Pre-packaged eats when you're just not in the mood to cook

[Mountain Cat]

I'm quarantining alone, and frankly, while I love to cook and often do eat alone, some days it gets to be a bit of a drag. Fortunately I do have a few things in my pantry that are fun to just heat up and eat.

So, what are you folks resorting to, when you just don't wanna cook, but you want a meal?

Yesterday, it was this:

I'm a sucker for good Indian food, and MTR is a brand that mostly contains healthy ingredients. I'd purchased this last year at my old Indian market back in Connecticut. This is awesome and I wish I had more packages of it. However when I found it on line just now, it's a victim of "price gouging" so I guess this is it for the duration.

Alu / Aloo is potato and Methi is fenugreek.

This was an awesome dish. You can serve it over flatbread (which I don't have) or over rice (which I do have), but I figured the starch in the potatoes would be sufficient for me - and I wasn't in the mood to make rice anyway, despite the rice cooker. You heat the pouch of the Alu Methi in a pot of boiling water, decant and enjoy. It was wonderful! No effort, either.

Not as colorful as the packet image but the taste was outstanding, I thought.

Anyhow, this is a thread for what pre-packaged things we pull from our pantry when we don't wanna COOK - and what we thought of them when we ate.

 

[CraigC]

I personally haven't had a complete meal from the pantry or freezer since I can remember. Except for ones we've purposely made ourselves. I can't even remember the last time we doctored a frozen pizza. We do use things like yellow rice mix as an ingredient.

 

[TastyReuben]

Well, my normal go-to when I don't have time or the inclination to prep ingredients is scrambled eggs, but that's cooking, so no to that.

Canned soup every now and again. Ramen noodles once in a blue moon. Frozen pizza, one of the better-quality ones. When I was a kid, the only frozen pizzas were Totino's and Jeno's and nowadays, they're just a couple of bucks, so those are out, but there are some in the $10-$15 range (expensive for frozen pizza) that aren't bad.

Oh, duh...lunch meat, if that counts. I had no heart to cook last night, so it was cold bologna and cheese sandwiches. And peanut butter is another popular item here, and MrsTasty likes potted meat sandwiches.

 

[caseydog]

When I was put on my strict low-sodium diet, I found out just how ridiculous the amount of salt is in pre-made meals. One of them can wipe out half or more of my daily allowance.

My beloved quick bite, the hot dog, is pretty much out. Even "healthy" deli meats, like turkey breast, can have 300-plus mg of sodium per serving (two slices). Then there is sodium in the bread and condiments.

So, quick freezer grabs are pretty much a thing of the past, for me.

CD

 

[TastyReuben]

When I was put on my strict low-sodium diet, I found out just how ridiculous the amount of salt is in pre-made meals. One of them can wipe out half or more of my daily allowance.

My beloved quick bite, the hot dog, is pretty much out. Even "healthy" deli meats, like turkey breast, can have 300-plus mg of sodium per serving (two slices). Then there is sodium in the bread and condiments.

So, quick freezer grabs are pretty much a thing of the past, for me.

CD

I can't remember, but is this just until you get things back to better health or is this a for-the-rest-of-your-life kind of thing?

 

[Mountain Cat]

When I was put on my strict low-sodium diet, I found out just how ridiculous the amount of salt is in pre-made meals. One of them can wipe out half or more of my daily allowance.
CD

There is an amazing amount of salt in these things. I just checked the package for the Alo Methi - for what it is, it does have less than some pre-packaged foods. Ooops, or maybe not - I ate the entire package (no rice or flatbread with it however) and just noticed that this was meant as a serving for two. (Oh well, I only ate one other meal - homemade veggie omelet - yesterday.)

When I cook myself, I typically add very little salt. I never add salt to omelets or scrambled eggs, or most seafood, or to chicken. Beef needs a little - but MUCH less than what cooking shows present.

At any rate, I have a stash of Amy's Organic Soups. They've come in handy. For New Year's Day, that was my main course, as we had ongoing power outages all day long. Served cold, alas. They still have salt - about 25% of daily requirements - but as long as I don't do pre-prepared foods often - say maybe once or twice a week during the duration of this, I'm good.

 

[Morning Glory]

I'm quarantining alone, and frankly, while I love to cook and often do eat alone, some days it gets to be a bit of a drag. Fortunately I do have a few things in my pantry that are fun to just heat up and eat.

So, what are you folks resorting to, when you just don't wanna cook, but you want a meal?

Yesterday, it was this:

View attachment 40014
I'm a sucker for good Indian food, and MTR is a brand that mostly contains healthy ingredients. I'd purchased this last year at my old Indian market back in Connecticut. This is awesome and I wish I had more packages of it. However when I found it on line just now, it's a victim of "price gouging" so I guess this is it for the duration.

Alu / Aloo is potato and Methi is fenugreek.

This was an awesome dish. You can serve it over flatbread (which I don't have) or over rice (which I do have), but I figured the starch in the potatoes would be sufficient for me - and I wasn't in the mood to make rice anyway, despite the rice cooker. You heat the pouch of the Alu Methi in a pot of boiling water, decant and enjoy. It was wonderful! No effort, either.

View attachment 40015

Not as colorful as the packet image but the taste was outstanding, I thought.

Anyhow, this is a thread for what pre-packaged things we pull from our pantry when we don't wanna COOK - and what we thought of them when we ate.

I was curious so looked up this product. Its good to see the ingredients are straightforward with no strange additives or preservatives,

Potato (48%), Onion, Tomato, Fenugreek leaves (12%), Edible vegetable oil, Curd, Green chilli, Salt, Ginger paste, Garlic paste, Coriander leaves, Cumin, and Turmeric.

So this is not a dehydrated product but in a pouch? What is the shelf life?

We really get very few foods (meals) like this in the UK. Most complete 'ready-meals' are sold as freshly made & chilled and have a fairly short shelf life. There are whole aisles of supermarkets devoted to them. They are also sold frozen. In fact, many of these meals are really very good and they rarely have additives. They range from Indian, Mexican, Italian, - well almost anything. To get a sense of the range, see here.

Here is one example of a Chicken Tikka Masala:

Ingredients are much the same as I would use if making from scratch (although I'm not sure what smoked sugar is nor why the use of Sodium Bicarbonate (raising agent)).

INGREDIENTS: Cooked Pilau Rice [Cooked Rice [Water, Basmati Rice], Ginger Purée, Lemon Juice, Rapeseed Oil, Green Chilli Purée, Curry Leaves, Cumin Seed, Black Mustard Seed, Colour (Curcumin)], Chicken Breast (24%), Tomato Purée, Single Cream (Milk), Onion, Onion Purée, Yogurt (Milk), Garlic Purée, Ginger Purée, Cashew Nut, Rapeseed Oil, Salt, Cornflour, Concentrated Lemon Juice, Coriander Powder, Sugar, Cumin Powder, Coriander Leaf, Green Chilli Purée, Paprika, Colour (Paprika Extract), Butter (Milk), Smoked Sugar, Mint, Lemon Juice, Turmeric Powder, Kashmiri Chilli Powder, Raising Agent (Sodium Bicarbonate), Fenugreek, Cardamom, Cinnamon Powder, Clove Powder, Black Pepper, Chilli Powder, Bay Leaf, Pepper, Fennel, Lemon Oil.

 

[Morning Glory]

Re the salt - the ready- meals in the UK are much lower in salt than they used to be. I usually add salt if I ever have them.

 

[Mountain Cat]

I was curious so looked up this product. Its good to see the ingredients are straightforward with no strange additives or preservatives,



So this is not a dehydrated product but in a pouch? What is the shelf life?

We really get very few foods (meals) like this in the UK. Most complete 'ready-meals' are sold as freshly made & chilled and have a fairly short shelf life. There are whole aisles of supermarkets devoted to them. They are also sold frozen. In fact, many of these meals are really very good and they rarely have additives. They range from Indian, Mexican, Italian, - well almost anything. To get a sense of the range, see here.

I bought this late last summer or middle of last autumn - when I happened to last be at the Indian grocery down there. So the shelf life is at the very least six months - was about to go beyond the "best before" date. No idea how long it was on the shelf when I picked it up. It's in a pouch you store at room temperature.

Yes, the ingredients are things I would also use for this dish:
Potato 48%, onion, tomato puree, fenugreek leaves 12%, edible vegetable oil, curd, green chili, salt, ginger paste, garlic paste, coriander leaves, cumin, turmeric.

Curd of course is the paneer (Indian cheese), and the only changes I'd make would be to reduce the salt, and to use a good quality cooking oil (avocado or grapeseed). There's nothing about preservatives nor random "natural" spices or flavorings.

 

[Morning Glory]

Re the salt issue, you may find it interesting to look at this thread: The Salt Myth

More specifically, look at the articles cited which are rather fascinating, I think. They are based on scientific studies (not quackery). If you scroll down there is even an article which suggests a very low salt diet can cause more heart attacks.

 

[Mountain Cat]

Re the salt issue, you may find it interesting to look at this thread: The Salt Myth

More specifically, look at the articles cited which are rather fascinating, I think. They are based on scientific studies (not quackery). If you scroll down there is even an article which suggests a very low salt diet can cause more heart attacks.

The article you sited there actually makes sense.

In my personal case, I just don't happen to LIKE the taste of a whole lot of salt. Like sugar, it's an overrated seasoning/flavoring (for me). With five spice racks of herbs and spices, I'd rather vary things up with those as I can.

But give me a russet potato and that thing HAS to be drowned in salt!

 

[ElizabethB]

I just looked in the pantry. I have one can of chunky chicken and noodle soup, a few cans of tuna and a can of salmon. G likes tuna salad and salmon salad. There is deli meat in the fridge and an assortment of cheese for sandwiches or wraps. I have one package of leftover gumbo in the freezer - heat and eat. Leftover chicken and pork in the freezer - heat and eat with a salad and I'm done.
For me eggs are an "I don't want to cook " meal. It takes less time to cook an egg than it does to heat something up.
Peanut butter and grilled cheese sandwiches are both favorites.
G laughs at me. I occasionally get a craving for a fat bomb sandwich - one side of bread toasted in butter topped with cheese on both slices, bacon or ham and an almost runny egg , slapped together and the outside toasted in butter. I don't consider that cooking.

 

[caseydog]

I can't remember, but is this just until you get things back to better health or is this a for-the-rest-of-your-life kind of thing?

For the rest of my life, baring some miracle.

CD

 

[caseydog]

Re the salt issue, you may find it interesting to look at this thread: The Salt Myth

More specifically, look at the articles cited which are rather fascinating, I think. They are based on scientific studies (not quackery). If you scroll down there is even an article which suggests a very low salt diet can cause more heart attacks.

Mine is not a "salt is not good for you" issue. I have a specific condition. I take medicines that cause my kidneys to remove more salt, and I have strict limits on salt. Without the meds and the diet, my body retains salt, and therefore retains water. Last month I was in the hospital for a procedure to remove excess water/fluid from my peritoneal cavity. They removed 5 litres. My meds and diet are to keep water/fluids from accumulating again.

So, in my case, there is a direct "cause and effect" diagnosis involved. It is not a "general health" recommendation.

CD

 

[Morning Glory]

Mine is not a "salt is not good for you" issue. I have a specific condition. I take medicines that cause my kidneys to remove more salt, and I have strict limits on salt. Without the meds and the diet, my body retains salt, and therefore retains water. Last month I was in the hospital for a procedure to remove excess water/fluid from my peritoneal cavity. They removed 5 litres. My meds and diet are to keep water/fluids from accumulating again.

So, in my case, there is a direct "cause and effect" diagnosis involved. It is not a "general health" recommendation.

CD

Ah - I understand now. Yours is a different situation entirely from those with high blood pressure & heart issues.