Customize convenience foods with the addition of some ingredient in most

professional chefs know, a pinch of this and a pinch of flavor it brings. These additions are often little secrets. Other additives, such as raspberries for the addition of freshly ground pepper, of course. I like to cook and most meals that I have to solve at home for my family. But if you have little time, I will use the convenience, and many excellent products are available.

Before a product reaches the shelves, companies spend thousands of dollars for the productDevelopment, taste tests and market testing. The result is a product with broad appeal. Most convenience good taste. You can still taste best pure extracts, herbs, spices, fruit juice, and zest for life. A small addition, you can taste the quick fix as homemade. These additions also your made-from-scratch recipes taste better. Here are 20 ideas.

* 1 / 2 teaspoon vanilla extract Corn Muffin Mix

* 1 / 2 teaspoon almond extract oil in asmall box of vanilla pudding

* 2 tablespoons dry sherry cream sauce, chicken or turkey

* 1 / 2 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 / 4 teaspoon garlic pepper, 1 / 2 teaspoon chili powder, frozen on a tray

French fries

* 2 tablespoons orange marmalade sugarless for barbecue sauce

* 2 tablespoons cold strong coffee, sweet chocolate mix

* 1 / 2 cup sugar free vanilla syrup in a bowl of mixed fresh fruit

* 1 / 2 teaspoon (or more) curry powder, eggSalad

* 1 teaspoon coffee granules, small box of chocolate pudding

* 1 / 2 teaspoon dried thyme and 1 / 4 teaspoon garlic sauce, beef power

* 1 teaspoon chopped rosemary popover mix

* 2 tablespoons of ketchup, a tea kettle of vegetable and / or meat-based soup

* 2 tablespoons of cream sauce light cream cheese

* 1 teaspoon grated lemon Blueberry Muffin Mix

* 1 / 2 cup red wine spaghetti sauce

* 1 / 2 cup chopped almonds muffin mix

* 1 / 4 to 1 / 3Cup sugar-free jam, pork gravy / sauce

* 1 / 3 cup mango chutney chicken or turkey salad

* 1 / 2 cup sauce to a batch of chilli

* 2 tablespoons cocoa powder Mix Angel Food Cake

For me, cooking is an adventure, and I so rarely a recipe exactly as written. When it comes to food, I follow the example of Julia Child. "The only real obstacle is blocking the fear of failure," he once said. Hell must have kitchen "of what-Attitude. "So the next time you add a product convenicnce few more ingredients. You will be surprised at the results!

Copyright 2009 by Harriet Hodgson