second exploring the Costco and Trader Joes. There are 4 products that I choose to always have in my pantry/fridge. Better than Bouillon (Organic chicken and Veggie), Pace Picante Sauce (Hot and Medium) Barilla Jarred Pasta sauces and Yoshida's Gourmet Sauce (Asian Teryaki Sauce)... It's easy to make a spicy Spanish style rice by substituting some of the water with the Picante Sauce. Baked Pasta as a side is easy with dumping a jar of sauce on some cooked pasta and baking with some shredded cheese. The bouillon is great for a quick soup or as an addition to Rice for a savory flavored rice. The Yoshida's is great on ribs, in Burgers or Chicken. It's easy but I don't use it often anymore as it's too high in sugar for me.

For Desserts I use to make alot of fruit crisps with mixing Oatmeal, Sugar, butter and flour as a topping for Apples or Peaches (or what ever) Just throw it in a pan and bake at 350 until bubbly and brown. It's also easy to just throw those Poppin Fresh Cinnamon rolls on top of some sliced raw apples and do a cinnamon roll cobbler.

My very favorite Cake Mix Cake is


AUNT ANTOINETTA'S RICOTTA CAKE

2 lbs. ricotta cheese
3/4 c. sugar
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 (18 1/2 oz.) pkg. yellow or lemon cake mix with pudding

Mix together the ricotta cheese, sugar and eggs. Set aside. Prepare the cake mix according to the package directions. Pour into a greased and floured 9 x 13 inch pan. Carefully spoon the ricotta mixture over the batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 60 to 65 minutes or until cool. When the cake is done, sprinkle with powdered sugar.''

http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,196,130190-244194,00.html

I usually use a yellow or chocolate cake and throw some chocolate chips in the ricotta mixture.

If you google cake mix brownies you'll also get a recipe for Brownies from a cake mix which are quite good. I've had success in creating great Bars this way. I really enjoyed using yellow cake, crushed pineapple and coconut/

I'll also pass along the definitive homemade goodie recipe but I strongly caution against making this if you have any problems with self control


http://smittenkitchen.com/2009/04/chocolate-caramel-crackers/

And btw...You don't have to use saltines in this recipe...It's amazing with Ritz and Using those skinny pretzels is out of this world. Do yourself a favor though and make a double batch.

AUNT ANTOINETTA'S RICOTTA CAKE

Will definately make this.

Got her Brownie from a box. No nuts. Sheesh, the little pita. I make half with nuts and half without. Hubby and I like the nuts ;)

Don't know why I was under the impression that one needed to grate a ton of carrots for carrot cake. I found this recipe and it sounds so good. I think I'll do this and send the box cake to work with my husband.

http://www.joyofbaking.com/CarrotCake.html

chocolate-caramel crackers. She can make them for her brother when she goes home. Hmm, I think I'm on to something here. Maybe she could make a few dishes while she's here. She likes to cook - she's learning. I can supervise. Not much of a cook but, I sure can supervise ;)

I spent so much time with my gran in the kitchen as I was growing up. They are my fondest memories.

Glad you found a carrot cake recipe. I shred the carrots for carrot cake in my food processor, but before I had one I used to cut them in small pieces and shred in my blender a little at a time.

Cooking doesn't have to be hard at all and it could be a great influence on her in this world of convenience, if you are able to manage it. Maybe a little advance prep before she arrives will make a better convenience. I don't mind using something prepackaged once in a great while, depending on what it is and the ingredient label but the two of you could have real fun together.

Enjoy your time with her and at the beach. :hi:

Edited to add: I don't consider myself a serious foodie. The things I make aren't too difficult, just wholesome and tasty. Once I got a real rhythm for it, it was easy to start building on and not as much work as yesterday was. I was just faced with a use it or lose it scenario with the tomatoes and peaches so I had to add them to my usual Sunday repertoire.

All my tests are fantastic. The dr. is very happy, I get the impression that he's a little stumped but, not going to go out on a limb just yet. I'm in good spirits, too.

The major problem I'm having is r/a and fractures caused by osteoporosis and the meds (cortisones) for the r/a. This past Friday I had osteoplasty (glue) injected into one pelvic fracture and a month ago I had 2 vertical sacral fractures glued. It's an amazing proceedure and has eliminated the pain and stabalzied the fractures so they don't get worse or cause more fracturesl. Plus, I'm taking mega doses of Vit. D and Calcium. Thank God, I have insurance the sacral fracture proceedure (day surgery 4 hours in the hospital) cost just a hair under 10k. I have no idea what this one will cost. I think more.

Ok, you guy listen up take care of your bones!! No matter hold old or young you are.

I have pics Ashley and I baking cookies and Christmas goodies when she was about 4. I'm putting together an album for her.

Don't have a food processor but, the other day when I made those yucky Greek zuccini fritters I used my box grater and was no big deal. I should check out the recipes before I make a big production of it. Thought I had to grated 2 large bags of carrots, lol.

One last note, nothing makes you enjoy the moment more than being told they are limited. I have good days and bad days mentally but, I can usually put that crap into perspective and just savor all the good things past, present and future. :bounce:

Even tho I don't have RA, I've known enough people who do. My own gran was terribly arthritic and still put me to shame in the kitchen with her stamina and energy. I know that it's terribly painful and debilitating. I'm glad they are able to help you.

I wish you as pain-free a week as you've ever had while she's visiting. Have fun, Grammy! :hug:

P.S. The zucchini fritters weren't good? I was really wanting to try those. Hmmm.

she used to called me Grammy - now's it G'Ma LOL.

The feta cheese has enough salt. I would not use any salt. The recipe called for two cups of feta which is great if you really love feta. I'd cut that back to 1 1/2 c. I found another recipe using parm. I'll try that next. Hmm, there's an idea. I think she may like zuccini fritters.

She's trying not to eat a lot of meat and pork. Seems they showed a film in HS about parasites in pork, yada, yada, and it scared her. That's why she won't eat pork now. And her Mom goes spastic about beans so, no beans. :(

of any kind, either. So I don't blame her there. LOL

I love feta so that just may work for me. When I make spinach mushroom quiche, I use almost a whole container. But I am finding that as I age, I'm kind of losing my taste for really strong, distinct flavors.

The dexamethasone makes everything tast extremely salty and like rust. Now how do I know what rust tastes like?

suck on old pennies. Sort of the same, but not identical.

When I was on dexamethasone - a very brief foray, thankfully - my taste buds got so screwed up, there wasn't anything I could eat.

Diet Coke, which was one of the few things I could keep down, had the worst damn taste. I had to switch to regular ginger ale, but mixed with half ice water.

Jeez, I had forgotten what a vile drug that crap is........................

I think their boxed rice mixes are available in most supermarkets now.

The jamabalaya is so easy, and you can add chunked chicken or some kind of sausages for a whole main dish.

The red beans and rice, black beans and rice, and dirty rice are perfect side dishes. Or they make a great beginning for burritos, with some cheese and other things.

The golden rice and caribbean rice (with pineapple and coconut) are yummy good, too. Both go great with chicken or pork or fish.

They have a lot of other stuff too!

Here's their product page: http://shop.zatarains.com/

Lots of recipes are on the web site, too.

I like spicey!

Good stuff. Read the label to see what's in the box and what you need to add.

Lots of prepackaged rice dishes are, which I discovered when I got the wrong brand of yellow rice and spent the next two days belching fire (proved to me that those Prilosec commercials aren't just making up crap to sell PPIs--real reflux is scary!) I have a friend who has heart attack symptoms from MSG, so I figure it's something to avoid even if you don't have a sensitivity to it.

I don't add it to anything I make. Don't even own any. But I know it is in lots of stuff and never bothered to avoid it, either.

Many, many, years ago I used to use it all the time.

. . . if you're feeding someone else. The reactions can be so severe as to feel, if not life-threatening, damned close to it. There's a very good reason a majority of Chinese restaurants now make a big deal out of not using it these days.

I don't have a problem with the natural source of MSG, BTW. A sheet of kombu in my bean pot can add a lot of flavor without the side effects. There is obviously something about the artificial version that's just not quite right.

worth checking.

I mix left over mashed with lots of fried onions and then wrap in several layers of phyllo dough. Brush potato bundles (mine are usually round) with butter and bake at 350 until brown and lovely.

You also can use Egg roll wrappers to make small little potato pierogie wanna be's. I just use left over mashed with fried onion and butter. Bake until brown.

I love to make them homemade but, it's just too much work and I want to enjoy her company. We're going to Myrtle Beach for a few days and instead of going out for breakfast and lunch it would be nice to have some food during the day and go out for a nice evening dinner. I'm freezing a few dishes to take along, we rented a condo w/kitchen.

Scandanavian potato pancake. You work enough flour into the potatoes to make a soft dough, roll them out super thin and fry them on each side on an ungreased griddle or cast iron skillet until they have dark spots on them like a flour tortilla. We would just spread them with soft butter and roll them up and eat them, but some people also sprinkle with a little sugar or spread them with jam or jelly. We always thought they were quite a treat.

Here's a recipe to make them from scratch.

3 cups cooled mashed potatoes
3 cups sifted flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons shortening
2 tablespoons cream

Directions:

Mix all ingredients well together. Use one Tbsp at a time, rolling thin on a floured surface. Bake on both sides on a griddle. Cool on dish towels, keeping separated from one another. To serve: Spread with butter and sugar and roll up. Keep unused lefse rolled up in a towel.

http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/262/Potato_Lefse7683.shtml

a friend of mine is a food chemist, and that's the only brand of prepared frozen foods he eats.

I don't eat that kind of stuff as a habit, but whenever I've needed them, it's always been Stouffer's for me, and they're really good.

Spinach souffle is a big favorite around here. But there grub is not afflicted with preservatives and fillers. Billy is really fussy about food, plus it's his business, so he gave me some very good advice.

Here are the Stouffer's sides: http://www.stouffers.com/Products/ProductSearch.aspx?ServingSizeId=0&ProductGroupId=20&SearchText=&ServingSize=&ProductGroup=Side%20Dish

As for dessert, get a box or two of Ghirardelli's Brownie Mix - OH MY GOD! - they are SO good! I'll never make brownies from scratch again. Check out the Dark Chocolate Turtle mix.

You're gonna have so much fun!

I can't wait for her to get here. Stouffer's - she loves their mac and cheese. I found a great recipe for Mac and Cheese but, I know she'll love the Stouffer's.

I'm hoping to find that here at my local Harris Teeter or Lowes. There are so many great recipes and ideas on this thread she'll need to stay a month to do them all. I'm going to email the links to her and have her email me her favs and requests.

She tried to insist that I needed a lifestyle change to go with my divorce--no more cooking from scratch or other martyr-type activities. Unless some nice man was treating her to an excellent restaurant, she eats nothing that doesn't come out of a box with Stouffer's on it. No muss, no fuss, and she thinks they taste fine.

Can't quite wrap myself around the white flour, processed food thing as a lifestyle, but their veggie French bread pizzas were good inspiration for a homemade version.

Bought 2 boxes of Ghirardelli Double Chocolate and 2 Chocolate Turtle Mix. Plus, a bag of Dark Choc. w/ Caramel, a bag of Vanilla Dreams. <sigh> Death by chocolate, yep that's the ticket!!

Between the brownies, banana bread, lemon squares, and homemade carrot cake, I think I'm covered. I'm going with the homemade carrot cake. Not that hard at all.

Went shopping and went to the mall. Got around pretty good. I can grate a measly 2C. of carrots ;)

And you're out and about in the heat? Pretty good, max, pretty damn good.

Now I'm getting out a box of the Turtle mix, and, with my happy bag of dried bing cherries that I got from nutsonline, I shall prepare a lovely batch of brownies later tonight.

You and the grandkid are going to have a perfectly wonderful time................................

and tried it. It was probably the worst thing I've ever put in my mouth. Cat litter with sauce couldn't have been any worse. My advice is to cook your own food and divide it up into freezer containers for another day.

Her Mom, and I love my daughter in law is a open a can or box and microwave or heat on stove cook. Don't understand why dishes are always piled in the sink but, I digress. :evilgrin: When I'm there I recite the 'Serenity Prayer' 109 times.

DIL is a Weight Watchers counselor and only eats their stuff. She's not much of a cook at all, to say the least.

but why do they have to be so pickey???

One thing they do love though is helping to make desserts - I found this site interesting, mostly because of the easy substitutions.

http://www.razzledazzlerecipes.com/quickneasy/sweets/index.htm


have a blast, because I think having a good time is the single best pain killer there is!

Thank you!

I've decided to put Ashley in charge of appetizers, snacks, and deserts. I've bookmarked several sites and she can pick whatever strikes her fancy. If I don't have the ingredients she drives, she can go to the store.

I know she'll love it. She lived with me for 2 years while finishing her Junior and Senior year of HS. She loved to play around with my kitchen gadgets and make after school snacks for her friends. I always had a house full of teens and I miss it. Those little devils made me feel young again.

I was totally blown away by how mannerly these kids were, especially the boys! They would come in and great me, shake my husbands hand, called him Sir. :wow:

I just bought an immersion blender and I think smoothies will be a regular breakfast drink and healthy, too.

Welcome to the newly updated Recipe4Living! As you can tell, we have made a lot of improvements to the site already and there are many more to come. If you experience problems with the site or have any feedback, please share it here.

http://www.recipe4living.com/recipes/easy_cheesy_zucchini_casserole.htm

Easy Cheesy Zucchini Casserole
Added: 6th July 2008
Rating:
24 chef hats
A great way to use the zucchini from your garden. Easy to use and even the non-zucchini lovers will enjoy it.

Ingredients
1 C. mayonnaise
1 onion, minced
1 egg
Dash salt and pepper
1 C. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/4 C. parmesan cheese
3 medium zucchini, diced, no need to peel
Directions

Mix all ingrdients in a bowl. Place in greased casserole dish. Sprinkle with dry bread crumbs. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, covered. Uncover and bake an additional 30 minutes. Serve hot.

Sounds good me!

We saute sliced onion and diced bell pepper in a bit of butter. Blanch the zucchini slices. Mix mayo with parm and an egg. Mix all up together and put in casserole. Top with buttered bread crumbs. Bake till all savory and bubbly.

It has become a favorite with turkey dinner.

I've gotten different brands and they're all good.

My supermarket has latkes in the deli so it's worth a look. But you can make potato pancakes from the grated potatoes that come in the bags. They look like little shreds. There's the Potatoes O'Brien with onions and peppers but there's also the plain ones, too. And then there's potato pancake mix in boxes. No need to grate taters these days if you don't want to.

Good luck and I hope you have fun with your granddaughter!

But I recall learning in my Grandma's kitchen the most wonderful memories ever. After 50 years or so, I still have my little doll-sized rolling pin with little red handles. (Wonder what that's worth on E-bay, lol.)

It won't matter what you cook or bake together - it will be fond memories for both of you, I am certain.

thank you. I swear I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas morning. I saw her in March of 08 and March of 09 for only a few hours before my flight left PHL. The last visit, she was suffering from a kidney stone and in much pain. This vacation means so much to me and from her emails she's quite excited herself.

Now I'll be refining my 'you should consider moving to NC it's much better than NJ' routine, lol.

And have fun! (I'm sure you will.) She wants to see you just as much!

:hi:

I'm not sure of the brand name, but they were in the refrigerated section where they have the specialty cheeses and sausages, etc.

Those ravioli's were excellent!