Quick, Inexpensive Ways to Spice up a Boring Meal

Sometimes when trying to plan a meal, I can only find boring ingredients. Or I find I am missing key foods needed for a complete, hearty meal. But making meals exciting requires time and planning.  While I love cooking, like many of us, life often pulls my time and attention out of the kitchen and away from my beloved stove and spice rack. Fortunately, I have many friends in the same boat who have given me some tasty, inexpensive quick fixes for those boring meals.

Here are my favorites:

Coriander Chutney: This is a spicy, green sauce made from fresh coriander (cilantro) leaves that you can purchase in any Indian grocery store. This complements almost any meal, but I love using it to spice up an otherwise-bland meal of with meat, rice, or potatoes. Here's more information and a coriander chutney recipe. Cost: under $5. Time: 2 seconds to open the bottle.

Thai Peanut Sauce: This sauce has that Thai food knack of being sweet yet spicy with a perfect blend of flavors. It has rescued many a boring meal in our household and goes especially nicely with noodle and rice dishes. Here's a Thai peanut sauce recipe so you can mix up a batch--or save time and buy it at nearly any local grocery store. Cost: under $6. Time: 2 seconds to open the bottle.

Sauteed Mushrooms: This side dish is a lifesaver because it turns super simple foods like spaghetti into an actual, balanced meal. Take 8 to 16 ounces of white mushrooms, wash them, leave whole. Place a tablespoon of butter on top, and microwave for 4 minutes. Take them out, mix with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Put sliced cilantro on it, and you have heaven in a dish. Cost: under $4 as long as you get the mushrooms on sale. Time: under 8 minutes.

Japanese Miso Soup Packs: This is for the meals that need a soup appetizer when you don't have 30 minutes to fix one. I usually avoid boxed and canned soups--but just can't resist this exception. Made from soybeans, seaweed, and tofu the unique and soothing taste of miso soup goes with almost any main dish.When in need of a quick soup to finish off a meal, you can whip up miso soup in a jiffy using ready-made mixes.  Plus three miso soup packets or six miso soup cups will cost you less than $3.50. Time: under 3 minutes.

Fajita Packets: On those days when all you can find in your entire home is a meat and vegetables that don't even go together, a simple fajita pack can make it all better. Just fry up the foods and add some water for a great-tasting meal. (The packet has directions and a list of ideal meats and vegetables to use if you happen to be having one of those nicely-planned-dinner days.) Cost: $1 a pack, less on sale. Time: under 20 minutes.

Taco Spice Packets: This is for the days when all I  have is ground beef or turkey and random vegetables. I don't make tacos because tacos + my three small boys = dining room looks like a crime scene. But taco packets make quick, easy chili or soup. Fry the meat up with a taco spice packet, mix in a few vegetables (ideally corn, tomatoes, green peppers, and celery--but many variations will work) and water to your preference to make it a soup or a stew, and you have a spicy delight. Cost: $1 a pack, less on sale. Time: under 30 minutes.

Avocado Sprinkled with Lemon Juice: This is the quickest of all, but also the most expensive. Whether you're eating salad, fish, meat, or poultry, a sliced avocado sprinkled with lemon will always add a special touch to the meal. If you want to go crazy, garnish with a sprig of cilantro. Cost: $1per avocado on sale, under $2 if not. Time: under 3 minutes.

Microwaved Baked Potato Sprinkled with Dill: This if for the really bad days when all I can come up with is a salad for a meal. That simply won't work, but add a baked potato and we're on our way. This one was a little scary the first few times  as I was terrified the potato would explode in the microwave. But I've been doing this for ten years, and not one potato ever exploded! The key is to punch holes in the potato with a fork or knife--at both ends and once or twice in the middle. Then wrap in plastic wrap and microwave on high for five minutes, more for large potatoes, less for small ones. Unwrap, slice open, stick a pat of butter on there and sprinkle with fresh deal. Serve this with a salad or any main ingredient, and your meal is ready. Cost: under $4 for whole family, less for individuals. Time: under 8 minutes.

I hope these can give you some ideas for the next time you're having trouble coming up with a way to make a dish feel like a meal! Use Asian Food Grocer coupons or Vons deals to save even more on products like these. And I am always on the lookout for more ways to spice up foods like Juliana's recent post for homemade seasoning recipes.

What are some of your favorite sauces, dishes, and quick fixes to boring meals? Please do tell!