My experience with ready to eat foods was restricted to Maggi that acted as a saviour on every occasion that parents weren’t around and you didn’t wanna cook! It continued post shaadi too, where every Sunday was a Maggi meal. Soon, we had also moved to MTR ready to eat subzis etc. Today all these foods play a major role in our lives, with what both working and no support structure otherwise!

This particular review talks about these foods that can be enjoyed on their own, in combinations, with modifications. Small tips that will add taste and give you variety. It’s amazing how a combination of sauces, salad dressings and veggies make food interesting!

Fav No 1:
Sunfeast Pasta – This is one pasta that gave Maggi a run for its money. Easy to cook, made of whole wheat (so healthier) and yummy from the first to the last Y! This comes in four flavours and my personal favorite is Tomato and Cheese and Sour Cream Onion. To make you own version, just add a bit of chilly flakes or break an egg, sunny side up and dig into the neat cheesy flavour!

Fav No:2
Sil Mayonnaise – There are lots of brands available of this delectable white item, incl the super expensive Kraft. But I like the taste, consistency AND the price of this one. Just shred some cabbage, add a bit of mayo, mix well and your coleslaw is ready! Have it as a salad or add it as a filler to the burger and nothing will taste bad! You can add some thinly sliced tomato also, just for some colour! You can also indulge in cold potato salad! Mash a few boiled potatoes, add some finely chopped green chilly, bit of salt and mayo! Mix it well and it acts as a great side dish to your pastas.

Fav No: 3
Cremica Salsa – This fiery Mexican sauce is the latest addition to my fridge and already a HOT favorite, so to say! I bought regular Bambino pasta (penne) and made a great meal! Chop some onion, tomato, baby corn, green chilly and sauté them in bit of oil. Then add around 3-4 tbs of salsa sauce. Add the boiled pasta to this mixture and mix well. Grate a few cubes of cheese on it and you don’t ever have to visit Little Italy again! Hehe!

Fav No: 4
Karen Anand’s Thousand Island Dressing – This really cool salad dressing will add taste to just about anything! And the Potato and Corn Salad with this additive will make you drool. Take some boiled potato and steamed American corn (fresher the better). Cut the potato in small pieces and keep the corn as it is. To this add a couple of tbs of Thousand Island Dressing (depending on the quantity). Voila! A neat cold salad, as a starter is all yours to enjoy!

Fav No: 5
Chings Schezwan Sauce – This perennial fav of all us desis who like our Chinese spicy, the Schezwan sauce is a boon! You can of course make good noodles at home. Just sauté shredded cabbage, chopped shimla mirch and carrot (lengthwise) and baby corn. Add Schezwan sauce. You can either add your noodles directly to this or use it as a gravy to add it as per requirement!

Another neat and super quick recipe that’s always a hit as a snack with your evening chai is Chinese Bhel! Take any farsan available… add finely chopped onion, tomato and green chilies and a dollop of Schezwan sauce. Mix it well and you will your guests will gorge on this crispy, spicy Mumbaiya chat with a Chinese twist!

Fav No: 6
Venkys Chicken Salami / Sausage / Burger Patties – Venkys is god send for people like me who cant cut chicken and cook it! Chicken Salami is one thing, I LOVE. The amount of stuff you can try is awesome! Just make normal pyaaz ka tadka, add salami to that, top with lotsa cheese and keep it ready! Then make an omelet, add you concoction to the omelet and close it half way thru with a flip! Your yummmmyyy stuffed omelet is yours to devour! Or if you have chhotta puris or monacco, make round slices of salami, onion and tomato. Pile them in order you want, a small piece of cheese, and some ketchup or mayo mebe and it’s a great snack. Oh! I could go on about salami!

Once you start using it, you will think up innovative stuff as it is! The same goes for sausage and burger patty! Jus add a dash of coleslaw to the burger, and you wont need to go out!

I am adding few more ready to eats to my wish list already! Every time I go to Food World or a food bazaar I go all crazy waiting to try new things! And people around me are not complaining, esp hubby dearest.

So everyone of you who wants a bit of change, add a dash of variety to your food, just get whatever you think makes sense and make up your own variations. And its such a boon to bachelors too!

So, get READY, get, set and GO!

Ps: leme know new recipes and reactions if you have tried any of this stuff! God! I LOVE food SO MUCH! Forgive me for my gluttony!