<p>Fun Time! What Convenience Food, Product or Appliance makes your Life Easier (& isn’t too pricey to justify its purchase!)</p>
<p>I’ll go first… :)</p>
<p>Batter Blaster: I like to make food from scratch, but I’ve found that Batter Blaster pancake batter that comes in a “whipped cream type can” is great for days when you want a hot breakfast, but don’t have time to “make from scratch”. I’ve either used coupons to buy the cans or have gotten them at Sams Club or Costco in multi-packs.</p>
<p>Rice Steamer: I also LOVE my Rice Steamer…super convenient…and worth every cent. Although mine cost about $40 from Costco, I was also able to get a small (4 cup) inexpensive one for about $15 for my son’s apt…and he loves using it cuz it’s so easy.</p>
<p>Purdue boneless skinless chicken breasts that are shrink wrapped two in a package, with six packages per item, so you can just throw them in the freezer and defrost as needed.</p>
<p>An immersion blender is the greatest thing ever invented. I make soup all the time, and I hate transferring it to a blender to be pureed. With the immersion blender, I just puree it in the pan. </p>
<p>I’ll also nominate my stand mixer. I make desserts that take 20 minutes of beating - and I am not going to stand there holding a hand mixer for that long!</p>
<p>The automatic rice cooker is a staple in HI & I suspect much of Asia. I love, love, love it! It was only $10 at Frye’s for the kids in college, but there are fancier timer models that do a lot more & keep rice warm, which is what a lot of households here have. Many are very reasonably priced at Costco too.</p>
<p>For convenient food: Trader Joe’s spinach and feta pie in phyllo crust; TJ meat lasagne; TJ Mac and cheese, regular or lowfat. Delicious, inexpensive.</p>
<p>Got2BeGreen - You are so right! I can’t tell you how many times I put things in the blender and the heat caused the top to pop off!</p>
<p>Pacific Brand low-sodium vegetable broth. I use at least two boxes a week. It is actually less expensive than when I make vegebroth from scratch.</p>
<p>salad and veggies in a bag. Yes, the immersion blender is a gift. Trader Joe’s…almost anything in hors douvres and cheeses. Current gourmet cheese: white truffle. And TJs desserts: the creme brulee (in the chocolate shell or in the china thing) excellent for last minute. Just put a few berries on the side…pouf…you’re a chef!</p>
<p>This is not going to please the “too pickys” out there, but when I’m in a pinch or just exhausted, I will swing by the store and pick up a Stauffers frozen lasagna (they have traditional italian or a chicken alfredo…which my family both like), a loaf of italian bread, and a bag of salad. It takes a few hours to cook, but all I do is kick up my feet with a glass of wine and decompress w/ the hubby about our days.</p>
<p>I also recommend rotissere (sp) chicken, which you can add a few simple sides to in just a few secs.</p>
<p>Also, Costco has a terrific chinese chicken salad that you just asssemble.</p>
<p>Lower Sodium Chicken Broth. And my dishwasher. (Being without one for the entire month of November cured me of any “back to the olden days” tendencies.)</p>
<p>The deli on the ground floor of the building where I work. </p>
<p>I know that if I were thrifty and well organized, I would bring food from home for lunch, the way many of my colleagues do. We have access to microwaves and refrigerators, which makes bringing lunch from home practical.</p>
<p>Chopped onion, rotisserie chicken and bagged salads.</p>
<p>I just remembered I have an immersion blender that I never use but I do puree soups all the time in the regular blender. Will definitely be getting the immersion blender out…thanks!</p>
<p>Trader Joe’s fondue packets. Delicious and cheaper than the Tiger fondue at Safeway and other chain stores. We usually get the Swiss (Emmenthaler and Gruyere), but tried the Swiss beer last night – YUM.</p>
<p>That, a loaf of fresh crusty bread and veggies to dip and a salad = dinner.</p>
<p>Bagged chopped lettuce is definitely a winner! As well as rotisserie chix! </p>
<p>I recently got a Cuisinart Griddler Gourmet at Costco (with one of their coupons). I originally bought it thinking that I would use it when it’s too cold to BBQ outside. But…</p>
<p>I LOVE IT…I use it at least 3 times per week. Even THICK steaks only take about 6 minutes on “sear” (cooks both sides at the same time). (Boneless/skinless chix breasts also take about 6 minutes on a different setting.) I can put the steaks on and use the rest of the time to make a big salad and cut some french bread. If more food is needed, I can pop a few potatoes or sweet potatoes in the microwave. </p>
<p>The drippings from the Griddler collect in a long cup and could be used for a gravy, sauce, or whatever. </p>
<p>Since you can either use the “grill side” or the “griddle side” of the Griddler plates, you can also use it opened for pancakes, etc. The plates remove easily and go into the dishwasher.</p>
<p>Seriously, with my rice cooker, a microwave oven, and this “Griddler,” I could live without a stove…</p>
<p>^I got a Cuisinart Griddler for Christmas and use it a lot more than I thought I would…in fact, I almost took it back. Glad I didn’t, very convenient.</p>
<p>Food item: Pre-cut butternut squash. That is one veg that is SUCH a pain to peel, clean and cut!
Appliance: I am a tea drinker and I have an electric hot water dispenser that stays on all the time and is really hot enough to brew tea (we had one that was connected to the sink, but I had it disconnected because it just didn’t get the water hot enough.) I am truly a fanatic about tea being hot (and don’t even get me started about microwaving water for tea!) I love being able to come downstairs in the morning and immediately have my cup of tea. It’s also great for instant soups, oatmeal etc and if I need a small pot of boiling water like for rice or pasta, I just use that water. I had never seen one of these dispensers until a friend who had lived in China had one. Love at first sight! I bought it at my local Asian grocery store. I haven’t really seen them in “regular” stores (though Amazon has them and online too.)<br>
Can you tell I love this appliance? ;)</p>
<p>The thing that makes cooking easier for me is my H. I place an order–for instance, five cloves of garlic, chopped fine, two more peeled but not chopped, two onions in thin half moons, etc–and he happily peels and chops and gives it all back to me in little bowls like on cooking shows. Priceless!</p>
I place an order–for instance, five cloves of garlic, chopped fine, two more peeled but not chopped, two onions in thin half moons, etc–and he happily peels and chops and gives it all back to me in little bowls like on cooking shows. Priceless!</p>