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I’m not that into commercial food products, or so I thought until I was cleaning out my fridge and cupboard.  I use more “made” stuff than I realize, and some it brings me shame to admit and some it is just good sense.  I’d like to know if anybody else is as fond of these product as I am.

Vietnamese Chili Garlic Sauce-what would I do without it?  This stuff is the best.  It brings savory heat wherever you want, plus it’s good on sandwiches and eggs.  I use it just about anywhere you might use Tabasco.  And it makes a righteous base for wing sauce.

Saltines-you want crunchy chicken?  Just roll it around in finely crushed crackers after the egg wash, and I guaranteed your bread crumb can will empty much more slowly. (Yes, I admit to using canned bread crumbs, but just sometimes.)

Hellman’s Mayonnaise-oh, this is the best commercial mayo out there!  Don’t leave home without it.  I use for a LOT of things mayo is not traditionally used for.  It makes the bread of a grilled cheese crunchy and light, did you know?

Tubes of fresh herb paste-nothing like them if you need a tablespoon of lemongrass, marjoram, et al, the herbs you don’t usually buy fresh because they will just languish slimily in your fridge before you end up throwing them out.  Wasabi in a tube rocks, too.

No-boil lasagna noodles-I ADORE these things simply because you don’t have to deal with the inevitable sticking and tearing that comes with cooking regular lasagna noodles.  Perfect every time.

Heinz Ketchup-of course there’s nothing wrong with having ketchup in the fridge, who doesn’t?  But I use it for lots of things, though.  A teeny squirt of ketchup in a pan sauce brings an unnameable but satisfying, binding sweetness to it.  It doesn’t work for any sauce at all, just some.  Use your judgment.  Maple syrup can do the same thing, keep the good stuff around, not Aunt Jemima.

I’m sure I’ll think of more of my favorite things.  Stay posted.