How do you spice up your frozen/canned veggies for dinner?

Question

They've become boring!! But since I'm making a nice main dish I generally don't want an involved veggie dish.

Fogjazz, I didn't say this is a nightly ritual. However, cooking is. I use plently of fresh veggies, however, there are times when "processed" is what we have to work with. That's when I dread pulling them out of my pantry/freezer. Been cooking for 30 yrs. I appreciate the wonderful suggestions, many I already utilize. . . .Sir Fogjazz, your "healthy outlook" appears limited solely to your allowance of what goes "INTO" your mouth . . .

Answer 1

i add butter and sugar to corn, spices to frozen or canned veggies, try pork n beans drain juice put into sauce pan add a little ketcup or barbecue sauce, brown sugar, liquid smoke, and a drop or so of hot sauce, just heat and serve, makes a great side item.

Answer 2

By tossing them in the trash and going to the market to buy good fresh veggies! Just maybe something is wrong with the approach if you feel you need to go to such lengths to hide the taste of something you are preparing to eat?

I'm sorry, but I'm shuddering at the thought of some of the answers above. First, freezing or commercial canning really drains the nutrients out of veggies. Then, adding lots of fat, sodium, or chemicals takes this situation from bad to worse. So by the time you take mushy high-glycemic canned peas or corn, add bacon fat, processed cheese, salt, and/or some liquid chemical to it, you would probably be better off both nutritionally and taste-wise just eating a pint of Haagen Dazs... seriously.

Post script: Your addendum is puzzling... and a bit offensive. Why do you assume that someone who cooks fresh, healthy food doesn't cook every day (30 years worth here too)? And even more odd in this day and age, why do you assume that someone with an education and a profession must be male?

Answer 3

Here's a quick and easy one, cook some cauliflower and broccoli, drain it and put back in the kettle. For 32 oz. of veggies use about 8-10 slices of American cheese,fold into the veggies, use 1/4 cup of milk if it's to thick. Salt and pepper.

Answer 4

Garlic butter...it is wonderful for practically every vegetable out there. Just had mashed potatoes tonight. They were new so I left the skins on. Mashed them with garlic butter, chopped dill and a bit of cream to make them whip better. Yummy! (Dill weed grows everywhere in my vegetable garden, so it's not hard to come by.)

Answer 5

Caned peas, you can start with melted butter and a little flour make a roue, add about a quarter of the juice from the can, throw the rest out and add the pea's. It works with corn also...You can also harvard beets. Since its summer you might want to use a skillet and cut corn off the husks and add olive oil, garlic, mix well and heat and finally add tomato's (quartered). Salt and pepper to taste...

Answer 6

add sauted onion and bell peppers, and or bacon. Spice it up with spices and herbs.

plus how are you cooking them? Canned veges are usually limpy since the beggining, your better off with frozen (if you are not using fresh). Blanch your vege, you want to only cook them til they are edible, not mushy, taste along the way of the cooking process, and season well.

Answer 7

I agree that there is more variety in the frozen ones, and I am into experimenting with dishes from other cultures, there are so many dried ones also in the ethnic section of the grocery store.

Answer 8

i like to flavor to my frozen veggies by adding a little garlic and onion powder and a dash of pepper to them after they are cooked, drained, and have butter added. it's very simple and makes a big difference! it tastes the best on green beans. :-)

Answer 9

You can purchase Oyster sauce and Sesame oil add a little of each while frying,steaming or boiling your vegetables,they will taste delicious when done.

Answer 10

italian dressing!!! mmmm!... it is also good with fresh veggies...try this: cut up into tiny peices some brocolli, onion, green pepper, tomato, and carrot and then add some italian dressing!!! you will never go back to anything else! ;) plus it is healthy!