Ok, so it's a Tuesday night, and you're tired. You don't want to go to the store, and you don't really have anything fresh in the kitchen to cook. You're rummaging in the pantry and all you have are the dreaded cardboard boxes, where the food doesn't really taste much better than the packaging. Well, I'm here to help you out. Especially if by now, you're STILL following the package directions. And if you are, you don't get a Mafia card. And if you have one, consider it revoked.

So, let's say you've got a box of julienne potatoes. These are easy peasey to make better. Get out of your cabinet your italian spice mix, your paprika, your chopped onion, and your tarragon. Now, follow the package directions except for this. Put in the boiling water first, and stir in the cheese powder. Add in your spices as well. Now add the milk, only use 3/4 of a cup instead of 1/2 cup. Add 1/4 cup of shredded cheese of your preference, although I prefer a medium cheddar. Last, add the butter or margarine.

Put in the oven at 375 (not 400) for 25 minutes (not 20).

Now, what shall we have with this? Well, tonight, I'm having grouper. I had some frozen grouper filets in the freezer, so I thawed them out, and after putting in the potatoes, threw together a quite delicious marinade.

1/2 cup of white cooking wine, 1/8 cup of rice wine vinegar, a couple splashes of lime and lemon juice, and then a few dashes of ginger, garlic and spices, sage, and just to take the edge off the acidity, a dash or two of vanilla sugar. Marinated this for the first 10 minutes or so while the potatoes cook, and then slid into the oven alongside them.

Rounding out the meal, opened up a can of cut asparagus stems and tips and salted them, and put on the top rack of the oven to heat up and dry out slightly (because mushy asparagus is just nasty). Take everything out of the oven around the same time, plate, top the potatoes with a sprinkling of cheese, the fish with some parsley or a shake of oregano, and some fresh ground pepper. Enjoy!

I hope this quick meal post gives you guys a few ideas the next time you're staring forelonely into the pantry!