7-from-Heaven Convenience Foods to Keep Your Family Fed

I love Whole Foods and the farmers market but gee whiz, I’m thankful for these shortcuts — best things since sliced bread. Ooops, I just noticed that many are high in sugar or carbs, sigh. Yours truly, the snob who loved rich, complicated Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes (with beaten egg whites and melted butter) from The Cake Bible. (Since I’m in sugar/overeating addiction recovery, the only things on this list I now eat are numbers 2, 4, 6 and cauliflower 7.)

1. Hungry Jack Complete Buttermilk Pancake & Waffle Mix. My husband, Dan, brought this to Lily Bay State Park in Maine when we camped in a tent with Skipper a few summers ago. Miraculous over campfire or home stove. “Be your own Jack” batter takes less time than nuking frozen hotcakes. For six fluffy ones, stir 1 cup mix with 3/4 cup water. Drop rounds onto buttered, heated skillet. Flip. You can also fold chocolate chips, grated apple, cinnamon, blueberries, chopped walnuts and/or banana slices into the batter. Today, teen Skipper chose banana.
2. Fresh Express Thai’N’Cashews Chopped Salad Kit. Choose this or any variety you like. Put on pretty oval platter. Add toppings. Forks out.