Homemade Meals with Convenience Foods

Most people don't have time to spend hours in the kitchen to put a home-cooked meal on the table. But that doesn't mean you have to rely on take-out and pizza delivery!

In fact, it's possible to make great homemade meals with basic convenience foods that are available in any supermarket. Some simply require opening a package, whereas others take a little more effort. Here are a few suggestions:

Chicken and potatoes: Pre-cooked rotisserie chicken is easy to find in your supermarket deli or meat section. Buy it from the hot deli, and you won't even need to reheat it! Add a container of pre-made mashed potatoes (just microwave) and vegetables in a microwave bag, and you can put a hot meal on the table in just a few minutes.

Chef salad: Buy a package of roast beef, chicken, ham or turkey deli sliced meat. Cut into thin strips. Mix with a bag of prepared salad greens and some shredded cheese. You may even be able to find pre-cooked hardboiled eggs in your supermarket's refrigerator case, too!

Tuna and cheesy noodles: Prepare a package of boxed macaroni and cheese. (You can buy the powdered cheese mix that requires adding butter and milk, or simply buy the style that has the cheese already prepared as a sauce.) Add a drained can of tuna for an instant meal!

Veggie noodle soup: Make a package or two of ramen noodles. Add a drained can of mixed vegetables, green beans, peas or whatever vegetable you prefer. If you want to include meat in the dish, toss in some diced deli meat or leftover chicken.

Lasagna and garlic bread: No need to add any special touches to this Italian favorite! Most freezer sections of your supermarket have pre-made, pre-cooked lasagnas that are ready to eat. Simply heat and serve! Pair with a loaf of garlic bread (also available in the freezer section) for a tasty, simple meal.

Stir-fry vegetables: If you don't mind doing a little bit of cooking, purchase a bag of mixed frozen vegetables (there are usually blends specifically designed for stir-fry). Stir-fry them in a skillet on the stove. At the very end, add chopped deli meat or leftover chicken, ham or beef, and a dash of soy sauce for Asian flavor!