Introducing 5 Nights from the Packet

When I tell people that I have a food blog, I usually get one of two reactions:

Either a look of pained comprehension as they assume that I'm another of those people who stand in their chairs in restaurants and rearrange the table setting just to get a good shot of a plate of food.

Or, after taking a look at my blog or my blog's Facebook page, they assume that I always make fancy food and that packet pasta and box meals are beneath me. This assumption couldn't be further from the truth.

I love my pasta machine and I love making fresh pasta and bread and my own jam. But that's not how we eat every day. In fact, if you took a look in my cupboards, fridge and freezer at any given moment you would find my family's staples: mini frozen pizzas, oven chips, bags and bags of dried pasta and one-box meals and taco and enchilada kits.

But just because we eat packet food doesn't mean it should taste like the packet it came from! To curb cost, to appeal to a wide market and to be transportable and have a shelf life, packet meals tend to lack much flavor from spices and they rarely ever have herbs in them and they never have fresh herbs in.

These are all things that you can add to them. Who cares if you're having Easy Mac tonight instead of homemade mac'n'cheese? Throw some extra cheese in the pot, liven it up with some herbs or some ham or chicken and bung it in the oven so that the top crisps up instead of just following the instructions on the pack! It will taste completely different and more homemade.

You can dress up any packet meal and this week, I'm going to show you how. I'm going to share with you five of my favorite from the packet meals. Meals that I make when I'm pressed for time but still want to ensure my boys eat well. They won't be complicated and they won't be time consuming. They will be quick and flavorful, though.

5 Nights From the Packet Recipes:

Packet Ravioli Two Ways
Quick & Dirty Tacos Chicken Carnitas 
Grilled Chicken Tikka Mojito Chapatis 
Ultimate Tuna Melts 
Standing Rigatoni Pie