#oxocube

A few months ago I was taking a cab to the train station to go home for the holidays. After the usual chitchat with the cab driver, conversation turned to cooking. I had said I was excited to finally eat something other than what I usually “cook” for myself, that being veggies and hummus, or if I’m feeling extravagant: steaming edamame in the microwave. 

The cab driver proceeded to offer his favorite cooking tips and recipes he’d accumulated from different food product’s websites (Heinz was a favourite) and what is listed on the packaging (as well as some personal anecdotes on his wife’s “cooking” which sounded worse than mine). 

As kind as this was, I could not help but sit there and wonder what on earth this mans cooking really was like. He highly recommended sweet and sour meatballs made with grape jelly and ketchup. 

This is why certain products can get a bad rap. When we think about products such as those offered by all the big multi’s  and the like, the mind often turns to antiquated grey tinged casseroles or pasty meatloaf or… jelly mini-meatballs.

Thankfully, we’ve moved forward from the ‘tried and true’ tuna casserole and those kitchen time-savers are being put to more modern uses. In particular, Knorr’s Chicken Stock is an ideal way to save time in the kitchen while keeping all the flavour quality of the homemade version. 

Much like you would at home, the stock pots are made from meat, vegetables, herbs and spices and don’t contain any artificial colours, flavour enhancers or preservatives. The long simmering process during which the flavours become concentrated is what most of us don't have time to do ourselves, but is something a company like Knorr, which has been around since 1873, has had plenty of time to perfect. 

Many are hesitant to use flavour pods or bullion cubes in their recipes, but this need not be. The truth is that they are perfect for saving time, but not compromising on flavour and taste. Flavour pods have been reinvented to convenient flavour-packed containers rather than bullion cubes of the past. Not to mention, this time around you’ll be upgrading the casserole to something a little more exciting, like a risotto. 

Now, I’m not saying that these conveniences are as good as building your own stock at home with the love of a slow and low simmering approach to a deep delicious colour, they certainly do the trick when time is an issue!