Spice Up Your Cooking

I think I’m a pretty good Italian cook, but when it comes to Asian foods, I really stink. I just don’t have the panache, I guess– I can never seen to get the *just right* amount of soy sauce, garlic, and whatever else in the wok to come out like those Chinese foods I love. I make a lot of stir-fry meals in the late summer and early autumn, using up the late-harvest veggies from the garden and produce section. But the seasonings just NEVER seen to come out right!

So I’ve been buying the Sun-Bird seasoning packets– yum! Have you tried these yet? If you haven’t, you should! They are very versatile, and very cheap! I have seen them at Hannaford’s Grocery stores, Wal-Mart, and Amazon.com sells them online in bulk (the 24-pack is only about $24, so you get these for only $1 a packet!).

We prefer the very popular Stir-Fry seasoning, and the Fried Rice seasoning is excellent (I love fried rice). I haven’t tried the Chow Mein or Pad Thai yet, but I hear they are very good. Using Sun-Bird seasoning packets is a very frugal way to stretch your food budget– you can use slightly older, limper veggies (like I do) and fry them up in minutes. The seasoning adds a lot of flavor. This, with freshly steamed rice, makes a very healthy, easy-to-make meal. You can use them for salads, sauces, and soups, too. I make a lot of soups in the autumn and winter, so I’m stocking up.

Look for the Sun-Bird packets in the spice/seasoning area or ethnic cooking area of your store. They are very inexpensive and are perfect for fast meals. You can also look for some great recipes online at the Sun-Bird website. Sun-Bird is also having a contest– they’re giving away 15 Blu-RayTM Disc players. Look for the entry forms at your grocery store, where ever Sun-Bird seasonings products are sold. The contest is running now through October 31, 2009. So not only can you save some bucks and make some savory cheap meals, you could win a Blu-Ray player, too! What a deal!!