Meal helpers

[Patricia]

Amy's thread about packet mixes got me to thinking that we should start a thread so we can tell each other about packet and bottle mixes that we have bought and used and found to be a great help.

I know I often stand in the supermarket aisle in a trance, mesmerized by the vast array of things available and often umm and ahhh thinking,"hmmm I wonder what that would really be like?"

So come on girls..come in and share your opinions/advice and recommendations.

I will go first and tell you that Aldi's jars of sweet and sour sauce are fantastic, I have used them on stir fries and also tipped them over pork meat balls..(they were are real hit here!)

[Stormy]

Masterfoods finishing sauces are great if you can't be bothered making your own (except if you have a PITA uncle who complains about everything). :)

I actually like the Dolmio pasta sauces too.....and the Aldi Semi Sundried tomato pasta bake bottle sauce is really yummy. I like the Tuscan Meatball Flavour base from Masterfoods as well....although I do tweak it a little to get it to the taste/texture/consistency that I like.

I don't buy cake mixes or biscuit mixes that often because I figure for the same price, I can get some yummy ones from Coles/Woolies in house bakery that I don't even have to turn the oven on for. I am however guilty of buying cookie dough from the cold section if I want to feel like I've actually made something. :P

[lucyloo]

The Pancake Mixes are fine from Aldi, and also Coles brand as well. The ones in the bottle where you shake and pour.:)

[Di Nana]

I am never without masterfood soya honey marinade but hate masterfood prepared mustard, Colemans has more flavour, and I really hate all Home Brand stuff except for there sweet and spicy gherkins, they taste just like home bottled, not keen on Pams stuff either, but find they have the nicest spicy apricot sauce

[Diana]

I use Leggo.s Matriciana pasta sauce a lot,always have a jar in the pantry.I use it instead of tomatoes and tomato paste in spag.bog,its nice by itself over cooked pasta,I use it as a base for chicken cacciatore and stir it through home made macaroni soup,and use it instead of salsa or tomato paste when doing chicken or beef snitzel parmagana.

[lucyloo]

I always keep a carton of sour cream in the fridge and a packet of french onion soup mix, and hey presto, you always have a dip handy incase friends pop over unannounced. I just use coles brand sour cream and french onion mix, it makes for a cheap dip....

[Barbara]

I use a few of the dry packet bases but never make them how you are supposed to, I use them more as flavouring than anything else. The Maggi or continental goulash is good - as goulash of course, or a marinade or even to use in a soup :yes: - I've continental curried sausages too for chicken stirfry and a marinade as well :hehe:

Stormy, I like the Tuscan meatball mix as well - but in the past I have used it to make the meatballs rather than as the simmer sauce.

[amyamz]

well the packet mix that started all this was white wings chocolate chip cookies :) and yes they are delicious. Also from white wings the chocolate self saucing pudding is devine.

[zen]

i like lots of condiments, and herbs and spices.. the flavoured soy sauces, chilli sauce, tabasco, worcestershire sauce etc... dried herbs, all sorts, and things like lemon pepper, chilli and lime, morroccan spices etc... also powdered gravy mixes to add flavour while thickening.. anything to make my cooking more palatable.. :D

[Stormy]

There was a bottled Thai Coconut Curry mix that I thought was quite nice too....but I forget which brand it was. The only thing I felt it needed was a bit more coconut cream put in, but only a little bit. :)