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.

Seriously. Chicken Helper. I know. Doesn’t it look awesome? Yeah, it was.

I make a mean jambalaya from scratch. But Tuesday night isn’t the night to make things from scratch, especially on Fat Cat Tuesday.

Tonight we added a new member to our family, our newly adopted fat cat Pippen, so naturally we needed some cajun goodness to celebrate! And Chicken Helper (Hamburger Helper’s little sister) is a great way to start. But, of course, I can never just let it go like that.

What did I add to give this a more authentic N’Awlins flavor?

• 1 lb Chicken (per the recipe)
• 1 Turkey Smoked Sausage
• 1/2 lb shrimp
• Penzey’s Hot Chili Seasoning
• Dash of Penzey’s Gumbo Filé Seasoning
• 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce (for some proper tomato fllavor; usually I add a can of diced tomatoes)
• 1/2 diced white onion
• 1 diced red bell pepper
• 1 diced poblano pepper

Add the shrimp at the very, very end to avoid overcooking it. Authentic flavor with a really quick prep. Not as good as my Jambalaya from scratch, but definitely a close second in a pinch!

Tonight I made the Cheesy Ranch Burger Hamburger Helper, but of course I added my own special touches to make it my own. I sautéed sliced onion and diced poblano pepper in olive oil until slightly charred. I then  added some sweet white corn and a diced roma tomato and let that sit.

I prepared the Hamburger Helper according to package directions (except the added fat) with 97% lean ground beef (worth the extra cost). When it was done, I tossed in the sautéed veggies and mixed it all together.

QUICK TIP: Cook your vegetables separate from the Hamburger Helper. This goes for any boxed meal that you’re modifying. Don’t just toss the veggies in with the water, milk and sauce mix. That will make the veggies soggy and flavorless. Sauté them in a separate pan and toss everything together right before serving.

I’ll add some other recent goodies too. It’s good to be back on track.

CONFESSION: I kind of love Hamburger Helper. Hamburger Helper, Chicken Helper, Tuna Helper… I kind of love them all.

Personally, I think the helper line of products made simply per the package directions is bland, over-salted, boring and virtually inedible. It is, however, a brilliant springboard for creativity. By adding your own vegetables (absolutely necessary) herbs and spices (but please, no more salt—there’s more than enough already!) you can make a delicious meal that no one will believe is a ‘Helper.

A favorite in our house is the Chili Cheese variety, perfect for a chili craving when the proper time just isn’t available to make a proper batch of chili. As I always do with Hamburger Helper, I make it according to package directions, except I cook my hamburger meat with a generous amount of onion, garlic and, in this case, Penzey’s Salt-Free Chili Powder.

I also add chopped red and green bell peppers, one diced jalapeño or poblano pepper (seeds removed), a can of no-salt-added diced tomatoes, a healthy dose of frozen white corn — you can use regular corn, but the sweetness of the white corn is incomparable — and even more chili powder to taste.

When it’s done, I top it with freshly diced onions and a dollop of sour cream. It can’t compare to a really good batch of chili that’s been simmering all day, but it certainly is a great substitute for dealing with that chili craving on a work night!