# "Doctoring Up" Store Bought Food **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [November 3, 2023, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctoring-up-store-bought-food/992523 "2023-11-03T11:28:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctoring-up-store-bought-food/992523/41 "2023-11-03T17:11:49Z")
If you ever have [the single-serving version of those blue boxes,](https://i5.walmartimages.com/seo/Kraft-Original-Mac-N-Cheese-Macaroni-and-Cheese-Cups-Easy-Microwavable-Dinner-4-ct-Pack-2-05-oz-Cups_a17d8034-661f-4c61-8bf0-7cf4bdf7b0a6.4cfb1d92d13a9012eba32168de6c7187.jpeg) do yourself a favor and add a bit of dairy when you stir in the powder. We normally have 1% or 2% milk on hand so that’s what we use but I imagine a dab of sour cream would do wonders. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctoring-up-store-bought-food/992523/42 "2023-11-03T17:17:36Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > I never liked that lump of fat that, for some reason, they felt had to be the can. It looked icky. My SO is the same way; we either buy Bush’s Grillin’ Beans, which doesn’t have that, or I try to fish out the thing. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctoring-up-store-bought-food/992523/43 "2023-11-03T17:20:04Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > My SO is the same way; we either buy Bush’s Grillin’ Beans, which doesn’t have that, or I try to fish out the thing. I’m glad it isn’t just me. LOL I’d like to write them a letter and ask why, exactly, do they feel that this is a good and desirable thing? How would they like it if I served them a nice meal but decided to add a lump of fat to their plate before I served it. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctoring-up-store-bought-food/992523/44 "2023-11-03T17:47:23Z")
The fat is the first thing I go after in a can of pork and beans. It’s the best part! ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctoring-up-store-bought-food/992523/45 "2023-11-03T17:48:04Z")
Uhhh … 🤢 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctoring-up-store-bought-food/992523/46 "2023-11-03T17:49:46Z")
Mmmmmmmmmmm! 🥰 ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctoring-up-store-bought-food/992523/47 "2023-11-03T18:23:30Z")
I’ve found using one of the better brands gives me a great starting point on making my own awesome white clam sauce. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctoring-up-store-bought-food/992523/48 "2023-11-03T19:00:13Z")
Then you must be able to make an awesome New England Clam Chowder. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctoring-up-store-bought-food/992523/49 "2023-11-03T20:00:31Z")
Maybe the boxes are much smaller these days, but there’s only about 750 calories in one, with the added butter and milk. I used to eat a couple boxes at a time as a teenager. My add-ins were a can of tuna and frozen peas. One of my favorite lunches as a kid. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctoring-up-store-bought-food/992523/50 "2023-11-03T20:46:46Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Good idea! I’ve occasionally purchased a chicken fresh from the rotisserie. They’re well browned but still juicy, and it certainly saves prep time. Saw a couple of recipes recently that specified the meat from a rotisserie chicken. I think one was for gumbo since a discussion in another thread brought up a bunch of gumbo suggestions noise. Makes perfect sense if you like the way the chicken’s been seasoned. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctoring-up-store-bought-food/992523/51 "2023-11-03T20:48:53Z")
I wish I could…but I can’t eat milk. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bobsmom101](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobsmom101/32/2867_2.png) [@bobsmom101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobsmom101)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctoring-up-store-bought-food/992523/52 "2023-11-03T21:04:32Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > other than the chicken meat. I buy canned chicken when it’s on sale and keep it on the shelf for impromptu menus. Voila! No fridge needed except for the leftovers! ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctoring-up-store-bought-food/992523/53 "2023-11-04T02:23:16Z")
Yum! Here’s someone’s recipe trying to duplicate it. > **[Noodles Romanoff Recipe - Food.com](https://www.food.com/recipe/noodles-romanoff-236522)** > > Back in the late 60's and early 70's, Betty Crocker sold a boxed noodles romanoff that I absolutely loved! When they quit making it, I set about the In the third reply, someone adds broccoli, white meat chicken, and black olives to their version. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctoring-up-store-bought-food/992523/54 "2023-11-04T02:24:42Z")
> [@saucywench](#): > > In the third reply, someone adds broccoli, white meat chicken, and black olives to their version. Now that’s just ruining it! 😆 ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctoring-up-store-bought-food/992523/55 "2023-11-04T02:27:02Z")
I loved the original when I was a kid. I can’t remember when I last had it. Do other brands have a version now? ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctoring-up-store-bought-food/992523/56 "2023-11-04T02:30:45Z")
Not that I’ve ever seen. Stouffer’s used to have a version of it years ago, but they discontinued theirs too. Tis a mystery. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctoring-up-store-bought-food/992523/57 "2023-11-04T02:30:46Z")
Here’s one more recipe. > **[Noodles Romanoff | Mobile Home Gourmet](https://www.white-trash-cooking.com/recipes/noodles_romanoff.html)** > > Noodles Romanoff recipe - Mobile Home Cooking Does Rice-A-Roni still make their Pasta Roni version? ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctoring-up-store-bought-food/992523/58 "2023-11-04T02:33:56Z")
Oh, that recipe looks promising, with the powdered ingredients. I don’t know what else they put in those (crack?) but there’s something about that cheese powder Kraft uses that makes it very hard to copy with fresh ingredients. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctoring-up-store-bought-food/992523/59 "2023-11-04T02:44:07Z")
If you try any of these let us know how they are, especially curious as to how the powder version turns out. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctoring-up-store-bought-food/992523/60 "2023-11-04T17:36:20Z")
I can’t remember the last time I’ve used box mac n cheese without doing something to it. Besides almost always adding additional cheese, I’ve dumped in a can of tuna, or cut-up hot dogs, or ham. I’ve added various seasonings (I used to add sage, for some reason). I’ll add a can of chili (with or without beans) to turn it into chili mac. I’ve never thought of turning it into Noodles Romanoff, though. That has now been added to my list of things to do when I have sour cream in the fridge. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctoring-up-store-bought-food/992523.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctoring-up-store-bought-food/992523.md?page=4)