Have you found any new food products that you like that you can share with us?

Not exactly a food, but I recently discovered my rice cooker has a “slow cooker” setting. Just this week I’ve learned how to make applesauce, and a few soups/stews.
Couple days ago I was running low on groceries and only had canned veggies, some rice and barley. Decided to take a risk and tossed it all in there for 3 hours, seasoned with beef bouillon, bay leaf, oregano, onion and Worcestershire sauce- delicious! Fed 2 people for 3 meals, and was about $5 for the whole potful.

Stop & Shop (at least the stores that I’ve been to) has a middling-small “Asian” food aisle. Since I have traveled to India a couple of times, with more trips in my future, I’ve been trying more Indian sauces and mixes, too. I recently found a vindaloo cooking sauce that I misread the instructions on the first time I made it: I was supposed to use two tablespoons of the sauce with a pound of meat and a can of tomato paste. Instead I used the whole jar.

It made a hell of a dish! It was so hot that I could barely stand it unless I mixed it with twice as much rice as I normally would have. I’ve since tried it again and cooked it “according to the instructions”, and it’s very good… but I kind of miss that extra kick that the first batch had. So I’ll keep experimenting with that.

In our area there’s a store that specializes in clearances and remainders from other chains, called Ocean State Job Lots. They also have a lot of good (and sometimes not-so-good) Indian foods that I’ve gotten into from time to time.

My all time favorite, though, is Kitchens of India “Butter Chicken Curry” sauce. I adore that stuff, and when I cook it the house smells of it for days. It’s a great smell to linger.

^^ Yumm-oh! Love me some Indian cooking sauces, especially when they’re on sale. Have you ever tried this Pasco Korma Sauce? It’s not particularly hot, but it is super-tasty. I used it the last time I made some butternut squash soup, just added in the jar after roasting the squash. Pureed all of it together with some broth. It was one of my favorite soups that I’ve made.

Organic girl salad greens are always in good condition. I can’t tell you how often other brands are gross. I buy the spring mix.

Not new, but I’ll mention it, Le Petite Francaise frozen breads are delicious. I like to keep some in the freezer as back up so I always have bread on hand if we want some.

Also, Pillsbury frozen flaky layered biscuits are good. Many stores don’t have them; they usually have southen style. The refrigerator dough is not good, don’t bother with it. The frozen is more convenient anyway if you just want to make one or two biscuits. The layers pull apart.

I started buying the Homestyle Parmesian in a jar. It’s grated, it isn’t like the powder which is very common to sprinkle on pizza. You find the jar in the same section as the other sprinkle on cheeses. I use it in salads, on pizza, and in omelets.

You might try Big Lots for Campbell’s Golden Lentil Soup with Madras Curry, @Kardamom, if you have a BL available. I have a couple pouches in the cabinet that I’ve not tried, and I think that’s where I bought them.

Kettle Brand Bakes potato chips are awesome, if expensive.

Annie Chung’s Sticky Rice is awesome, if expensive. Quick easy meal for me.

(Big Lots also has a number of Indian cooking sauces cheap at the moment.)

I had some pureed cauliflower pseudo mashed potatoes at a restaurant a few nights ago. Mmmm, delicious, and I enjoyed it since I don’t eat potatoes.

@zenvelo My aunt’s secret ingredient when she mashed watery vegetables such as turnips or cauliflower was powdered non-dairy creamer. It adds creamy and a touch of sweet while reducing the water.

Not exactly gourmet, but cheap, easy and effective.

@ibstubro We used to have a Big Lots right down the street from us, but they closed up about a year ago. I actually wept. The closest one is about 10 miles from me, but my friend who lives in another town lives right by one. I will check it out next time I visit her. If you like Indian food, you should try one of those pouches. I had it for lunch yesterday.

I eat so little, I buy tantalizing things that never get eaten. A bowl of sticky rice is about all I can stand, most meals, but I’ll try combining the lentil soup with some rice.

I went and looked at my soup, and I think I led you astray. There’s no Big Lot’s sticker on it (another thing I like about BL – stickers), so I believe it came off the clearance rack of Walmart a week or two ago. BL has had the Campbell’s soup pouches, but maybe not that flavor. You better keep an eye out…they may be discontinuing the product line.

However, when you get to Big Lot’s, if you see a bottle of “Mojo” marinade, I strongly suggest you buy it. It’s delicious, and if you look at the nutritional panel there’s nothing there – virtually no calories, fat, or salt. I’ve cooked pork in it to rave reviews, and I’ve eaten fish marinated in it. I’m not sure what strict veggie would put it on, but I think it’s good enough for you to give it a try. $2 I think.

@ibstubro I’ve seen that sauce, I was wondering if it was good. I’ll probably give it a try when I’m next in a Big Lots. Might even try to go by one tomorrow night.

I use mojo on chicken and pork.

I went back and bought a second bottle, because I was afraid that by the time I used mine up, they would stop selling it, @Kardamom.

Homemade mojo, though, @JLeslie?

I buy it in the bottle. Goya or Publix. Publix also sells ready made pulled pork in mojo at the hot deli counter. It’s delicious. It has onions in it too. I’m in FL so mojo is everywhere. Sometimes I make a mojo-ish marinade for chicken breast with orange juice, a little lime, a little garlic salt and some basil. I grill it.

Sounds really good @JLeslie. If you have a Big Lot’s available, I’ve already extolled the brand there. I think it’s Badia. Delicious and healthy. My standard marinade is lemon juice and olive oil with a healthy dose of Cavender’s Greek Seasoning and some of the salt-free locally made seasoning. Good on about everything.

Mine is much more orangy than a typical mojo. Sweeter. Mojo might also have cumin, I don’t remember. I don’t put that in my marinade.