There’s nothing terribly special about that meal, but that’s one reason I love it so much. I’ve talked before about how doctoring up a little Hamburger Helper can make a simple meal really fancy. Adding fresh mushrooms and onions (sauté them separately, please!), a splash of wine and some fresh asiago to Hamburger Helper Stroganoff makes it taste almost on par with Noodles & Company’s stroganoff, and fresh vegetables added to any of the varieties (again, sauté them separately!) helps bulk up the recipe and reduce the sodium content per serving.

For the chili mac I add fresh shredded cheddar, a little tomato paste to punch up the tomato flavor, some no-salt-added canned tomatoes and lots of my own chili powder to Chili Cheese Hamburger Helper. I also sautéed some bell peppers and onions, tossing them into the mix when everything was cooked through.

I also love fancying up Jiffy Cornbread, which you can usually get for under 50¢ a package at the grocery store. I follow the instructions on the box, but add a few tablespoons of honey (you can eyeball it), frozen corn and some Tastefully Simple Garlic Garlic.

Again, it’s nothing special, but who says every meal has to be special? Sometimes simple really hits the spot.